Help Center

Creating Your Account

Getting started with Patchye is quick and easy. Follow these steps to create your account:

1. Download the app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android)
2. Open Patchye and tap "Sign Up"
3. Enter your email address and create a secure password
4. Verify your email by clicking the link we send you
5. Complete your profile by adding your name and optional profile picture
6. Set your relationship context (co-parenting, family, separation, etc.) to help our AI provide better suggestions

Note: Your email is only used for account verification and important updates. We never share your information with third parties.

Starting Your First Conversation

Ready to start communicating better? Here's how to begin:

1. Tap the "+" button on the home screen
2. Select "New Conversation"
3. Choose your relationship type (this helps our AI understand the context):
   • Co-parenting
   • Separation/Divorce
   • Family
   • General
4. Invite the other person by entering their email or phone number
5. Start writing your message - our AI will help you refine it before sending

Tip: Both people need to have Patchye installed for AI-mediated conversations. If they don't have the app yet, we'll send them an invitation!

Understanding AI Message Mediation

Patchye's AI helps transform your messages to be more empathetic and constructive. Here's how it works:

What the AI Does:

• Removes aggressive language - Softens harsh words while keeping your meaning
• Adds empathy - Helps you acknowledge the other person's perspective
• Improves clarity - Makes your message easier to understand
• Maintains your intent - Keeps your core message intact
• Considers context - Uses your relationship type to provide appropriate suggestions

How to Use It:

1. Write your message naturally - don't worry about being perfect
2. Tap "Mediate with AI" or the AI button
3. Review the AI's suggestion
4. Edit if needed - you're always in control
5. Send when you're satisfied

Privacy Note: Your messages are processed securely and never stored on our servers after mediation.

Navigating the App

Patchye's interface is designed to be intuitive. Here's a quick overview:

Main Screens:

• Home/Conversations - View all your active conversations
• Messages - Read and respond to messages in a conversation
• Profile - Manage your account settings and preferences
• Settings - Adjust notifications, privacy, and app preferences

Key Features:

• + Button - Start a new conversation
• AI Button - Mediate your message with AI
• History - View your message history
• Search - Find specific conversations or messages

Managing Your Profile

Keep your profile up to date to get the best experience:

To Edit Your Profile:

1. Tap your profile picture or name in the top right
2. Select "Edit Profile"
3. Update your information:
   • Name
   • Profile picture
   • Email address
   • Phone number (optional)
4. Tap "Save" to confirm changes

Privacy & Security Settings

Your privacy is important to us. Here's how to control your privacy settings:

Privacy Options:

• Who can contact you - Control who can start conversations with you
• Read receipts - Choose whether others see when you've read messages
• Online status - Show or hide when you're active
• Profile visibility - Control who can see your profile information

Security Features:

• End-to-end encryption - All messages are encrypted
• Two-factor authentication - Add an extra layer of security (recommended)
• Password change - Update your password regularly
• Active sessions - View and manage devices logged into your account

Notification Preferences

Customize how and when you receive notifications:

Notification Types:

• New messages - Get notified when you receive a message
• Conversation invites - Know when someone wants to connect
• Message reactions - See when someone reacts to your message
• App updates - Stay informed about new features

Quiet Hours:

Set specific times when you don't want to receive notifications. Go to Settings > Notifications > Quiet Hours to configure.

Deleting Your Account

We're sorry to see you go. If you need to delete your account:

1. Go to Settings > Account
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap "Delete Account"
3. Read the information about what will be deleted
4. Enter your password to confirm
5. Tap "Delete My Account" to confirm

Important: Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. All your conversations, messages, and data will be permanently deleted. For more information, see our Data Deletion Policy.

Subscription Plans

Patchye offers both free and premium plans:

Free Plan:

• Limited AI message mediation (10 messages per month)
• Basic conversation features
• End-to-end encryption

Premium Plan:

• Unlimited AI message mediation
• Advanced conversation features
• Priority support
• Message history export
• Custom relationship contexts

View current pricing in the app by going to Settings > Subscription.

Upgrading to Premium

Ready to unlock unlimited AI-mediated messaging? Here's how to upgrade:

1. Open the app and go to Settings
2. Tap "Subscription" or "Upgrade to Premium"
3. Choose your plan (monthly or annual)
4. Review the pricing and features
5. Tap "Subscribe" and complete the payment through your app store

Note: Subscriptions are managed through your App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) account.

Canceling Your Subscription

You can cancel your subscription at any time. Your access will continue until the end of your current billing period.

For iOS (iPhone/iPad):

1. Open Settings on your device
2. Tap your name at the top
3. Tap "Subscriptions"
4. Find Patchye and tap it
5. Tap "Cancel Subscription"

For Android:

1. Open the Google Play Store
2. Tap Menu > Subscriptions
3. Find Patchye and tap it
4. Tap "Cancel Subscription"

Refunds & Billing Issues

All subscriptions are processed through the App Store or Google Play. For refund requests:

iOS Refunds:

Visit reportaproblem.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID to request a refund.

Android Refunds:

Open Google Play Store > Menu > Account > Purchase history > Find Patchye > Request a refund.

If you have billing questions, contact us at support@patchye.com.

AI Message Mediation

AI message mediation is Patchye's core feature that helps you communicate more effectively.

