Frequently Asked Questions

Lens is available on the App Store. These FAQs explain how Lens fits field documentation workflows, what each plan includes, and how we handle your data.

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About Lens

What is Lens?

Lens is a professional proof‑of‑work camera app for iPhone that turns every photo and video into metadata‑rich, trustworthy documentation — with date, time, GPS, weather, and project context on every capture.

Who is Lens designed for?

Lens is built for people who need their camera roll to prove what happened, not just remember it — field professionals, inspectors, engineers, journalists, creators, and anyone who documents sites, assets, or events for work.

How is Lens different from the built‑in iPhone camera?

The iPhone camera focuses on aesthetics. Lens focuses on evidence:

• A readable overlay on every capture (time, place, conditions, project, notes)
• Consistent file naming for projects and clients
• AI‑generated PDF reports from your photos
• Optional Content Credentials (C2PA) for cryptographic proof of origin

You still get the same high‑quality photos and videos from your iPhone — plus an audit‑ready paper trail.

Is Lens right for my workflow?

Lens is a strong fit if you:

• Take photos or video to document jobs, inspections, incidents, or field work
• Need to show when, where, and under what conditions something was captured
• Want to generate clean reports without copying images into Word or email

If that sounds like you, Lens is likely a good fit.

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Plans, pricing, and trial

Can I try Lens for free?

Yes. New installs can start a time‑limited free trial with Core and Pro features so you can test Lens in your real workflow before paying. Trial length, included AI report allowance, and device eligibility are shown in the app and on the App Store purchase screen before you confirm anything. See our Terms of Use §4.B and Privacy Policy §2.E for how trial eligibility is tracked.

How long is the free trial?

The promotional trial is 14 days unless your install shows a different grandfathered period in the app. AI report generation during the trial is capped (currently 14 reports); check in‑app messaging for your remaining allowance.

What does Lens Core cost?

Lens Core is a one‑time App Store purchase. The standard price is $9.99 through December 31, 2026. After that date, pricing may change; the App Store purchase screen always shows the price that applies in your region before you buy.

Lens Core unlocks the full camera, overlays, exports, and device‑attested Content Credentials (self‑signed via the Apple Secure Enclave). It does not include recurring‑cost features such as Gemini AI reports, offline maps, or CA‑signed Content Credentials—those sit in Lens Pro or the future Lens Trust tier.

Do I need a subscription?

Not for the core camera. Lens Core is a one‑time purchase. Lens Pro is a subscription for AI reports, auto‑captions, PDF builder, and offline maps. Lens Trust (CA‑signed Content Credentials) is a future tier; today you can reserve a founding‑member spot while we complete infrastructure. All billing runs through Apple; we do not store your payment details.

Can I use Lens for both personal and client work?

Yes. Many people start with a trial on a small personal or side project, then roll it out to full client or team work once they’re confident it fits their process.

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Getting started

How do I take my first photo with metadata?

1. Open Lens and grant camera, location, and photo library permissions when asked.
2. Frame your subject with the overlay in mind.
3. Tap the shutter button.

Lens automatically embeds the date, time, location (if enabled), weather, and your current project details into the overlay.

What permissions does Lens need?

Microphone is only requested when recording video.

Can I use Lens without location access?

Yes. Lens will still capture and save your photos and videos, but they will not include GPS coordinates or address data. The overlay will show “Location Unavailable.”

What’s the best way to try Lens in my first 10 minutes?

For a quick end‑to‑end test:

1. Take 3–5 photos of a real‑world scene (e.g., a room, asset, or site) with the overlay visible.
2. Add a Quick Note and set a Project Profile name so you see how context appears on each capture.
3. Open the Gallery, select those photos, and generate an AI Report as a PDF.
4. (Optional) Enable Content Credentials for one capture and verify it using a C2PA viewer.

This sequence shows you how Lens turns a few photos into a clear, shareable record.

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What should I try first?

Which features should I start with?

