Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about Field Service Companion.

General

Is Field Service Companion free?

Yes. The free plan includes all core features and supports up to 500 contacts. A Premium plan with cloud sync and additional features is planned for a future version.

What devices does Field Service Companion support?

Field Service Companion is available for iPhone (iOS) and Android. Additional platforms are planned for future releases.

Does the app work offline?

Yes. After the initial sign-in, all core features work without an internet connection. You can add contacts, log visits, search, and create backups entirely offline. The Map view is the only feature that requires a connection, since it needs to load map tiles and look up addresses.

Which languages does the app support, and how do I change the app's language?

Field Service Companion is available in English, Español, Português (Brasil) and Français. The app follows the language your phone is set to, so most people never need to change anything. If you would rather use the app in a different language than your phone, open Settings and tap App language and localization — the very first row. The App language row inside shows the language the app is currently using.

Tapping App language shows a short list inside the app — English, Español, Português (Brasil), Français — plus System default to follow your phone again. Pick one and the app switches immediately, no restart needed. Your choice stays until you change it here, even if your phone's language changes.

Can I choose miles or kilometres?

Yes. Open Settings, tap App language and localization, then Distance units. Automatic follows your phone's region (miles where they are the road convention, kilometres everywhere else); Miles or Kilometres overrides it wherever the app shows a distance, such as the Nearest lens on the Dashboard. The change applies immediately.

Dates and times follow the language the app is using. If your phone lists more than one language and the app landed in a different one than you prefer, it may ask once on the home screen whether you would like to switch — "No, thanks" is remembered.

Can I use the app on more than one device?

In the current version, your data is stored on one device only. Cloud sync across multiple devices is planned for a future version.

Why did the app ask for my name?

If you are signed in and your account has no name on file, the app asks once, "What should we call you?" The most common reason is Sign in with Apple: Apple shares your name with the app only the very first time you approve it, and if that first attempt was interrupted — for example, the sign-in sheet timed out — Apple never sends the name again. Adding your name is optional. It lets us address you properly if you ever write to support, and it is used for nothing else. You can add or change your name at any time under Settings → About → Your name, and "Not now" means you will not be asked again.

Contacts

How many contacts can I have?

The free plan supports up to 500 contacts. A future version is planned to support more.

Can I import contacts from another app?

Yes, in two ways. You can import contacts from your phone's built-in address book, and you can bring your records over from My Time using one of its backup files — go to Settings → Data → Import from another app. See Importing From My Time for the full walkthrough. Support for other ministry apps is being looked at.

I accidentally deleted a contact. Can I get it back?

Yes — there are two safety nets:

• Within 7 seconds — A small banner appears at the bottom of the screen with an Undo button. Tap Undo to bring the contact and their visits straight back.
• Within 30 days — Even if you missed the Undo banner, the contact is held in a quiet trash state for 30 days. The data is invisible to you in the app, but it's still there. To recover, restore from a recent backup. (The trash is not browsable in the app.)

After 30 days the contact and visits are permanently removed. This is why we recommend creating backups regularly.

Visits

Can I change the date of a visit?

Yes. On the Log Visit screen, tap the date field to open a calendar and choose a different date. You can select any date going back to the year 2020.

Can I edit a visit after saving it?

Yes. On the contact's detail screen, tap the ⋯ (three dots) on the visit card and choose Edit. You can change the outcome, notes, literature, and date; the visit is updated in place.

Can I delete a visit?

Yes. Tap the ⋯ on the visit card and choose Delete. An Undo button appears for about seven seconds. The contact and their other visits are not affected.

Dashboard

Why does the Dashboard show certain contacts and not others?

The Dashboard automatically selects contacts based on how recently you visited, whether they are a Bible study, and whether there is an active conversation thread (such as literature left or a question they asked). You cannot manually choose which contacts appear.

Can I turn off the Dashboard?

The Dashboard is the home screen of the app and cannot be turned off. It is designed to help you continue conversations without needing to search through your contact list.

Backup and Security

What happens if I forget my recovery phrase?

If you lose your recovery phrase and have no other copy, the backup cannot be restored. There is no "forgot password" option. This is by design to protect your data — it means that no one else can access your backup either.

Is my data safe?

Yes. Your data is encrypted on your device and in any backup you create. No one — including us — can read your data without your recovery phrase.

Reporting

Does this app track my hours?

Only if you want it to. The Report tab comes ready to log time by category and set your own goal — but nothing is ever tracked automatically; only time you log yourself is counted. If you don't report hours, turn off Settings → Time → Track your time: the Report tab tucks away and the app never asks about time. Nothing is deleted, and you can bring it back anytime.

How do I turn in my field service report?

Field Service Companion does not submit reports. The Report tab helps you have your numbers ready — whether you shared in the ministry, your Bible study count, and your time if you track it. You then submit your report however you normally would. See "Preparing Your Monthly Report" for details.

Why did a returnvisits.org link open the app?

Links to returnvisits.org — like the one included when someone shares an address from Field Service Companion — open the app directly when it is installed on your phone. If the app isn't installed, the same link opens the returnvisits.org website instead. The link contains no personal information, and nothing about the person it relates to is sent to us when you tap it.

Need More Help?

If your question is not answered here, please contact us at support@returnvisits.org. A friend who is familiar with Field Service Companion may also be able to help you.