How It Works:

1. Write your message naturally in the compose field
2. Tap the "Mediate with AI" button (sparkle icon)
3. Our AI analyzes your message and suggests improvements
4. Review the mediated version
5. Make any edits you want
6. Send when you're satisfied

What Gets Improved:

• Tone - Removes harsh or aggressive language
• Clarity - Makes your point easier to understand
• Empathy - Adds acknowledgment of the other person's perspective
• Constructiveness - Focuses on solutions rather than blame

Tip: The AI learns from your relationship context, so setting the right relationship type helps provide better suggestions.

Setting Relationship Types

Relationship types help our AI understand the context of your conversations and provide more appropriate suggestions.

Available Relationship Types:

• Co-parenting - For separated or divorced parents coordinating child care
• Separation/Divorce - For couples going through separation or divorce
• Family - For extended family relationships
• General - For other relationship types

To Set or Change Relationship Type:

1. Open the conversation
2. Tap the menu icon (three dots) in the top right
3. Select "Conversation Settings"
4. Tap "Relationship Type"
5. Choose the appropriate type
6. Tap "Save"

Message History

Patchye keeps a complete history of all your conversations and messages.

Viewing Message History:

• All messages are automatically saved in your conversations
• Scroll up to view older messages
• Use the search function to find specific messages
• Messages are synced across all your devices

Exporting Message History (Premium):

1. Open the conversation you want to export
2. Tap the menu icon (three dots)
3. Select "Export Conversation"
4. Choose your format (PDF or TXT)
5. Select where to save the file

Note: Message export is available for Premium subscribers only.

Sending Invitations

To use Patchye's AI-mediated messaging, both people need to have the app installed.

How to Invite Someone:

1. Tap the "+" button on the home screen
2. Select "Invite to Patchye"
3. Enter their email address or phone number
4. Add a personal message (optional)
5. Tap "Send Invitation"

What Happens Next:

• They'll receive an email or SMS with a download link
• Once they sign up, you'll be notified
• You can then start a conversation with them
• If they don't respond, you can resend the invitation after 48 hours

Login Problems

Having trouble logging in? Try these solutions:

Common Solutions:

• Forgot password - Tap "Forgot Password" on the login screen and follow the instructions
• Email not verified - Check your email for the verification link (check spam folder)
• Wrong email - Make sure you're using the email you signed up with
• Account locked - After multiple failed attempts, wait 15 minutes and try again

Still Can't Login?

1. Force close the app and reopen it
2. Check your internet connection
3. Update to the latest version of the app
4. Clear the app cache (Settings > Storage > Clear Cache)
5. Contact support at support@patchye.com

App Crashes or Freezes

If Patchye is crashing or freezing, try these troubleshooting steps:

Quick Fixes:

1. Force close and reopen - Swipe up from the bottom (iOS) or tap Recent Apps (Android) and close Patchye
2. Restart your device - Turn your phone off and back on
3. Update the app - Check the App Store or Google Play for updates
4. Free up storage - Make sure you have at least 500MB of free space
5. Clear cache - Go to Settings > Storage > Clear Cache

If Problems Persist:

1. Uninstall and reinstall the app (your data will be preserved)
2. Check if your device OS is up to date
3. Contact support with details about when the crash occurs

Messages Not Sending

If your messages aren't sending, here's what to check:

Common Causes:

• No internet connection - Check your WiFi or mobile data
• Poor signal - Move to an area with better reception
• Server maintenance - Check our status page or social media
• Blocked user - If you've blocked the recipient, unblock them first

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Check the message status (pending, sent, delivered, read)
2. Try sending a test message to yourself
3. Force close and reopen the app
4. Toggle airplane mode on and off
5. Check if the recipient has the latest version of Patchye

Sync Issues

If your messages aren't syncing across devices:

Ensure Sync is Enabled:

1. Go to Settings > Account
2. Make sure "Sync Messages" is turned on
3. Check that you're logged into the same account on all devices

Force a Sync:

1. Pull down on the conversations list to refresh
2. Or go to Settings > Account > Sync Now
3. Wait a few moments for sync to complete

Note: Sync requires an active internet connection on all devices.

Data Security

Your security is our top priority. Here's how we protect your data:

Security Features:

• End-to-end encryption - All messages are encrypted so only you and the recipient can read them
• Secure servers - Our servers are protected with industry-standard security
• No message storage - AI-processed messages are not stored on our servers
• Two-factor authentication - Optional extra layer of account security
• Regular security audits - We regularly test and improve our security

Best Practices:

• Use a strong, unique password
• Enable two-factor authentication
• Keep your app updated
• Don't share your login credentials
• Log out on shared devices

Reporting Abuse

If you experience harassment, threats, or inappropriate behavior on Patchye, please report it immediately.

How to Report:

1. Open the conversation with the problematic user
2. Tap the menu icon (three dots) in the top right
3. Select "Report User"
4. Choose the reason for reporting
5. Add any additional details
6. Tap "Submit Report"

What Happens Next:

• Our moderation team reviews all reports within 24 hours
• We may contact you for more information
• Appropriate action will be taken (warning, suspension, or ban)
• You'll be notified of the outcome

Immediate Safety:

You can block users immediately by going to their profile and tapping "Block User". This prevents them from contacting you while we investigate.

Emergency: If you're in immediate danger, contact local authorities. For serious concerns, email security@patchye.com.