If you’re evaluating Lens, start with these pillars:

• Metadata overlay: Capture a few photos and videos so you can see date, time, GPS, weather, and notes on every image.
• Project Profiles & Quick Notes: Set a project name/client and use note aliases so every capture is labeled correctly with almost no typing.
• AI Reports: Turn a small batch of photos into a polished PDF report and share it with a colleague or client.
• Content Credentials (optional): Enable Content Credentials and sign a test photo to see how cryptographic provenance works in your workflow.
• Offline capture & maps: Try capturing in low‑signal or offline conditions and, if helpful, enable Offline Maps for your area.

Once those feel natural, you can explore finer controls like fonts, branding, and video settings.

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Photos & Video

What format are photos saved in?

Photos are saved in HEIC (High Efficiency Image Format) at 0.85 quality. Lens falls back to JPEG on older devices. Metadata is preserved in both formats.

Why is my photo file size large?

Larger file sizes typically occur when:

• High‑resolution capture is enabled
• JPEG fallback is used (less compression than HEIC)

You can check whether HEIC is supported and adjust settings in Lens and iOS Settings.

What video quality is supported?

Lens supports 1080p (HD) and 4K (Ultra HD) recording at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps. Availability depends on your specific device hardware. In Video mode, use the top controls bar to change resolution and frame rate independently.

Can I remove the overlay after capture?

No. The overlay is permanently embedded at the moment of capture. This is intentional — it creates tamper‑evident proof of work so you can trust that what you see is what was captured.

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Overlay & Display

How do I hide the mini‑map?

Go to Settings (gear icon) → Map → toggle Show Map off.

Can I change the overlay font?

Yes. Settings → Typography → Font Pairing. You can choose from several professional typeface combinations tuned for clarity and a clean, technical look.

How do I add my company logo?

Settings → Branding → Add Logo. Supported formats: PNG, JPEG. Transparent backgrounds usually look best on the overlay.

The overlay is blocking my subject. Can I move it?

The overlay position is fixed to keep documentation consistent across every capture. Frame your subject with the overlay in mind so important details remain visible.

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Projects & Quick Notes

What are Project Profiles?

Project Profiles let you switch between different job contexts. Each profile saves its own Project Name, Project Client, and File Name Prefix so your documentation stays organized and your files are clearly labeled per site or client.

How do I create a new profile?

Settings → Project Profiles → tap + (plus icon) → enter your project details.

What are Quick Note Templates?

Quick Note Templates are pre‑set text blocks you can quickly add to your photos. Instead of typing the same status repeatedly, you select it from a list or use an Alias.

How do Alias shortcuts work?

Every template can have a short alias (2–4 letters). In the camera view, tap the Note area, type your alias (for example sc), and double‑tap the spacebar. Lens expands it to the full template text (for example Site conditions documented).

Is there a character limit for notes?

Yes. Quick Notes are limited to 100 characters so they fit cleanly inside the overlay without obscuring your image.

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Reports & Export

What is an AI Report?

An AI Report is a professional PDF generated from your captures. It includes:

• All selected photos with their metadata
• An AI‑structured narrative tying the photos together
• Any notes you’ve added
• Project and client information

It’s designed so you can send a clear, ready‑to‑file report without manual layout work.

How do I create a report?

1. Open the Gallery and select photos (long‑press for multi‑select).
2. Tap Create Report.
3. Add notes and adjust the title if needed.
4. Tap Generate to create the PDF.

Can I edit a report after generating?

The report is generated as a PDF. To change it:

1. Adjust your notes or which photos are selected.
2. Regenerate the report — you’ll get an updated PDF.

What report title colors are available?

Go to Settings → Project → Default Report Title Color to choose Black, Red, or Blue.

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Privacy & Data

How does Lens protect my data?

