Getting Started
Creating Your First List
Getting started with Nabble takes about a minute. Here’s how to create your first shopping list and get it ready to use.
If you just installed Nabble
The first time you open Nabble, a setup guide will walk you through adding a store and creating your first list. Follow the on-screen steps — it takes less than a minute and you can always change everything later.
If you skipped the setup guide, no problem. Follow the steps below, or tap Settings → Setup Guide to re-run the wizard at any time.
Creating a list manually
- From the main screen, tap the + button in the top right
- Enter a name for your list — “Grocery Run,” “Costco,” or whatever makes sense to you
- Optionally, select a Store to link the list to. Linking a store lets Nabble organize items by that store’s aisle layout and enables location notifications when you arrive
- Tap Create — your list is ready
Adding items to your list
Once your list is open, tap the + button to add items. You have three options:
- Add Item — type the item name manually
- Search Products — search by product name, brand, or UPC number
- Scan Barcode — use your camera to scan a product barcode
Sharing your list with family
If you want family members to see and contribute to the list, go to Settings → Family Members and send them an invitation. Once they accept, your shared lists will appear on their device automatically.
Private lists — marked with a lock icon — are never visible to family members.
Tips for a good first list
- Link your list to a store if you have one — it unlocks aisle-order grouping and location notifications
- Add a note to items when you need a specific size, brand, or variety
- Scan barcodes for frequently purchased packaged goods to save typing time
Adding Items (Manually, Barcode Scan, Product Search)
There are three ways to add items to a list. Tap the + button in the top-right corner of any list to choose your method.
Adding an Item Manually
- Tap + → Add Item.
- Type the item name in the Name field.
- Nabble will suggest a category based on the item name — tap the suggestion chip to accept it, or tap the Category field to choose a different one.
- Optionally set a Quantity and Unit (e.g., 2 bags, 1 lb).
- For weight-sold items like deli meat or cheese, toggle Sold by weight — this swaps the unit picker for a weight-entry field.
- Add a Note for anything specific (e.g., “get the organic one”).
- Tap Add to save.
Scanning a Barcode
- Tap + → Scan Barcode.
- Point your camera at the barcode — Nabble reads it automatically, no button tap needed.
- If a product is found, Nabble pre-fills the item name, brand, size, and suggested category. Review the details and tap Add.
- If the product isn’t found, you’ll land on the Add Item form with the barcode attached — fill in the name manually and tap Add.
Low-light tip: Tap the flashlight icon in the top-left corner of the scanner to toggle the torch on your device. The icon turns yellow when the torch is active. The torch turns off automatically when you leave the scanner.
Scan Multiple mode: Tap Scan Multiple in the scanner to keep the scanner open between scans. Each successful scan adds the item directly to your list so you can move through your pantry quickly. Tap Done when finished.
If a barcode isn’t found, see Scanning Barcodes and Searching Products on this page.
Searching for a Product
Product search is useful when you want to find a specific brand or size before adding it.
- Tap + → Search Products.
- Type a product name, brand, or UPC code in the search bar.
- Browse the results — each result shows the product image, brand, size, and a suggested category.
- Tap a result to open the Add Item form, pre-filled with the product details.
- Adjust quantity or notes as needed, then tap Add.
Tips
- Fastest method: Barcode scanning is the quickest way to add packaged goods with accurate product details.
- Category suggestion: Nabble learns from your past choices — over time, it gets better at suggesting the right category for items you add frequently.
- Editing after adding: Tap any item in your list to edit its name, category, quantity, or note at any time.
Setting Up Your Stores
Stores are the backbone of Nabble — they let you organize separate lists for each place you shop, get reminded when you’re nearby, and sort items in the order you actually walk the aisles.
Adding a Store
- Go to Settings → Stores → tap + in the top-right corner.
- Start typing a store name — Nabble suggests common retailers as you type. Tap a suggestion to auto-fill the name and store type, or type a custom name.
- Tap Add to save.
Nabble automatically sets up a category order for your store based on its type (grocery, pharmacy, hardware, etc.), so your items are sorted sensibly from the start.
Store Types
When you add a store, Nabble uses the store type to pre-configure which categories appear and in what order. For example, a grocery store leads with Produce and Dairy; a hardware store leads with Tools and Building Materials.
To change the type for an existing store:
- Go to Settings → Stores → tap the store.
- Tap the Type field and select the correct type.
Setting a Store Location
A store location lets Nabble send you a notification when you arrive nearby — a reminder that you have items on your list.
- Go to Settings → Stores → tap the store.
- Tap Set Location (or Change Location if one is already saved).
- Search for the store by name or address, or pan the map and tap to pin the location.
- Tap Save.
- Toggle Notify when nearby to turn on location notifications for that store.
Nabble can monitor up to 5 stores at a time for location notifications. If you have more than 5 stores with locations set, enable notifications only for the ones you visit most often.
First-time setup: iOS will ask for permission to use your location. Choose While Using the App — Nabble uses iOS’s built-in geofence system, so arrival detection works reliably without needing “Always” access.
Customizing Category Order
Each store has its own category order so your list items sort in the sequence you walk the aisles.
- Go to Settings → Stores → tap the store → tap Categories.
- Drag categories up or down to match your store’s layout.
- Toggle off any categories you never use at that store — they’ll be hidden when adding items to lists linked to that store.
Changes take effect immediately on any list linked to that store.
Editing or Deleting a Store
- To rename a store: go to Settings → Stores → tap the store → edit the Name field.
- To delete a store: go to Settings → Stores → swipe left on the store → tap Delete.
Deleting a store doesn’t delete any lists linked to it — those lists simply become unlinked from a store.
Shopping with Nabble
How Shop Mode Works
Shop Mode is Nabble’s focused shopping view — a distraction-free screen that lets you work through your list, track what’s in your cart, and stay in sync with family members shopping at the same time.
