Storage and switching phones
Keep your inventory
accessible.
Plan how you will reach your records before changing phones or losing access to the original. Local storage, iCloud Sync, and PDF reports serve different purposes.
Updated October 19, 2026
Know where your inventory lives
| Option | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Local storage | Keeps your inventory on the device by default. No HomeTally account is required. | Records stored only on an unavailable phone may be unavailable too. |
| Optional iCloud Sync Premium | Uses Apple CloudKit to sync inventory across supported devices on the same Apple Account. | Enable it in HomeTally and reopen the app. Check the records on another device. Sync is not an independent archive. |
| PDF inventory report Premium | Creates a readable report you can save or share separately. | Check the contents. A PDF cannot be imported to restore your inventory in HomeTally. |
HomeTally does not provide a full inventory backup-and-import feature. Restoring your Premium purchase restores the subscription entitlement. It does not retrieve an inventory that existed only on another phone.
Before switching phones
- Keep the old phone available while setting up the replacement.
- If you use Premium, open HomeTally Settings and enable iCloud Sync. Close and reopen HomeTally when prompted.
- Keep the device connected to the internet. Check for an iCloud warning when the app opens. If sync is unavailable, HomeTally may open your local inventory instead.
- On the new phone, use the same Apple Account, install HomeTally, restore Premium if needed, and enable iCloud Sync in HomeTally. Close and reopen it.
- Compare your properties, rooms, and item counts. Open important records and check photos and receipt attachments on the new phone.
- Keep the old phone and a separate copy until you have checked the information you need. Resolve missing records before erasing the original.
HomeTally does not show a sync-completion indicator. Turning on the setting alone does not confirm that every record or attachment has arrived. Apple account, network, and storage conditions can affect sync.
Save a readable copy separately
- With Premium, open the Dashboard and choose the export action.
- Select the property and available report options. Include photos if they are useful for your records.
- Review the generated PDF. Check the items and information you expect to see.
- Use the iOS share sheet to save it somewhere you can access without the original phone.
- Open the saved file from that destination to check it. Replace it after material inventory changes.
See a sample inventory report with illustrative household records. It was created with the upcoming app update. The current App Store report may differ.
Reports include reviewed, nonarchived items. Keep original photos, receipts, and warranty documents separately if you need the originals. A report is a snapshot of the exported information and cannot recreate the app’s full inventory.
You can also review your device backup arrangements. Apple explains how to back up an iPhone with iCloud. Check your backup settings and latest completed backup directly. HomeTally does not verify Apple device backups or guarantee a device restore.
If the phone is already lost or damaged
If you previously enabled iCloud Sync, set up HomeTally with the same Apple Account on a supported replacement device, restore Premium if needed, and enable sync. Check what returns. If you saved PDFs elsewhere, open those copies.
If records were only on the unavailable phone, HomeTally has no developer-operated inventory server from which to retrieve them. Check any existing Apple device backup and Apple’s recovery guidance. Recovery depends on what was preserved before the loss.
For help, email [email protected] with your device model, iOS version, and what you have already tried. Do not send passwords or Apple Account verification codes.
If you cancel Premium
Cancel through your Apple Account subscriptions. Premium remains available until the current billing period ends. HomeTally does not automatically delete your inventory when Premium expires. Free limits apply to additions, and Premium tools require an active subscription.
Export any reports you want while Premium is active, and check your preservation plan before changing devices. See Apple’s cancellation instructions or HomeTally Support.