Lens is designed with a local‑first, privacy‑respecting model: your photos and videos stay on your device by default, with only a few clearly explained exceptions. The app does not use usage analytics or automatic crash or diagnostics uploads; support is user‑initiated (for example email) with optional diagnostic attachments, off by default where offered.

Does Lens upload my photos anywhere?

By default, no. Your photos and videos remain in your local storage and are not continuously synced to our servers.

Exception (Content Credentials): When you enable Content Credentials, Lens saves signed “Master Copies” to your iCloud Drive by default so they are not lost if you delete the app. You can change this to a local folder in Settings.

Exception (Transient AI Processing): If you use AI Report Generation, selected photos are briefly processed by our AI provider to create descriptions. No data is stored or used for training:

• ✓ Zero data retention — photos are discarded immediately after processing
• ✓ No training — your content is never used to improve public AI models
• ✓ Secure transport — data is encrypted in transit

See Google’s Generative AI Privacy Notice for more on how transient data is handled.

Exception (Opt‑In Offline Maps): If you enable Offline Maps, your approximate location is shared with Mapbox to download map tiles. This is disabled by default and clearly explained during setup.

Does Lens track my usage?

No — not in the sense of product analytics or ad profiling. Lens does not collect usage “events” for that purpose. Performance-oriented tooling in the app may help us understand responsiveness, but you can think of the product as not tracking your behavior for marketing or broad analytics. Some features (weather, AI, Remote Config) still use the network, as described elsewhere in this Help Center and the Privacy Policy.

Does Lens collect my feedback?

Yes, but only when you choose to send it. Lens supports:

• General feedback: A copy is stored on your device; the app does not run automatic cloud “feedback sync” to our servers.
• Bug reports and support email: You send email when you are ready, with your chosen subject and body.
• Image attachments (when the flow allows): You choose what to attach, subject to size and format limits.

What your message may include (depending on what you add):

• The text you type in the form or email body
• Optional diagnostic log attachment only when a flow explicitly offers it and you turn that attachment on (defaults off where applicable)
• Optional image attachments in supported flows (for example, chosen from the share sheet)
• App and device information that you include, or that is in an attached diagnostic file if you provide one
• If you use email, your from address is visible to support as the sender.

Clear on-device support artifacts: In the app, go to Settings → Data & Privacy → Clear local support data to remove local feedback history and diagnostic log files without deleting your photos or resetting the app.

There is no background “send feedback to the cloud” toggle—if you do not start a support email or use a user‑initiated flow, nothing of that class is sent.

How do I delete my data?

Delete photos directly from the Gallery, or delete the app. If you’ve enabled Content Credentials and chosen to save Master Copies in iCloud Drive or a Custom Location, you’ll need to delete those signed copies manually from the Files app.

Feedback and local copies: On-device general feedback is removed when you delete the app. Email to support is handled like normal email—if you need something deleted, contact us with a reasonable request. Automatic crash or diagnostics upload to us is not a feature you turn on; optional logs are only in attachments you add.

Is automatic third-party crash reporting turned on for Lens support?

No — the product does not enable automatic background crash or diagnostics upload to us. If a screen offers to attach a diagnostic file to email, that is optional and you choose to send it.

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Troubleshooting

Why does the location show “Unavailable”?

Cause: Location services are disabled or denied for Lens.

Fix:

1. Open iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services.
2. Find Lens → set to While Using the App.
3. Re‑open Lens and try again.

Why aren’t my photos saving?

Cause: Photo library access is not granted.

Fix:

1. Open iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos.
2. Find Lens → set to Full Access or Add Photos Only.

Why is the camera preview black?

Cause: Camera access is denied, or another app is using the camera.

Fix:

1. Close other camera apps.
2. Open iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.
3. Enable Lens.
4. Restart the app.

Why did video recording stop unexpectedly?

Cause: Your device is running low on storage space.

Fix: Free up device storage. As a rough guide, video at 1080p 30fps uses approximately 130 MB per minute.

Why does the overlay look blurry on export?