Starting a Trip
From any list, tap the cart icon (or Start Shopping button) to enter Shop Mode. Nabble starts a new shopping session automatically.
If you leave Shop Mode mid-trip by tapping Pause, the session stays open. When you come back, your cart is exactly where you left off.
Checking Off Items
Items are grouped by category, sorted in your store’s aisle order, so you can work through the list from one end of the store to the other.
- Tap an item to move it to In Cart — it gets a green checkmark and moves to the In Cart section at the bottom of the list.
- Tap an In Cart item to move it back to the To Get list if you changed your mind.
- Swipe left on any item (or tap the thumbs-down icon) to mark it Not Available — useful when the store is out of stock.
A green/orange banner briefly slides up at the bottom of the screen to confirm each action.
Progress Bar
At the top of the screen, a progress bar tracks your trip at a glance:
- Green = items in your cart
- Red = items marked not available
- Gray = items still to get
The count below it shows exactly how many items are in each state.
Not Available Items
Items marked Not Available are hidden by default to keep your view clean. Tap Show Unavailable to reveal them — you can tap Restore on any item to move it back to your To Get list.
When you finish the trip, all Not Available items are automatically restored to active so they’re ready for your next visit.
Saved for Later
Items you’ve saved for later are shown at the bottom of the list in a separate section. They’re visible as a reminder but can’t be acted on during a shop — go back to the list view to manage them.
Finishing Your Trip
When you’re done shopping, tap Done Shopping → Done Shopping to confirm. Nabble:
- Removes all In Cart items from your list and records them in your Shopping History
- Restores any Not Available items so your list is ready for next time
If you didn’t add anything to your cart, Nabble discards the session so your History stays clean.
To abandon a trip without finishing, tap Pause — nothing is recorded and all items stay on the list.
Real-Time Family Sync
If a family member is viewing or shopping the same list, their changes appear in real time. A sync indicator in the top-right corner shows when Nabble is uploading or downloading changes. If sync fails, an orange cloud icon appears — check your internet connection and it will retry automatically.
Checking Items Off Your List
Nabble keeps a clear line between browsing your list and actively shopping. Checking items off happens inside Shop Mode so your list stays clean between trips.
Entering Shop Mode
From any list, tap the cart icon in the toolbar to start a shopping trip. Nabble opens Shop Mode with all your active items grouped by category.
Checking Off Items
- Tap any item to move it to your cart — it gets a green checkmark and slides into the In Cart section.
- Tap an In Cart item to move it back to your To Get list if you put it back on the shelf.
A green confirmation banner briefly appears at the bottom of the screen each time you check something off.
Marking Items as Not Available
If the store is out of something:
- Swipe left on the item and tap Not Available, or tap the thumbs-down icon on the right side of the row.
Not Available items are hidden from your main list and shown separately under a Show Unavailable toggle. When you finish the trip, they’re automatically restored to active so they’re on your list for next time.
Finishing and Clearing Your List
When you’ve finished shopping, tap Done Shopping → Done Shopping to confirm. Nabble removes all In Cart items from your list and saves them to your Shopping History. Your list is left with only the items that weren’t
Marking Items as “Not Available”
When a store is out of something, you can mark it as Not Available rather than leaving it on your To Get list or deleting it. Nabble tracks it separately and automatically restores it for your next trip.
How to Mark an Item Not Available
Inside Shop Mode, there are two ways:
- Swipe left on the item → tap Not Available
- Tap the thumbs-down icon on the right side of the item row
An orange banner confirms the action, and the item disappears from your To Get list.
Where Not Available Items Go
Not Available items are hidden from your To Get list to keep your view clean while you’re shopping. To see them:
- Scroll to the bottom of Shop Mode and tap Show Unavailable — this reveals all Not Available items with a strikethrough and thumbs-down icon.
- Tap Restore next to any item to move it back to your To Get list if you want to look again or found it elsewhere in the store.
What Happens at the End of the Trip
When you tap Done Shopping, all Not Available items are automatically moved back to active on your list. You don’t need to restore them manually — they’ll be waiting on your list next time you shop.
Tips
- Out of stock vs. don’t need it: Use Not Available for items the store didn’t have. If you simply decided not to buy something this trip, use Save for Later instead — it won’t be restored automatically after the trip.
- Family visibility: If family members are viewing the list, they’ll see the Not Available status in real time, so everyone knows what the store was out of.
Using the Apple Watch App
The Nabble Watch app lets you shop hands-free — glance at your wrist to see what’s on your list and check things off without pulling out your phone.
What the Watch App Does
The Watch app is focused on shopping. You can:
- See all your lists and how many items are on each
- Check items off as you shop
- Mark items as Not Available
- Sync changes in real time with family members on iPhone or Watch
Adding and editing items is done on iPhone — the Watch app is your companion at the store.
Choosing a List
When you open Nabble on Apple Watch, you’ll see all your lists sorted by most recently modified. Each row shows the list name, linked store, and item count. A green cart icon indicates a list that’s currently being shopped.
Tap a list to start shopping it.
First launch: The Watch app syncs your lists from iCloud when it first opens. This can take a minute or two. You’ll see a “Checking iCloud…” indicator while it loads — this is normal and only happens once. Pull down on the list to manually refresh if needed.
Shopping on Watch
Inside a list, items are grouped by category in your store’s aisle order, just like on iPhone.
- Tap an item to move it to In Cart — it gets a green checkmark and a green background, and moves to the In Cart section.
- Tap an In Cart item to move it back to your To Get list.
- Long-press an item to mark it Not Available — a confirmation prompt appears before it’s removed from your list.
A progress bar at the top of the screen shows how many items are in your cart vs. still to get (e.g., “3 of 8”).
