App Support
The following are some general app questions and answers and how-to tips to navigate through our app features:
Are you having trouble getting into the app?
We're actively working to debug login, password reset, and invalid token issues - For right now, if you have ANY problem getting into the app, send us an email and we will do everything we can to personally get you logged in and active. You can reach us at [email protected] and then watch your inbox (and spam folder) for our reply.
Issues Logging In (and workaround)
Having issues logging in? We are aware of this issue that affects users trying to login with email and password. We are working on a fix.

In the interim, here is a workaround:

  1. Hard close the app (swipe it away to fully close it) and then reopen the app
  2. Attempt to login again with email and password
  3. If unsuccessful, and the app does not take you to the feed, repeat steps 1 and 2.

The reason for repeating the steps again is that in this bug, the app has actually successfully logged you in but is 'stuck' on the login/landing screen instead of sending you through to the active Give-Ask-Gratitude feed. Repetition is sometimes just the thing it needs to sort itself out.

Again, we apologize for this issue and are working on deploying a fix very soon.
Thanks for your patience.
Issues with adding Photos to Posts or Comments/Messages
Having issues with adding photos? This typically has to do with the phone settings.

APPLE USERS
  1. open the BuyNothing app
  2. go to your phone home screen
  3. go to your phone Settings
  4. Select Privacy
  5. Select Photos
Make sure Buy Nothing is in the list and the setting should be set to "All Photos".
If not, change it to All Photos.

ANDROID USERS
  1. Open your phone's settings.
  2. Tap Apps.
  3. Scroll down and tap BuyNothing.

From here you can change your camera/photo library settings and notifications.

Why am I not seeing any posts or other people?
If you see the Get Started screen, it is because no one close by has posted yet. Because the app is so new, it will likely take some time for others to join. It could be that others are joining all around you but no one has posted yet!

Here's how to get started building your community in the app:
  1. Download the app (links below)
  2. Share the link to the app with friends and neighbors (share from within the app on the Settings screen "Share" option)
  3. Post something in the app, perhaps an ASK post asking people if they have joined.
Sharing with at least 6 people around you will likely get the activity moving and encourage others to start sharing. 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buynothing/id1557679959
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sharething.app&hl=en_US&gl=US

How do I add or change my profile photo?
To change your profile photo, follow these steps:
  1. Tap Me in the bottom menu to get to your profile
  2. On your Profile, tap the Edit Profile button
  3. On the Edit Profile screen, tap Change Photo
  4. You can use the Camera to take a photo, or select a photo from your Photo Library
  5. After selecting the photo, tap Update button at the top right of the Edit Profile screen
  6. NOTE: Sometimes the update can take a little while!
How do I delete my post?
In general, we ask that you keep your content available, even after your gifts have been given, your requests fulfilled, and your gratitude seen. Each interaction is a valuable addition to our shared narrative. We have learned that a shared narrative built on an archive of content helps new and longtime participants build a shared local gift economy vocabulary, and this shared vocabulary, complete with old stories of gifts long given, is a cornerstone of a sustainable local gift economy. Please do not delete your content, but allow it to remain as part of your gift economy’s story.

If you made your post in error and you'd like to delete it, you can take the following steps:
  1. Tap Me in the bottom menu to get to your profile
  2. On your Profile Page, find the post you'd like to delete
  3. Tap the Edit button on the post and you can delete the post but it will not fully disappear.
  4. Write something witty that you'd like to have others see, perhaps explaining that you've deleted the post as best you can until we introduce that feature.
How do I message someone?
To private message someone, follow these steps:
  1. Click on their profile photo wherever you are in the app.
  2. Click on the “Private message” button to message them.

Or, if you are in the Home Feed and have posted a Gift, or Ask, or Gratitude, follow these steps:
  1. Click on anyone’s comment on your post and that will take you to a Private Message screen for inputting your message.
  2. For a Gift post, you will have two options: You can choose to just message them (so you will keep the “Not yet”) bar green) or you can opt to give them your gift and click on “Yes” at the “Gift to this person” prompt. You can then input your pickup location and instructions and save them for future use!
Are you only on mobile?
For the time being, we have only developed the app for mobile. But our web app (available for your computer or laptop) will be ready as soon as we can build it.
I'm in a rural area and don't see my neighbors in the app. Is there anything I can do?
For the time being, our broadest Community Setting, "Rural", is < 20 miles. But we have a workaround: If your neighbors live further away than this, we suggest you input a central location near you, under "Change my Location" in the Settings. This will enable you to be "seen" by other neighbors who also have chosen that central area as their location. You'll still be able to input your actual address as a "Pickup Location" in the app. For example, you could input the center of the closest town to you as your location, and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Then, you will all "see" each other. 
Can you answer a question about your rules and guidelines?
Please review our Community Commitment, which serves as our 'rules.' And our Community Guidelines are the more detailed fine print of those rules, providing you with best practices and standards for BuyingNothing.