Grandma's Cookbook

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are my cookbooks stored?

Everything is stored locally on your device — in your iPhone or iPad's Application Support folder. Nothing is uploaded to the cloud or any server.

Will I lose my cookbooks if I delete the app?

Yes — deleting the app removes all cookbooks, page images, and transcriptions stored by the app. Before deleting, use the Share PDF button inside any cookbook to save a copy of its heirloom PDF to your Files app or share it by email or AirDrop.

How do I back up my cookbooks?

Open any cookbook, tap "Share as PDF," and save the PDF to iCloud Drive, your Files app, or share it with yourself via email or AirDrop. If your device backs up to iCloud or iTunes, the app data will be included in that backup automatically.

The scanner isn't opening — what do I do?

The scanner requires camera permission. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera → Grandma's Cookbook and make sure the toggle is on. Then return to the app and try again.

The import button isn't showing my photos — what do I do?

The photo importer requires photo library access. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos → Grandma's Cookbook and select "All Photos" or "Selected Photos." Then return to the app and try again.

The automatic text recognition got some words wrong — can I fix them?

Yes — that's exactly what the "Fix Up This Page" editor is for. Open any cookbook, tap a page, and you'll find a full text editor where you can correct the transcription, add family notes, and tag keywords.

Can I share a cookbook with family members?

Yes — open any cookbook and tap "Share as PDF." This generates a beautiful heirloom PDF with all the pages that you can share via AirDrop, iMessage, email, or any other app on your device.

Does the app require internet access?

No. Grandma's Cookbook works completely offline. All scanning, text recognition, and PDF building happens on your device with no internet connection required.

How do I delete a cookbook?

Open the cookbook from the shelf, then tap the trash icon in the top-right corner. This permanently deletes the cookbook and all its saved pages.

How to Get the Best Scans

1. Lay the cookbook flat on a light-colored surface with good even lighting — avoid harsh shadows across the page.
2. Hold the phone directly above the page, parallel to it, rather than at an angle.
3. Let the scanner auto-detect the page edges before tapping the shutter.
4. If a page is hard to read, scan it anyway — then open the page editor and use the "Fix Up the Words" field to correct the transcript yourself.
5. For very old or faded pages, try scanning near a window with natural daylight for the clearest result.