Quick answers to the most common questions about Checklist Charlie.
No. Checklist Charlie works entirely offline. There are no user accounts, no cloud sync, and no sign-in required. All your data stays on your device.
Checklist Charlie stores everything locally on your device. If you delete the app, all checklists, task history, badges, and sticker data will be lost. We recommend exporting your important checklists as .charlie files before deleting, so you can re-import them later.
Yes, though all data is currently stored in one profile per device. The simplest approach is to create separate checklists per child and use the child's name in the list name (e.g. "Sam's Morning", "Alex's Bedtime"). A future update may add multiple profile support.
Checklist Charlie requires iOS 17 or later. It runs on iPhone and iPad.
"Sample Morning" and "Sample Bedtime" are pre-built example checklists included with the app. They're set as inactive by default so they don't appear on the Today screen until you activate them. You can use them as starting points, edit them freely, or simply create your own checklists from scratch.
Effort level lets you rate how challenging a task is for your child. It's set in the task editor by a parent and isn't shown to the child directly — instead, when the child completes the task they receive a praise message calibrated to the effort level:
Yes. Open the task editor and tap Add photo hint. You can take a photo or choose one from the photo library. The photo appears on the task card and in Focus Mode as a visual reminder of exactly what needs to be done (e.g. a photo of a tidy bedroom).
Sub-steps break a task into smaller, individually tickable steps. For example, "Brush teeth" could have sub-steps: Rinse mouth → Brush for 2 minutes → Spit and rinse → Put cap on toothpaste. All sub-steps must be ticked for the task to count as complete.
Focus Mode shows just one task at a time in a full-screen view. It helps children who feel overwhelmed by long lists by reducing visual clutter and guiding them step by step.
To enable it, go to Settings → Focus Mode. Once enabled, the Today screen switches to the single-task flow with clear task details, optional sub-steps, and an "Up next" preview after each completion.
A streak counts consecutive days where all active checklists were fully completed. The streak resets at midnight if any checklist was left incomplete. You need a streak of 3, 7, or 10 days to earn the corresponding streak badges.
Currently there is no way to reset individual badges from within the app. If you need to start fresh (e.g. for a new child), the quickest approach is to delete and reinstall the app. Note this will delete all data — export any checklists you want to keep first.
Yes! On the Sticker Chart screen, tap any earned sticker. A picker sheet appears with 20 emoji options. Select one to replace the default sticker for that day and checklist. The custom emoji is saved and persists across sessions.
Go to Settings → Parent PIN and create a 4-digit PIN. Once set, editing checklists and changing settings requires the PIN. The PIN is stored securely in the iOS Keychain and is never transmitted anywhere.
Three things need to be set up for task completion texts to work:
Note: Texts open a pre-filled Messages draft for the child to review. They aren't sent automatically.
Yes — the app is designed for non-readers. Every task can have an emoji, a photo hint, and can be read aloud with a tap. The auto-read feature advances automatically after each tick, so a child can follow along without ever reading text.
The Sensory Profile (Minimal / Normal) controls animation intensity and colour vibrancy. Minimal is recommended for children sensitive to visual stimulation. Normal gives the full celebratory experience for children who respond well to animated feedback.
No. Checklist Charlie has no analytics, no tracking, no advertising, and no cloud services. All data — checklists, photos, progress, badges — is stored exclusively on your device. See the Privacy Policy for full details.