FAQ & Troubleshooting

This chapter answers frequently asked questions and gives self-help tips when something doesn’t work as expected.

Where is my data stored?

Your data is stored in the data folder—an ordinary folder with Markdown files. You can see the current path under Settings → Data Folder. You choose the location when you set up the app. To use it on several devices, put it in iCloud Drive—see the next question about syncing devices.

How do I sync TandemLoop between multiple devices?

Put your data folder in iCloud Drive and choose this folder on each device under Settings → Data Folder. iCloud keeps the files up to date; TandemLoop reads the same state on Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

Whenever possible, work on only one device at a time and let syncing finish before you switch—this avoids conflict copies. Details in the chapter The Data Folder & File Format.

Do I need my own AI or a subscription for the AI features?

TandemLoop itself contains no AI. For proposals and working in tandem, you need an external, agentic AI tool—for example, Claude Cowork, Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, or Antigravity—that you let access your data folder. Which tool you use and whether it requires a subscription depends entirely on that tool. Without such a tool, TandemLoop works fully, just without AI suggestions. Connecting an AI Tool describes how to connect one.

I moved the data folder to a different drive. What do I need to do?

Open Settings → Data Folder and choose Switch Data Folder…. The same setup dialog as at first launch opens: You choose the new location, TandemLoop checks the folder’s structure and then continues working with it.

Archiving finds nothing—even though I have completed tasks.

Check two things:

1. Is automatic archiving turned on? Automatic archiving is turned off by default. Turn it on under Settings → Archiving with Auto-archive. The setting applies per device.
2. Has the waiting period passed? The default rule for tasks is Period After Completion with 7 days. A task completed only yesterday doesn’t meet this condition yet. You can adjust the period or switch the rule to Immediately After Completion.

What happens to archived items?

Archived tasks, milestones, and projects are moved to the _archive/ subfolder of the data folder. There they stay unchanged—the app no longer indexes them and doesn’t show them in the app. You can view the archive under Settings → Archiving → Browse Archive. There’s no automatic restore into the app; if needed, you move the relevant files back out of the _archive/ folder manually.

A shortcut doesn’t work.

Open Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts and check that the key combination is set correctly. If a combination is already taken, the page shows a note about the conflict. Keep in mind that single-letter shortcuts without modifiers, such as T or M, only work when no text field has focus.

Quick Entry doesn’t open with the global hotkey.

The system-wide hotkey ⌃ + ⌥ + Space doesn’t need any special permission. If it doesn’t work, another app or macOS is usually using the same combination. Under Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts, set a different combination for the Quick Entry entry; if that one is also taken system-wide, TandemLoop tells you there right away. Inside the app, you can always open Quick Entry from the File → Quick Entry menu.

I can’t change anything anymore—every attempt opens the subscription screen.

Without an active subscription, TandemLoop is in read-only mode: You see all your data but can’t change anything. Subscribe, or bring back an existing subscription with Settings → Subscription → Restore Purchases. Details in Subscription & Read-Only Mode.

I can’t find the proposals.

Proposals are turned off by default; then the Proposals section is missing from the sidebar (the AI tab on iPhone). Turn them on under Settings → AI Agents. The switch applies to the whole data folder.

TandemLoop shows outdated data even though I edited the files externally.

The app’s file watcher normally detects external changes to the data folder automatically. If the display still hasn’t updated, reload the cache manually: Settings → Data Folder → Reload Cache.

I accidentally deleted a project.

On the Mac, TandemLoop moves deleted projects, including their tasks and milestones, to the Finder Trash. Move the project folder from there back to its original location in the data folder (Put Back in the Trash’s context menu)—TandemLoop then shows it again. On iPad and iPhone, deleting is permanent; then only a backup of your data folder helps (for example, Time Machine or iCloud versions).