Finishing a Trip on Watch
When you’re done shopping, scroll to the bottom and tap Done → Done Shopping. Nabble removes all In Cart items from your list and records the trip in Shopping History.
Not Available items are automatically restored to active, ready for your next trip.
Sync with iPhone
Changes made on Watch sync to iPhone (and vice versa) through iCloud automatically. If a family member is shopping the same list on their iPhone, you’ll each see the other’s check-offs appear in real time.
A small iCloud icon in the top-right corner of the list view shows when the Watch is uploading or downloading. If sync fails, an orange warning icon appears — it will retry automatically when your connection improves.
Tips
- Pull down on the list picker to force a manual sync if your lists seem out of date.
- The Watch app works independently — it doesn’t need your iPhone nearby, as long as your Watch has an internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular).
- Private lists are visible on Watch the same as on iPhone.
Shopping History
Every completed shopping trip is saved automatically. The History tab gives you a record of what you bought and when — and lets you bring items back onto your list with a tap.
Viewing past trips
Tap the History tab at the bottom of the screen. Sessions are grouped by date — Today, Yesterday, and by month for older trips. Each row shows the store, list name, date, and item count.
Tap any session to open the detail view, which shows every item purchased on that trip, grouped by category, with quantities and notes.
Adding items back to a list
Inside a session detail, tap Add to List to bring past purchases back onto a current list. This is the fastest way to rebuild a recurring list — no typing needed.
- This Store — shows only items bought at the same store as your list
- All History — shows items purchased across every store
- Items you’ve hidden from suggestions will not appear in the add-back list
Deleting a session
Swipe left on a session and tap Delete. If the session was from a shared list, Nabble will warn you that it is visible to family members before you confirm.
Quick-add suggestions on your list
When your list has purchase history, frequently bought items appear as quick-add suggestion chips near the top of the list. Tap a chip to add it immediately. To hide an item from suggestions permanently, go to Settings → Suggestions and tap Hide next to it.
Online Shopping Mode
Online Shopping Mode lets you work through your list using online retailers — useful when an item isn’t available in-store or when you prefer to order online.
Starting an online session
- Open any list and tap the cart icon in the toolbar.
- Tap Shop Online to enter Online Shopping Mode.
Finding items online
Each item on your list shows retailer buttons. Tap a retailer to open its website in Safari with the item already searched. Supported retailers include Amazon and Walmart. If an item has a barcode attached, Nabble uses the UPC code to link directly to the product page where possible.
- Tap In Cart next to an item once you’ve added it to your online cart
- Tap the thumbs-down icon to mark an item Not Available if you can’t find it
Finishing an online session
Tap Done Shopping to complete the session. Items marked In Cart are removed from your list and recorded in Shopping History, just like an in-store trip.
Family Sharing
Inviting Family Members
Nabble uses iCloud to share your shopping lists with family. Everyone shops the same lists in real time — no accounts to create, no passwords to share.
Requirements
- You must be signed into iCloud on your iPhone (Settings → [your name]).
- The family member you’re inviting also needs to be signed into iCloud on their device.
- Nabble must be installed on their device before they can accept the invite.
Sending an Invitation
- Go to Settings → Family Members.
- Tap Invite Family Member.
- Nabble opens Apple’s sharing sheet — choose how to send the invite:
- Messages or Mail to send a link directly
- Copy Link to share any other way
- The family member taps the link on their device to accept.
The invite is tied to their iCloud account. Once they accept, their device syncs your shared lists automatically.
Accepting an Invitation
When a family member receives the invite link:
- Tap the link — iOS will prompt them to open it in Nabble.
- Follow the on-screen prompt to accept the share.
- Their app syncs your lists from iCloud. This may take a minute or two on first setup.
Member Roles
Each family member gets a role that controls what they can do:
| Role | View Lists | Add Items | Check Items Off | Manage Lists & Stores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-owner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shopper | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Viewer | Yes | No | No | No |
To change a member’s role:
- Go to Settings → Family Members.
- Tap the role badge next to their name and select a new role.
Viewing Current Members
Settings → Family Members shows everyone who has been invited. Each person shows their name and acceptance status:
- Invitation pending — they haven’t tapped the link yet
- Accepted — they’re active and syncing
Pull down on the list to refresh if the status seems out of date.
Removing a Family Member
- Go to Settings → Family Members.
- Tap Invite Family Member to open the sharing sheet.
- Tap the member’s name → Remove Access.
Their device will lose access to your shared lists the next time it syncs.
Private Lists
Any list marked Private when created is only visible to you — it won’t appear on family members’ devices, even after they accept the invite. Use private lists for personal errands or surprise shopping.
Understanding Roles (Co-Owner Shopper, Viewer)
When you invite someone to Nabble, you choose a role that controls what they can do. You can change a member’s role at any time from Settings → Family Members.
Role: The Owner (You)
The person who set up Nabble and sent the invites is the Owner. There is always exactly one Owner. Only the Owner can:
- Invite new family members
- Remove existing members
- Stop sharing entirely
Role: Co-Owner
A Co-Owner has nearly full access — they can do everything except manage who has access.
Can do:
- Add, edit, and delete items on any list
- Create and delete lists
- Start and finish shopping trips
- See and check off items in Shop Mode
Cannot do:
- Invite or remove family members
Use this role for a partner or spouse who manages shopping together with you.
Role: Shopper
A Shopper can use the app at the store but can’t make changes to the lists themselves.
Can do:
- Start and finish shopping trips
- Check items off in Shop Mode
- Mark items as Not Available
Cannot do:
- Add, edit, or delete items
- Create or delete lists
- Invite or remove family members
Use this role for a family member who shops from your lists but doesn’t need to manage them.
Role: Viewer
A Viewer can see your lists but cannot interact with them.
