A grab bag of the most common things that go wrong, with short answers. If your issue isn't here or the fix doesn't work, see Send feedback at the bottom.
Camera or photo library access is denied
The capture sheet shows "Camera access is disabled" instead of the viewfinder.
iOS revokes camera or photo library access app-by-app. To re-grant:
- Open iPhone Settings.
- Scroll down to BeforeIBite.
- Tap Camera and turn it on. Do the same for Photos if you also need to pick from the library.
Restart BeforeIBite and the capture sheet should work again.
Barcode scanner won't detect anything
If the camera is on but the scanner never finds the barcode:
- Move closer. Most barcodes need to fill about a third of the frame.
- Hold steady. Motion blur prevents detection.
- Improve light. Very low light makes the barcode pattern unreadable.
- Try another angle. If the package is curved (drink bottle, soup can), tilt slightly so the barcode is flat to the camera.
If the scanner detects the barcode but you see "Product not found", that's a different issue — see Scan a barcode for packaged food.
If you see "Barcode scanning isn't available on this device," your iPhone model doesn't support Apple's data scanner. Use the nutrition label scanner or type the name instead.
Can't sign in with Apple
If Sign in with Apple fails:
- Check your internet connection. Sign-in needs the network.
- Check Apple ID status. Open Settings → [your name] on your iPhone — make sure you're signed in to your Apple ID at the OS level.
- Restart the app. Force-close BeforeIBite and reopen.
If you're getting a "Session expired" alert after being signed in successfully before, that just means your authentication token aged out. Sign in again — your data is still there.
"You're offline" when scanning
Photo, barcode, and label scans all need a network connection to reach the AI and food databases. If you see "You're offline":
- Tap "Log Manually" to record what you ate — type in the food and its nutrition yourself. To use AI analysis instead, scan again once you're back online.
- Check airplane mode and Wi-Fi. A common case is iPhone connected to a Wi-Fi network with no actual internet (hotel networks before sign-in, captive portals).
App crashed or froze
If BeforeIBite crashes during a scan or freezes on the analyzing screen:
- Force-close and reopen. Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone and swipe BeforeIBite away, then reopen.
- Restart your iPhone if force-close doesn't help.
- Update the app — open the App Store and check for an update.
- Send feedback. Shake your phone (works even on the failing screen) to open the feedback form. Crash reports also go to us automatically — see What data does BeforeIBite collect?.
iCloud Sync isn't syncing across devices
Open Settings → iCloud Sync inside BeforeIBite and check the status:
- Toggle on. Make sure iCloud Sync is enabled.
- iCloud account. You need to be signed in to the same Apple ID on every device you want to sync. Check iPhone Settings → [your name].
- iCloud storage. If your iCloud is full, sync will silently fail. Free up space or upgrade.
- Give it a minute. First-time sync after enabling can take a few minutes if you have a lot of meals.
Daily targets aren't recalculating after I changed my weight
BeforeIBite re-derives your calorie and macro targets automatically when you change your profile — unless you've manually overridden the targets, in which case your overrides win. To force a recalc, open Settings → Daily targets and switch back to Auto mode. See Adjust your calorie and macro goals.
My meal log has duplicates
If iCloud Sync was off and you logged the same meal on two devices, both copies will appear when sync is re-enabled. Open each duplicate and delete the one you don't want — see Edit or correct a logged meal for the delete flow.
Send feedback when something else is wrong
If your issue isn't covered here, the fastest path is to shake your iPhone while BeforeIBite is open. A feedback sheet appears with your device details pre-filled — just write what went wrong, and tap send. We read every message.
You can also email [email protected].
When reporting a bug, what helps most:
- Which screen you were on when it happened.
- What you tapped just before.
- What you expected vs. what actually happened.
- Whether it happens every time or just sometimes.
We don't need a video; a short text description is enough.