Cause: A screenshot or screen recording was used instead of an export from Lens.

Fix: Use the Share function from within the Lens Gallery to export at full resolution.

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Features & Limits

What’s the maximum video length?

There’s no hard limit inside Lens. Practical limits depend on your available device storage. For long recordings, keep an eye on remaining space in iOS Settings.

Is there a limit on AI report generation?

AI Report generation uses on‑device AI when available. Network‑based generation may have temporary usage limits during peak periods, but for typical field and client reporting workloads you should be able to generate reports freely.

Does Lens work offline?

Yes. Core capture features work entirely offline:

• Photos & Video: Capture and saving work without a signal.
• Altitude & Compass: Use device sensors (GPS/Barometer/Magnetometer) and do not need internet.
• Addresses: Lens will try to display a previously visited address (cached). If not available, it shows coordinates.
• Weather: Shows the Last Known value (marked as “Cached”) if you have no signal.

You can also enable Offline Maps to download map data for offline use.

How do I use Offline Maps?

First‑time setup:

1. Go to Settings > Offline Maps.
2. Tap Enable Offline Maps.
3. Review the privacy notice and tap Enable Offline Maps to consent.
   • This allows Mapbox to receive your IP address, device info, and approximate location.
   • See our Privacy Policy for details.

After enabling:

1. Search for a city or use Use Current Location.
2. Pan and zoom to select your desired area.
3. Tap Download Selected Area.
4. Downloaded maps appear automatically when you’re offline.

To disable: Go to Settings > Offline Maps > Disable Offline Maps. This removes all downloaded maps and stops data sharing with Mapbox.

How much storage do offline maps use?

It depends on the size of the area. A typical city download is between 10–50 MB. You can clear storage at any time in Settings > Offline Maps > Clear All Maps.

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Content Credentials (C2PA)

What are Content Credentials?

Content Credentials is the user‑friendly name for provenance data built on the open C2PA standard. When enabled, Lens cryptographically signs your photos and videos using your iPhone’s Apple Secure Enclave hardware, creating tamper‑evident proof of:

• When the capture was taken (trusted timestamp)
• Where it was taken (GPS coordinates, when enabled in Settings)
• What device captured it (hardware‑bound identity)
• That it hasn’t been altered (cryptographic hash)
• Version tracking (app version for security vulnerability management)

Lens implements C2PA Technical Specification 2.2 guided by the C2PA UX Recommendations 2.0 and Security Considerations 2.0 documents. We are currently in the Conformance Phase of our evaluation. See our C2PA v2.2 Compliance page for detailed information.

What does “Signed by Lens App Signer” mean?

This is a digital signature embedded in your photo that proves its origin. It guarantees the photo was taken by Lens and has not been edited by external software.

Where can I find the signed photos?

By default, Lens saves your signed Master Copies to iCloud Drive (iCloud Drive > Lens > Artifacts) so they’re backed up and persist even if you delete the app.

If iCloud is disabled, they are saved locally to Files > On My iPhone > Lens > C2PA. You can also choose a Custom Location (such as a separate folder or external SSD) in Settings.

If I delete the app, do my signed photos get deleted?

It depends on where they’re stored:

• iCloud Drive (Cloud Saved): ✓ Safe. Your photos persist in your iCloud storage regardless of the app’s status.
• Custom Location: ✓ Safe. If you picked a folder outside the “Lens” app directory, the files are considered user data and remain on your device.
• On My iPhone (Device Only): ! Will be deleted. If your photos are stored in the default On My iPhone > Lens folder, iOS removes them when the app is uninstalled.

Lens shows a guided warning in Settings if you are using device‑only storage so you can move Master Copies to a safer location.

Why is my photo “Unrecognized” on verification sites?

This is expected behavior during our Preview (Conformance Phase).

Lens currently uses a self‑signed certificate with Apple Secure Enclave hardware binding while we complete formal C2PA Conformance and finalize partnership agreements with Certificate Authorities (CAs) such as SSL.com.