Can do:
- View all shared lists and items
Cannot do:
- Add, edit, or delete items
- Create or delete lists
- Start a shopping trip or check off items
- Invite or remove family members
Use this role if you want someone to be able to see what’s on the list — for example, a teenager who wants to check what’s needed before asking you to pick something up.
Changing a Role
- Go to Settings → Family Members.
- Tap the role badge next to the member’s name.
- Select a new role from the menu.
The change takes effect immediately and syncs to their device.
Quick Reference
| Role | View Lists | Add Items | Check Items Off | Manage Lists & Stores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-owner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shopper | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Viewer | Yes | No | No | No |
How Real-Time Sync Works
Nabble uses Apple’s iCloud to keep everyone’s app in sync. There are no Nabble servers involved — all your data travels directly through Apple’s infrastructure and is stored in your personal iCloud account.
What Syncs
Everything in Nabble syncs across all devices signed into your iCloud account, and to family members you’ve invited:
- Shopping lists and all their items
- Item status (active, in cart, not available, saved for later)
- Active shopping sessions — check-offs appear on everyone’s screen in real time
- Stores, categories, and settings
- Family member roles
How Fast Is It?
On a good Wi-Fi or cellular connection, changes typically appear on other devices within a few seconds. Nabble saves every change to iCloud immediately — there’s no manual sync button needed during normal use.
Sync speed depends on your internet connection and Apple’s iCloud servers. Occasional delays of 10–30 seconds are normal, especially on cellular.
The Sync Indicator
While a sync is in progress, a small icon appears in the top-right corner of the list view and Shop Mode:
- Spinning indicator or download arrow — receiving changes from iCloud
- Upload arrow — sending your changes to iCloud
- Orange cloud icon — a sync error occurred; Nabble will retry automatically
If the orange icon appears, check that your device has an internet connection. Nabble will pick up where it left off as soon as connectivity returns.
Shopping Together in Real Time
When multiple people are shopping the same list at the same time, Nabble stays in sync across all their devices. As one person checks off an item, it moves to In Cart on everyone else’s screen within seconds.
This works on iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously — a family member can shop from their Watch while you update the list on your iPhone.
First Launch and New Devices
When you open Nabble for the first time on a new device, it needs to download your data from iCloud before your lists appear. On iPhone this usually takes under a minute. On Apple Watch, the first sync can take several minutes — the app will show a “Checking iCloud…” indicator while it loads.
When You’re Offline
Nabble works offline. Any changes you make while offline are saved locally and uploaded to iCloud automatically when you reconnect. If a family member made changes while you were offline, those will download and appear once your connection is restored.
Pull to Refresh
If your list seems out of date, pull down on any list to trigger a manual sync. This tells Nabble to check iCloud for the latest changes immediately.
Still not working?
If sync seems stuck, see Changes Aren’t Syncing to Family Members on this page for troubleshooting help.
Accepting a Family Invitation
When someone invites you to their Nabble lists, you’ll receive a link — usually via Messages or Mail. Here’s how to accept it and get set up.
Before You Start
- Make sure Nabble is installed on your device before tapping the link.
- Make sure you’re signed into iCloud on your device (Settings → [your name]).
Accepting the Invite
- Tap the invitation link in Messages, Mail, or wherever it was shared.
- iOS will ask if you want to open the link in Nabble — tap Open.
- A prompt appears asking you to accept the share — tap Accept.
- Nabble opens and begins syncing the shared lists from iCloud.
Your lists will appear within a minute or two. On Apple Watch, the first sync can take a few minutes — see Using the Apple Watch App if you’re waiting for lists to appear there.
If the Link Doesn’t Open Nabble
- Make sure Nabble is installed. The link won’t route correctly without the app present.
- If the link opens a webpage instead of the app, try long-pressing it and selecting Open in Nabble, or copy the link and open it from inside Safari.
- Ask the person who invited you to resend a fresh link from Settings → Family Members → Invite Family Member.
After Accepting
Once accepted, you’ll see the shared lists in Nabble alongside any private lists of your own. Your role (Co-Owner, Shopper, or Viewer) determines what you can do — see Understanding Roles for details.
The person who invited you can see your acceptance status in Settings → Family Members — it will change from “Invitation pending” to “Accepted” once you’ve joined.
Leaving a Family Group
If you want to stop sharing:
- Go to Settings → Family Members on your device.
- Tap Invite Family Member to open the sharing sheet.
- Tap your own name → Remove Me.
Your device will stop syncing the shared lists. The Owner can also remove you from their end via the same sharing sheet.
Collaborative Notifications
Nabble can send you a notification when family members make changes to shared lists — so you always know when someone starts a trip, adds something, or finishes shopping.
Available notifications
- List updated while you’re shopping — on by default; alerts you when the list changes while you have an active trip open
- Someone started shopping — a family member began a trip on a shared list
- Someone finished shopping — a family member completed a trip
- Item added or changed — an item was added to or edited on a shared list
- Item removed — an item was deleted from a shared list
- New list created — a family member created a new shared list
Managing notification preferences
- Go to Settings → Notifications.
- Toggle each type on or off.
These notifications only apply to shared lists. Private lists never trigger notifications for other family members. Notifications are delivered through iCloud — no Nabble server is involved.
Location Notifications
Setting a Store Location
Adding a location to a store lets Nabble notify you when you arrive nearby — a reminder that you have items waiting on your list.
How to Set a Location
- Go to Settings → Stores → tap the store.
- In the Location Notifications section, tap Set next to the location row.
- The location picker opens with the store name already in the search field. Nabble searches for matching locations automatically.
- Tap a result from the list — a map appears showing the selected location with a circle indicating the 500-metre notification radius.
- If the pin looks right, tap Confirm in the top-right corner. If not, tap Search Again to pick a different result.
The location is saved immediately. A pin icon appears next to the store in your stores list to confirm it’s set.
