Guides · iCloud sync and backup
Keep your devices in step
New in 1.8.1
With Supporter, sync carries your conversations, people, hours and Bible studies to your other devices, through your own iCloud account. Backup and restore are free for everyone.
New in 1.8.1
Turn on sync
Open Privacy and sync
Go to Settings › Privacy and sync. Under Where your notes live, turn on Private iCloud sync.
Read what travels, then turn it on
Return shows what syncs and what happens if you turn it off. Tap Turn on sync. Do the same on each iPhone and iPad signed in to your iCloud account.
Check the status
The row shows Active only after your devices have really synced, and says when they last did. Until then it says Waiting. If something stops it, it shows Paused with a plain sentence and keeps trying.
What arrives
Your conversations, people, return visits, hours, Bible studies, report facts, your goal and your theme. Everything also stays on this device.
Back up and restore, free
Make a backup
Go to Settings › Backup & restore and tap Back up now. Keep the Return backup file somewhere safe, such as Files.
Restore
Tap Restore from backup… and choose a Return backup. Restore replaces Return’s saved ministry data with that backup. Your preferences, Supporter status and sync settings are not changed.
What stays on your device
- Your notes always stay on this device, whole and exportable, whether or not you subscribe.
- Sync goes to your own private iCloud database. Return’s developer cannot read it.
- If you turn sync off, local use continues. If Supporter ends, sync stops and nothing is deleted, on either device.
Free
- Backup and restore
- Plain-text, CSV and JSON export
- Every record, on this device
With Return Supporter
- Sync across your devices through your own iCloud account
Subscribing again after Supporter ends does not merge the two copies. Duplicates are expected.