Help

Short answers to the questions that come up most often. For step-by-step instructions on every screen, see the complete user guide. If yours isn’t here, write to us: info@npi-brandenburg.de.

This page describes both versions. Anything that applies to only one system is marked “Apple” or “Android”.

Why does Chronaut need access to my calendars?

For reading, because the app backs the calendars up — and for writing, because it can restore events. iOS and macOS only know a single permission for both. It only ever writes when you tap “Restore”. You can revoke the permission at any time in the system settings; the history already backed up stays readable, nothing new is simply added.

On Android, Chronaut first asks for read access only. The app asks for write access the first time you restore an event. You can revoke both permissions in the Android settings.

How often does Chronaut back up?

Whenever you open the app, and additionally in the background when iOS allows it. When that is, is decided by the operating system — it learns your usage patterns and gives the app time accordingly. It only becomes reliably predictable with an automation.

On Android, Chronaut backs up when you open it, after calendar changes and regularly in the background — here too, the system decides how often. If backups are late, the “Battery & background” screen in the app helps: it shows whether battery optimisation is holding Chronaut back and takes you to the right settings for your device.

Why is an event missing from the history?

Chronaut only sees what is on the device at the moment a backup runs. If an event is created and deleted again before the next run, it never existed as far as the app is concerned. More runs per day narrow that window — they cannot close it entirely. Two other reasons: the event lies outside the backed-up time window (preset one year back to three years ahead, adjustable under “Time window”), or its calendar is deselected under “Choose calendars”.

What exactly happens when restoring?

Chronaut recreates the event — with title, times, time zone, location, notes, recurrence rules and alarms. Two limitations:

• Attendees are not written back — on iPhone, iPad and Mac Apple’s calendar interface does not allow it, on Android Chronaut deliberately does without. Chronaut appends them as a block of text to the event’s notes so the information is not lost. No invitations are sent again — so nobody receives an unexpected email.
• Calendars your device may only read — subscribed calendars, holidays, birthdays — cannot be written to. Such events appear in the history, but not for restoring.

For an event from a series, the app on iPhone, iPad and Mac asks whether only that event or the whole series should come back. On Android, a deleted single occurrence comes back as a stand-alone event, and a deleted series comes back with its recurrence rules.

I restored the wrong thing by accident.

Right after restoring, a confirmation with “Undo” appears at the bottom. Once it is gone, the event can be deleted in the calendar like any other — the history in Chronaut is unaffected by that.

How long is the history kept?

One year. The app clears older entries itself; the events themselves stay backed up. “Delete all local data” in the settings removes the entire history immediately. When you uninstall, the system deletes all of the app’s data.

What does Chronaut cost?

Backing up is free and runs in full — including the weekly overview of how much was deleted or changed. The full version (one-time purchase, no subscription) additionally shows titles and details, the complete comparison with earlier versions, search across the whole history, and allows restoring. The purchase covers iPhone, iPad and Mac together and can be shared through Apple Family Sharing. The current price for your country is shown in the App Store before you buy. On Android, you buy the full version once through Google Play; the purchase covers all Android devices with your Google Account. The current price for your country is shown on Google Play before you buy. A purchase in the App Store does not apply to Android, and vice versa.

Does my calendar data leave the device?

No. There is no server operated by us, no analytics or tracking services and no account. Everything stays in a database on your device. The Android app does not even have the permission to access the internet. Details in the privacy policy.

Is Chronaut available for Android?

Yes, through Google Play – coming soon, the app is not in the store yet. Chronaut for Android backs up every calendar on the phone, shows deletions and edits and restores events. The history lives only on the device: there is no iCloud history, and the data is excluded from Android backup — after switching devices or uninstalling, the history starts afresh. You buy the full version once through Google Play; an App Store purchase does not apply there, and vice versa. The Mac app, automations with Shortcuts and Family Sharing are Apple-only; on Android, long-press the app icon to reach “Back up now” and “Trash”.