Enabling Notifications
Once a location is saved, a Notify when nearby toggle appears in the Location Notifications section. Turn it on to receive a notification when you enter the 500m radius around the store with items on your list.
The first time you enable this, iOS will ask for two permissions:
- Location — choose While Using the App. Nabble uses iOS’s built-in location notification system, so arrival detection works reliably without needing “Always” access.
- Notifications — allows Nabble to deliver the alert.
If Location Permission Is Denied
If you previously denied location access, Nabble will show an orange warning in the Location Notifications section. To fix it:
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Nabble.
- Change the setting to Always.
Changing or Removing a Location
- To update the location: tap Change in the Location Notifications section and search for the new address.
- To remove the location: tap Remove Location (in red at the bottom of the Location Notifications section). This also disables notifications for that store.
The 5-Store Limit
iOS allows apps to monitor up to 5 locations at a time for arrival notifications. Nabble enforces this limit — if you’ve already enabled notifications for 5 stores, you’ll need to turn off one before you can enable another. The toggle will show an error message if you hit the limit.
Privacy
Nabble uses your location only to detect when you arrive near a store. Your location is never stored on Nabble’s servers or shared with anyone — all geofence monitoring happens on-device through iOS.
Enabling “Notify When Nearby”
Once a store has a saved location, you can turn on arrival notifications so Nabble reminds you to shop when you get close.
Turning It On
- Go to Settings → Stores → tap the store.
- In the Location Notifications section, toggle on Notify when nearby.
The first time you enable this, iOS will ask for two permissions — both are needed for notifications to fire:
Location — Nabble requests “When In Use” access. This is enough for arrival detection to work; your location is only checked when iOS detects you may have entered a store’s area, even with the app closed.
Notifications — allows Nabble to display the alert on your lock screen and as a banner.
If you previously denied either permission, see Location notifications aren’t firing on this page for how to re-enable them.
What the Notification Looks Like
When you enter the 500m radius around a store with active items on your list, you’ll receive a notification like:
You’re near the grocery store
You have 8 items on “Grocery Run”. Open Nabble to shop.
If you have multiple lists linked to the same store with items on them:
You’re near a big box store
You have 12 items across 2 lists. Open Nabble to shop.
Tapping the notification opens Nabble directly to the most recently modified list for that store.
When Notifications Fire
- Nabble only sends a notification if there are active items on a list linked to that store. If your list is empty, no notification is sent.
- Notifications fire once per visit — specifically, once per time you open the app. Nabble reschedules the trigger each time you launch, so you won’t be pinged repeatedly on the same trip.
- There is no sound — the notification is silent and appears as a banner only.
The 5-Store Limit
iOS limits apps to monitoring 5 locations at a time. If you try to enable a 6th store, Nabble will show an error and ask you to disable another store first. Choose the stores you visit most often to get the most value from this feature.
Turning It Off
To stop notifications for a store, go to Settings → Stores → tap the store → toggle off Notify when nearby. The store location is preserved — you can re-enable notifications at any time.
Troubleshooting Location Permissions
If Nabble isn’t notifying you when you arrive at a store, one of a few things is usually the cause. Work through these checks in order.
1. Check Location Permission
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Nabble.
The setting should be While Using the App or higher. If it’s set to Never or is off:
- Tap Nabble in the list.
- Change the setting to While Using the App.
Nabble uses UNLocationNotificationTrigger, which lets iOS monitor your location on the app’s behalf. “While Using the App” is sufficient — you don’t need to grant “Always” access for arrival notifications to work.
2. Check Notification Permission
Location detection works separately from delivering the notification. If Nabble can’t show notifications, you’ll arrive near the store and nothing will appear.
Go to Settings → Nabble → Notifications → make sure Allow Notifications is turned on and that Banners or Lock Screen delivery is enabled.
3. Check the In-App Warning
If location permission is denied, Nabble shows an orange warning directly in the store’s settings:
“Location access is denied. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Nabble to enable it.”
Go to Settings → Stores → tap the store. If you see this warning, fix the permission as described in step 1 above, then return to the store settings and make sure Notify when nearby is still toggled on.
4. Check That the Store Has Active Items
Nabble only schedules a notification if there are active (unchecked) items on a list linked to that store. If your list is empty or all items are saved for later, no notification will be sent — by design.
Open the list and confirm there are items in the To Get section.
5. Open the App Before Your Trip
Notifications are scheduled each time you open Nabble. Because they’re set to fire once per scheduling cycle, if you haven’t opened the app since your last visit, the trigger may not be active.
Open Nabble before heading to the store to ensure the notification is scheduled for your trip.
6. Check the Store Location Pin
If the notification fires much later than expected — or not at all — the location pin may be placed too far from the actual store entrance.
- Go to Settings → Stores → tap the store → tap Change in the Location Notifications section.
- Re-search the store and confirm the map pin and 500m radius circle are centered on the correct building.
7. Check the 5-Store Limit
Nabble can monitor up to 5 store locations at a time. If you have 5 stores with Notify when nearby enabled, a 6th won’t fire.
Go to Settings → Stores and check how many stores have the Notify when nearby toggle on. Disable one you visit less often to free up a slot.
Still Not Working?
If notifications still aren’t firing after checking everything above, try:
- Restart your iPhone — this can reset iOS’s region monitoring state.
- Reset and re-enable: go to the store settings, toggle Notify when nearby off, then back on. This forces Nabble to re-register the geofence with iOS.
- Contact us at nabble.app/support with a description of what you’re seeing.
Account & Privacy
How Your Data is Stored
Nabble is built on Apple’s iCloud technology and stores all of your data in your own iCloud account — not on any server owned or operated by Nabble. Here’s what that means in practice.
Your data lives in your iCloud account
Everything you create in Nabble — lists, stores, items, shopping history — is stored in your personal iCloud account using Apple’s CloudKit framework. Nabble never sees this data, has no access to it, and cannot read or retrieve it.
