Support
Help with noFriction for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.
New here? Start with the step-by-step guides: taking notes and capturing classes.
Contact us
Email casey@nofriction.io. We usually reply within two business days. Tell us your device, its OS version and the app version (iPhone and iPad: Settings tab → About; Mac: noFriction → About). Please don't send recordings or transcripts unless we ask; we never need your API key.
Get started
iPhone and iPad (iOS 18 or later)
Open noFriction and tap Record. The first time, allow Microphone, Speech Recognition and Calendars. Calendar access is read-only; it names meetings and lists who attended. Recording continues with the screen locked.
Mac (macOS 13 Ventura or later)
The setup wizard offers a speech model for on-device transcription. Download the recommended model once; after that the Mac transcribes on the device, even offline. Allow Microphone, Screen & System Audio Recording (so the other people on a call are captured, and screens can be saved) and Calendars. If you miss a prompt, open System Settings → Privacy & Security.
Apple Watch (watchOS 10 or later)
Install the watch app from the Watch app on your iPhone. Tap Record, then Stop. The recording goes to your iPhone, which transcribes it on the device, and it appears in the noFriction app there.
Record, mark and review
- What is it, how long, which Notebook. When you record, choose Meeting, Class or Personal, how long (15, 30, 60 or 90 minutes, or no limit) and, if you like, a Notebook such as "Acme project" or "BIO 101". The recording stops by itself at the end, after a warning with +15 min.
- Mark a moment. Tap Mark this moment on iPhone and iPad, tap Mark on Apple Watch, or press Control-Option-Command-M on the Mac, even with another app in front. Then pick Question or the type's third mark (Follow up, On the test or Remember) and add a note.
- Links. Web addresses said in a recording appear in its Links list, and you can add your own references. noFriction never visits these pages.
- Review guides (noFriction Pro). Open a recording and make its review guide (a study guide for a class): summary, key terms, flashcards, a practice quiz and questions to ask. Export flashcards as CSV for popular flashcard apps, or the guide as Markdown.
Using AI
AI features need noFriction Pro. noFriction offers no hosted AI models. Use Apple's on-device model on a compatible device with Apple Intelligence turned on (iOS 26 or macOS 26 and later), pick a provider preset (ChatGPT/OpenAI, Anthropic/Claude, Muse/Meta, Grok/xAI or Mistral) and paste your own API key, or enter the base URL and model of any OpenAI-compatible endpoint. Finish required model downloads before going offline. A model on another computer needs a reachable local network.
Connecting a provider or your own endpoint
- On iPhone and iPad open the Settings tab. On the Mac open Settings → AI. Tap a provider card to fill in its endpoint and a model, or choose Custom endpoint and enter your own base URL and model. The app includes no default service or key, and no provider is active until you save.
- Paste your own API key from your account with that provider (the "Get a key" link opens its key page), then save. Saving sends no request.
- Optionally tap Test connection. It sends only the word "Hi" with a one-token answer and tells you in plain words whether the key worked, was rejected, is out of credit, or the endpoint couldn't be reached. It never sends recording content.
- Before recording content is sent to a public endpoint, review the destination (the real address, with the preset's name next to it) and consent. You can revoke consent in Settings. Changing the endpoint or switching presets deletes the old key and clears the approval.
Keys are stored in the system Keychain, tied to the endpoint they were entered for. Your provider or endpoint operator sets any usage charges and retention policy. Public endpoints require HTTPS; local addresses may use HTTP. Apple on-device needs no key.
Common questions
Transcription isn't working
Allow Microphone and Speech Recognition in Settings → Privacy & Security. On a Mac, also allow Screen & System Audio Recording so other participants are captured, and make sure the speech model finished downloading (Settings → Transcription).
The recording stopped by itself
That's the length you chose in How long?, or automatic stop: when the calendar event is over and the room goes quiet, or after a few minutes with nobody speaking. A 30-second banner comes first so you can keep recording, and everything said before the stop is saved.
A watch recording hasn't shown up on my iPhone
Keep your iPhone nearby with noFriction installed. The watch sends recordings in the background when the iPhone is reachable and shows Sending to iPhone until the iPhone confirms, then Delivered. Open noFriction on the iPhone to finish importing; transcription can take a moment.
Removing something from a recording
Select words, lines or a photo or screenshot and choose Delete (no trace, 5 seconds to undo) or Strike from the record (permanent, leaves a marker with the time and an optional reason). Both remove the content from the transcript, search, the saved audio on iPhone and iPad, and future exports. Copies you already shared or sent to an AI endpoint can't be recalled.
"Wrong key" or "no credit"
Enter your endpoint's key again in full and check it hasn't been revoked. "No credit" and rate limits come from your endpoint; check with its operator.
Restoring a subscription
Open Settings → Subscription → Restore Purchases, signed in with the same Apple Account you subscribed with. One subscription covers iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Canceling
Manage or cancel any time from Settings → Subscription in the app, or in your device's Settings → your name → Subscriptions. Refunds are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Moving to a new device
Recordings are stored on the device that recorded them; noFriction has no cloud and no server. With noFriction Pro, Sync moves recordings, transcripts, notes, marks and screens between your iPhone and your Mac directly on your Wi-Fi: pair them once in Settings → Sync with the QR code. To keep a copy elsewhere: on iPhone and iPad, use the Share button in a recording; on the Mac, export everything as JSON in Settings → Recording → Export, or (with Pro) export each recording as Markdown to your Obsidian vault.
Recording a class
Many schools require the instructor's permission to record a class, and some require classmates' consent. Check your school's policy. noFriction reminds you the first time you record a class.