Nombook — Help & Support
A cozy little recipe diary, kept on your phone and in your private iCloud when sync is on.
Get in touch
Something broken, something missing, or an idea? Write to
nombooksupport@gmail.com
The best way is from inside the app: Me → the gear icon → Email us. That opens a mail draft with your app version, device and iOS version already filled in, which makes a bug about ten times easier to find. You can read and delete any of it before you send.
Writing from here instead is fine — please just tell us which version of Nombook (Me → gear → it's at the bottom of the page) and which iPhone and iOS version you're on. Without those, the first reply is usually just us asking for them.
And say what happened, and what you were doing at the time.
Frequently asked
Do I need an account?
No. Nombook has no accounts, no sign-up and no password. Open it and start writing.
Where are my recipes stored?
On your iPhone, in Nombook's own storage. With iCloud sync on, they are also stored in your private iCloud database so your devices can stay in step. There is no Nombook server, and your cookbook is not sent to us.
Will my recipes sync to my other devices?
Yes. Leave Me → gear → iCloud Sync switched on and devices signed in to the same Apple Account use the same cookbook. That page also shows whether sync is working and what has reached iCloud. You can switch it off if you want this device to stay local; restart Nombook for the change to take effect.
How do I back up my recipes?
Keep iCloud Sync on and check Me → gear → iCloud Sync. You can also back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer.
What happens if I delete the app?
The copy on that iPhone is deleted, including its local photos. If iCloud Sync was on, reinstalling under the same Apple Account can download the cookbook again. If sync was off, recovery requires a device backup.
Can I send somebody a recipe?
Yes. Open the recipe, tap Share, then choose Send a link or Copy link. The link is a read-only snapshot in your iCloud. The recipient saves an independent copy, so later edits do not change theirs. Anyone holding the link may be able to read the snapshot; send it only to people you intend to share it with.
How do I save a recipe from a website?
Tap + in the Kitchen, choose Scan from a link, and paste the address — or tap Browse the Web, find the page, and tap Use This Page. Nombook reads the page and fills in a draft. Nothing is saved until you tap Save, so you can fix anything it got wrong first.
Can I scan a recipe from a cookbook, or from my own handwriting?
Yes. Tap +, choose Scan from a photo, and take a picture or pick some from your library — several at once is fine, and they'll come out as one recipe. The reading happens on your device. Neat handwriting works; messy handwriting is a coin toss, which is why every scan lands in an editable review screen.
A scan came out wrong.
Edit it before saving — that screen exists for exactly this. Recipes with a labelled ingredient list ("Ingredients", "用料") read most reliably. Text printed over a photograph is the hardest case.
My timer didn't go off when I switched apps.
Timers alert in the background only if notifications are allowed. If they aren't, Nombook says so on the timer card and gives you a link to Settings. Turn them on and the timer that's already running will start alerting too.
The camera won't open.
Camera access is probably off. Nombook will tell you so and offer a link straight to the right page in Settings — or go to Settings → Nombook → Camera.
How do I change the language?
Me → the gear icon → Language. Nombook speaks English, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 日本語, 한국어, Español and Français. By default it follows your phone.
Does Nombook cost anything? Are there ads?
It's free, and there are no ads, no subscriptions and no tracking.
Privacy
Nombook collects nothing. Read the full privacy policy.
Requirements
iPhone running iOS 17 or later.