On-device storage
A copy of your data is also kept on your device so Nabble works without an internet connection. Changes you make offline are synced to iCloud automatically when connectivity is restored.
Family sharing
When you share lists with family, the shared data is stored in a CloudKit zone within your iCloud account and made accessible to the people you’ve invited. Family members see only what you’ve chosen to share. Private lists are never visible to other family members — they remain in your personal iCloud storage only.
What Nabble does not do
- Nabble does not operate its own servers or databases for your personal data
- Nabble does not collect or transmit your shopping lists, store locations, or item history to any third party
- Nabble does not use your data for advertising
Product data lookups
When you scan a barcode or search for a product, Nabble sends a query to Open Food Facts (openfoodfacts.org) or UPCitemdb to retrieve product information. These requests contain only the barcode number or search term — no personal information is included. Please refer to the privacy policies of those services for details on how they handle requests.
iCloud storage usage
Nabble’s data is typically a very small fraction of your iCloud storage. Shopping lists and history are lightweight records that rarely amount to more than a few megabytes even after years of use.
Your data, your control
Because your data is in your own iCloud account, you are always in control:
- Delete the app — your iCloud data is retained unless you also delete it from iCloud
- Delete from iCloud — go to Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage to remove Nabble’s data from your account entirely
- Reset within the app — use Settings → Reset App to clear all data from your device and iCloud
- Clear history only — use Settings → Clear History & Suggestions… to delete your purchase history and suggestion data without removing your lists, stores, or family sharing setup
For full details, see our Privacy Policy.
What Data is Shared with Family Members
When you invite someone to Nabble, you choose who to share with and they must accept your invitation before anything is visible to them. Here’s exactly what they can and cannot see.
What family members can see
- Shared shopping lists — any list you have not marked as Private
- Items on those lists — names, quantities, notes, and categories
- Store names — the store linked to a shared list is visible to all members
- Shopping sessions — when someone starts a shop, other members can see items being checked off in real time
What family members cannot see
- Private lists — any list marked Private is visible only to you, regardless of sharing status
- Your store locations — map coordinates and place names set for your stores are stored in your personal iCloud account and are not shared
- Your shopping history — past purchase records and suggestions are personal and not visible to other members
- Your settings — category configurations, units, notification preferences, and app settings are all local to each person’s device
Who can do what
What a family member can actually do in Nabble depends on the role you assign them:
| Role | View Lists | Add Items | Check Items Off | Manage Lists & Stores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-owner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shopper | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Viewer | Yes | No | No | No |
You can change a member’s role at any time in Settings → Family Members.
Removing a family member
If you remove a family member, they immediately lose access to all shared lists. Their own device data is not affected — only their ability to see and interact with your shared content is revoked.
For full details, see our Privacy Policy.
Lists & Items
Organizing Items by Category
Nabble automatically groups items on your list by category — produce together, dairy together, frozen foods together — so your list follows the flow of the store rather than the order you added things.
How categories work
Every item on a list can be assigned a category. When you view a list, items are displayed in sections grouped by their category, with each section clearly labeled. Items without a category appear together in an “Uncategorized” section at the end.
Assigning a category to an item
When you add or edit an item, Nabble will suggest a category based on the item name. You can accept the suggestion or tap the category field to choose a different one from the full list. The suggestion gets smarter the more you use the app.
Customizing category order per store
Different stores have different layouts. Nabble lets you set the aisle order for each store so your list reflects how that store is actually arranged.
To customize category order for a store:
- Go to Settings → Stores
- Tap the store you want to configure
- Scroll down to the category list
- Tap Edit and drag categories into the order that matches your store’s aisles
- You can also disable categories you never use at that store — they’ll be hidden when building a list for that store
Adding or renaming categories
Nabble comes with a broad set of default categories covering most shopping needs. If you need something more specific:
- Go to Settings → Categories
- Tap the + button to add a new category
- Swipe left on an existing category to delete it, or tap it to rename it
Changes to categories apply across all your lists.
Tips
- Assigning categories consistently helps Nabble make better suggestions over time
- If an item always ends up in the wrong category, simply edit the item and change it — Nabble will remember your preference for that item in the future
Saving Items for later
Not everything on your list is needed right now. Nabble lets you move items to a Saved for Later section so they stay on your radar without cluttering your active list.
What “Saved for Later” means
Items saved for later remain on the list but are moved to a separate section below your active items. They are not shown as things to grab on your current shopping trip — think of it as a holding area for items you want to remember but aren’t buying today.
How to save an item for later
- Open the list and tap Edit in the top right
- Swipe left on any active item
- Tap Save for Later
The item moves to the Saved for Later section at the bottom of the list.
Moving a saved item back to the active list
- Make sure you’re in Edit mode
- Swipe right on the item in the Saved for Later section
- Tap Move to List
The item returns to your active list under its category.
Saved for Later and shopping
When you start a shopping session, only your active items are shown. Items in the Saved for Later section are not included in the shopping trip, so they won’t distract you at the store.
Tips
- Saved for Later is great for recurring items you buy occasionally — keep them on the list so you never forget them, and move them up when it’s time to buy
- Family members can see saved items and move them back to the active list if they have the Shopper or Co-Owner role
Moving Items Between Lists
If an item ends up on the wrong list, or you want to reorganize across multiple lists, Nabble lets you move items from one list to another without deleting and re-adding them.
How to move an item
- Open the list containing the item and tap Edit
- Swipe left on the item you want to move
- Tap Move
- Select the destination list from the sheet that appears
The item is immediately moved to the destination list and removed from the current one. All item details — name, quantity, category, and notes — are preserved.
