Pastfold
Help & Support
Updated 14 October 2026
Getting started
Allow Photos access, then open Today, Create, Ask or Explore. Indexing runs while Pastfold is active. You can use the app while analysis continues.
Photos access
Limited Access uses only the images you select. Use Manage selected photos in Settings to add or remove images. If access is denied, open system Settings and change Photos access for Pastfold.
No results or missing images
Search matches recognized text, names you confirm and photo dates. Try words visible in the image, a product model, Find screenshots, Find receipts or a year. Results expand as analysis completes. For an unavailable iCloud image, open it in Apple Photos to download it, then retry indexing.
Creating a person story
Open Create → Growing Up → Add a person. Select detected faces that belong to that person, enter a name and confirm. Choose the timeframe, duration and style, then Create Story. You can load older faces and photos. Growing Up and Through the Years need usable photos from at least two different days.
Other stories
Choose photos in the story’s first step. Then & Now and Before & After use the earliest and latest selected photographs; distinct photographs from the same day are supported. Other stories use a chronological selection. Duration options are 10, 30 or 60 seconds.
Editing in Studio
Open Create → Studio, select at least two photographs and choose the timeframe. In Studio, arrange photos, add or replace sources, adjust zoom and position, change hold times, and add captions, a title or ending text. Choose portrait, square or landscape output and Cut or Dissolve transitions. Import a playable audio file you have permission to share, if you want music. Short tracks repeat and fade at the end. Done saves edits with the draft; Cancel discards the changes made in that editing session. Stories support up to 60 photos and 10, 30 or 60 seconds.
Saving and sharing
After rendering finishes, Save to Photos writes a video to Apple Photos. Share opens the iPhone share sheet. Allow add permission when asked. If saving fails, check Photos access and available storage, then retry. Use Portrait for vertical stories, Square for square feeds, or Landscape for wide video. Copy caption puts your sharing caption on the clipboard so you can paste it in the destination app. Sharing works with compatible installed apps; it does not automatically publish to every social network. Destination apps can crop, compress or mute your video.
Facts and inferences
Solid evidence markers identify source dates, counts and recognized text. Dashed markers identify possible relationships or intent. OCR can make mistakes; tap the source images to verify. Saved images do not establish purchases, project completion or a hotel stay.
Resetting local intelligence
Settings → Reset local intelligence removes Pastfold’s local analysis, groups, drafts, history and locally imported audio after confirmation. It does not delete originals or saved stories in Apple Photos. Indexing stays paused after reset until you choose Resume / retry indexing.
Reporting an issue
Email hello@pastfold.com with your iPhone model, iOS version, Pastfold version, Photos access level and the steps that led to the issue. Do not include private photographs or sensitive screenshot text unless you choose to share them. Your report is sent only when you choose to contact support.
Pastfold Pro
Basic portrait stories, photo arrangement and sharing are free. Pro unlocks custom titles, captions and endings, framing and hold-time controls, imported music and square/landscape exports. Choose a monthly or annual subscription in Settings → Explore Pastfold Pro. Prices come from the App Store for your region. Use Restore purchases with the same Apple Account to recover an active subscription, and manage or cancel through App Store account settings. Resetting local intelligence does not cancel subscriptions.