To show “Trusted Signer,” we need a certificate from a CA that appears on the viewer’s C2PA Trust List. We are actively working toward CA‑verified credentials.

Bottom line: Your photos are cryptographically secure and Lens’s implementation matches the applicable parts of the C2PA Technical Specification 2.2. The “Unrecognized” warning affects how the signer is displayed, not the integrity of your data. (Implementation claim, not formal C2PA Conformance certification.)

When will Lens have a trusted certificate?

We are working toward providing CA‑verified credentials as part of our C2PA Conformance Phase. The integration code (ES256, Secure Enclave, JUMBF) is complete and ready.

Lens already implements the relevant C2PA Technical Specification 2.2 security controls, including hardware‑backed keys, OCSP revocation checking, and version tracking. The remaining step is formal CA certificate issuance from the trust list.

Which third‑party services provide the timestamps?

To maintain high security and cross‑platform trust, Lens uses specialized Timestamp Authorities (TSA) to issue cryptographically signed, RFC 3161‑compliant timestamps.

Lens uses:

• DigiCert (timestamp.digicert.com) — Our only TSA, on the C2PA TSA Trust List. When unreachable, we sign without a timestamp.

These services verify the exact time of capture independently of your phone’s clock, making your Content Credentials resistant to date‑tampering.

What does the Green Shield mean?

A green shield (checkmark.shield.fill) indicates Verified Trust:

• Your device time matches trusted network servers (Apple, Cloudflare, Google).
• Photos are signed with verified Trusted Timestamps.
• You’re ready to capture with full provenance.

What does the Orange Antenna (Offline) mean?

An orange antenna icon (antenna.radiowaves.left.and.right.slash) indicates that we cannot reach our trusted time servers (offline or behind a firewall). You must explicitly choose “Enable with Limited Trust” to sign photos. These captures are signed without a trusted timestamp; verification tools will show lower trust for the timestamp.

What does the Red Shield (Security Alert) mean?

A red shield (xmark.shield.fill) indicates Time Tampering. Your device clock differs significantly from the actual time. To protect the integrity of your Content Credentials, signing is blocked until you set your device time to “Set Automatically” in iOS Settings.

Does C2PA work with video?

Yes. Lens supports hardware‑backed signing for video files (.mov / .mp4). Enable it in Settings > Content Credentials. Signed videos are saved to the Photos app and as a Master Copy in the Files app. Video manifests include device info and optionally location; capture settings (ISO, aperture, exposure) are only available for photos.

Is my signing key safe?

Yes. Your private signing key is:

• Generated inside the Apple Secure Enclave (hardware security module)
• Never exported — it cannot be copied, backed up, or transferred
• Device‑bound — if you get a new phone, a new key is generated
• Protected by iOS — even a jailbroken device cannot extract it

How do I verify a signed photo?

Use any C2PA‑compliant verification tool, such as:

• Web: contentcredentials.org/verify
• Desktop: Adobe Photoshop (2023+), or Chrome with a C2PA extension

Upload your signed photo (from the Files app) and check the provenance panel.

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Sources & Verification

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Account & Support

Do I need an account?

No. Lens works entirely without accounts or sign‑in. All data stays on your device by default.

How do I contact support?

On your iPhone: Settings → Support → Send Feedback or Report Bug.

• Send Feedback: For general suggestions, feature requests, or comments. You can attach up to 3 images to illustrate your feedback.
• Report Bug: For issues, crashes, or problems. You can include screenshots, diagnostic logs, and up to 3 images to help us diagnose the issue.

Including your iOS version and device model helps us resolve issues faster.

How do I request a feature?

Use the Send Feedback option in Settings. Share as much context as you can (what you’re trying to do, how you work today, and why the feature would help). We review all requests.

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Related Resources

• Getting Started — First‑time setup guide
• Privacy Policy — Data handling practices
• Terms of Use — Usage terms