A few things to know
- The item is restored to active status on the destination list, regardless of its previous status
- You need at least two lists to use the Move feature — if you only have one list, the destination sheet will indicate there are no other lists available
- You can only move items you have permission to edit — Viewer-role family members do not have access to the Move action
Moving multiple items
Currently, items can only be moved one at a time. If you need to move several items, repeat the steps above for each one.
Tips
- Moving is useful when splitting a big list into store-specific lists — for example, pulling hardware store items off your grocery list onto a separate Home Depot list
- Moved items appear under their assigned category on the destination list immediately
Scanning Barcodes and Searching Products
Nabble can look up product information automatically so you don’t have to type everything by hand. There are two ways to find a product: scanning its barcode with your camera, or searching by name, brand, or UPC number.
Scanning a barcode
- Open a list and tap the + button in the top right
- Tap Scan Barcode
- Point your camera at the barcode on the product — hold it steady until it scans
- If the product is found, a new item form opens pre-filled with the product name, category, and package size. Review and tap Add to save it to your list
- If the product isn’t found, you can still add the item manually from the same screen
Scan Multiple mode
If you’re scanning several items in a row — for example, while building a list from your pantry — tap the Scan Multiple toggle before you start. The scanner stays open after each scan so you can keep going without reopening it each time. Tap Done when you’re finished.
Smart Suggestions
Nabble tracks what you buy and surfaces frequently purchased items as suggestions directly on your list — so you can add recurring staples without searching or typing.
How suggestions appear
When you open a list with purchase history, Nabble shows quick-add suggestion chips near the top of the list. Tap any chip to add the item instantly. You can also tap the + button and choose Add from History to browse all past purchases for that store.
Family vs. personal suggestions
- Family suggestions — drawn from purchase history on shared lists; visible to all family members with Shopper or Co-Owner role
- Personal suggestions — drawn from your private lists; visible only to you
Hiding a suggestion
If an item keeps appearing but you no longer want it suggested:
- Go to Settings → Suggestions.
- Find the item under Family or Personal.
- Tap Hide — it will no longer appear as a suggestion anywhere in the app.
To restore a hidden item, go to Settings → Suggestions, tap Show Hidden, and tap Restore.
Searching for a product
- Open a list and tap the + button
- Tap Search Products
- Type a product name, brand, or UPC number and tap Search on the keyboard
- Tap any result to open a pre-filled item form, then tap Add to save it to your list
Searching by UPC number works the same as scanning — if you have the number handy, just type it in.
To switch to the barcode scanner from the search screen, tap the barcode icon in the top right corner.
Where product data comes from
Nabble pulls product information from two sources:
- Open Food Facts, Open Beauty Facts, and Open Products Facts — free, community-maintained databases covering food, grocery, beauty, and general products
- UPCitemdb — a general merchandise database used as a fallback when no match is found in the Open Products databases
Data is provided as-is and may not always be complete or up to date. Category assignments are suggestions and can be changed before adding an item to your list.
Product not found?
If a scan or search comes up empty, you can always add the item manually. See Barcode Scan Isn’t Finding a Product on this page for more troubleshooting steps.
Troubleshooting
Changes Aren’t Syncing to Family Members
Nabble uses iCloud to keep your shopping lists in sync across your household in real time. If changes aren’t appearing on a family member’s device, work through the steps below.
1. Make sure everyone is signed into iCloud
On each device, go to Settings → [your name] and confirm the device is signed into an Apple ID with iCloud enabled. Nabble cannot sync without an active iCloud connection.
2. Check that iCloud Drive is turned on
Go to Settings → [your name] → iCloud and make sure iCloud Drive is switched on. Without it, CloudKit-based apps like Nabble cannot sync.
3. Verify the family member accepted the invitation
Syncing only works after a family member has accepted your sharing invitation. They should have received an email or in-app notification from iCloud. If they haven’t accepted it yet, go to Settings → Family Members in Nabble and resend the invite.
4. Check your internet connection
Both devices need an active internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular) to sync. Changes made offline will sync automatically once connectivity is restored.
5. Try pulling to refresh
Open the lists screen and pull down to manually trigger a sync. This is useful if background sync was delayed.
6. Check Background App Refresh
For real-time sync to work when Nabble is in the background, Background App Refresh should be enabled. Go to Settings → General → Background App Refresh and make sure it is on for Nabble.
7. Restart the app
Force-close Nabble on the affected device and reopen it. This triggers a fresh sync on launch.
Still not syncing?
If changes still aren’t appearing after trying the steps above, please contact support and include a description of what changed, which device it was made on, and how long it has been since the change was made. Screenshots are helpful.
Barcode Scan Isn’t Finding a Product
Nabble searches two product databases when you scan a barcode — Open Food Facts for grocery and food items, and UPCitemdb for general merchandise. If a scan isn’t returning results, here’s what to try.
1. Try the Search Products option instead
If the camera scan doesn’t find a match, tap the Search Products button (magnifying glass icon in the toolbar) and type the product name, brand, or paste the barcode number directly. Searching by UPC number often returns results even when a camera scan doesn’t.
2. Make sure the barcode is in frame and well-lit
Hold the camera steady and make sure the entire barcode fits within the scanning area. Poor lighting, glare, or a damaged barcode can prevent a successful read. Try moving to a brighter area or turning on your flashlight.
3. The product may not be in the database
Both databases are community-maintained and don’t include every product — especially regional brands, store-brand items, and recently released products. If a scan returns “Product Not Found,” the item simply isn’t in either database yet.
In this case, you can add the item manually by tapping Add Item and entering the name yourself.
4. Check your internet connection
Product lookups require an active internet connection. If you’re in a store with poor connectivity, the scan may time out. Try connecting to Wi-Fi or moving to an area with better signal.
5. Camera permission may be blocked
If the scanner doesn’t open at all, Nabble may not have permission to use your camera. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera → Nabble and make sure camera access is enabled.
Want to help improve results?
Open Food Facts is an open community database. If a product is missing, you can add it at openfoodfacts.org — your contribution helps every app that uses it, including Nabble.
Still having trouble?
Contact support with the barcode number and product name and we’ll look into it.
Location Notifications Aren’t Firing
Nabble can notify you when you arrive near a store that has items on your list. If those notifications aren’t coming through, work through the steps below.
1. Make sure a location is set for the store
A notification can only fire if your store has a saved location. Open Settings → Stores, tap the store, and check that a location is shown. If it says “No location set,” tap Set to place it on the map.
2. Check that “Notify when nearby” is turned on
On the same store detail screen, confirm the Notify when nearby toggle is enabled. The toggle only appears after a location has been set.
3. Check Nabble’s location permission
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Nabble and make sure location access is set to While Using the App or Always. If it’s set to Never, notifications cannot fire.
While Using the App is sufficient. If you previously set it to Never, change it to While Using the App and then toggle Notify when nearby off and back on in the store settings to re-register the geofence.
4. Check notification permission
Go to Settings → Notifications → Nabble and confirm that notifications are allowed. If notifications are turned off entirely, Nabble has no way to alert you.
5. You’ve reached the 5-store limit
iOS limits location-based notifications to 5 monitored regions per app. If you have more than 5 stores with “Notify when nearby” enabled, only the first 5 will fire. Nabble will show a warning in the store settings screen if you’ve hit this limit.
6. Make sure there are active items on the list
Nabble only notifies you if the list linked to that store has items on it. If the list is empty or all items have been checked off, no notification will be sent.
7. Check that Background App Refresh is on
Go to Settings → General → Background App Refresh and make sure it is enabled for Nabble. Without it, location monitoring may be paused when the app is not in use.
8. Try toggling the notification off and back on
On the store detail screen, turn Notify when nearby off, wait a moment, then turn it back on. This re-registers the location region with iOS and can resolve cases where monitoring silently stopped.
Still not getting notifications?
Contact support with the name of the store, your iOS version, and what location permission is currently set. That information helps us narrow down the issue quickly.
How to Reset the App
Resetting Nabble removes all lists, stores, items, and shopping history from your device. This is useful if you want to start completely fresh or if something has gone wrong and a clean slate is the best fix.
Before you reset…
Resetting is permanent and cannot be undone. If you share lists with family members, resetting only affects your device — your family members’ data is not deleted. However, any lists you own and have shared will become inaccessible to them after a reset.
How to reset
- Open Nabble and tap the Settings tab
- Scroll to the App section
- Tap Reset App…
- Read the confirmation message and tap Reset Everything to confirm
What is not affected
The app will clear all data and return to the setup screen.
What gets deleted
- All shopping lists and their items
- All stores and their settings
- Shopping history and purchase suggestions
- Category and unit customizations
What doesn’t gets deleted
- Other family members’ devices and data
- Your iCloud account or any other apps
After resetting
The onboarding flow will appear so you can set up your stores and first list again. Your previous family sharing invitations will no longer be active — you will need to re-invite family members if you choose to share again.
Reset isn’t working or the app still seems stuck?
Try force-closing the app and reopening it after the reset. If problems persist, contact support.
Device & System Requirements
Device Requirements
iPhone
iPhone 11 models or newer
iPad
iPad mini (5th Gen), iPad (A17) and most iPad Pro models
Apple Watch
Apple Watch Series 6 and later, Apple Watch Ultra (all models), Apple Watch SE (2nd generation and later)
System Requirements
iOS
iOS 26 or later
iPadOS
iPadOS 26 or later
watchOS
watchOS 26 or later
Supported Languages
English
We hope to support other languages in the future. Want to request another language? Contact us
Apple Intelligence features require device language and Siri language set to the same supported language. If you change Siri language, Apple Intelligence might become unavailable until the new Siri language fully downloads and matches the device language. If you turn off Apple Intelligence, the Apple Intelligence features will not work. Learn more about Apple Intelligence here.
While the app might function on unsupported devices or operating system versions, we are unable to provide support.
Have Questions?
Frequently Asked
Questions
Can I use Nabble without sharing with family?
Absolutely. Nabble works great as a personal shopping app. All your lists stay in your private iCloud account and are never visible to anyone else unless you explicitly send an invitation. Family sharing is optional and can be set up (or skipped) at any time.
Why aren’t my lists showing up on Apple Watch?
The Watch app syncs from iCloud the first time it opens — this can take a minute or two. You’ll see a “Checking iCloud…” indicator while it loads. Pull down on the list picker to force a manual refresh. If lists still don’t appear, make sure your Watch has a Wi-Fi or cellular connection and that you’re signed into iCloud on the paired iPhone.
Can Nabble work without an internet connection?
Yes. Nabble stores a copy of all your data on your device, so you can view lists, add items, and check things off while completely offline. Any changes you make are saved locally and synced to iCloud automatically the moment your connection is restored. The only features that require internet are barcode lookups and product search.
What happens if I delete and reinstall the app?
Your data lives in iCloud, not on the app itself. If you delete Nabble and reinstall it, your lists, stores, and history will sync back down from iCloud automatically when you open the app. The first sync after reinstalling may take a minute or two. Your family sharing setup will also be restored — no need to re-invite anyone.
How do I stop seeing suggestions for items I no longer buy?
Go to Settings → Suggestions. You’ll see your suggestion history organized by Family and Personal. Tap Hide next to any item you don’t want suggested — it will disappear from your list immediately and won’t come back. If you change your mind, tap Show Hidden to restore it.
Can two people shop the same list at the same time?
Yes — this is one of Nabble’s core features. When multiple family members are shopping the same list simultaneously, check-offs and changes appear on everyone’s screen within seconds. One person can shop on iPhone while another uses Apple Watch, and both stay in sync in real time through iCloud.
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