Help & FAQ

Short answers to common questions about Dear Next.

What is Dear Next?

Dear Next is a living family playbook and legacy space. It helps you organize essentials (so your family isn’t guessing in a crisis) and write stories and letters in your own words over time.

How do I add items quickly?

Use the Quick Add bar at the top of your dashboard — type a title and press Enter. You can also open any section and add items with a fuller form if you want more detail.

Does Dear Next work on mobile?

Yes. Mobile is great for quick capture, checking info, and small edits. For longer sessions (bulk organizing, exporting, and heavy editing), desktop is usually more comfortable.

Can I use Siri Shortcuts for quick capture?

Yes — you can create a Shortcut that takes a dictated note and drops you into Dear Next.

Open Shortcuts on iPhone → tap + to create a new Shortcut.
Add Action → search Dictate Text (or Ask for Input).
Add Action → Copy to Clipboard (optional but helpful).
Add Action → Open URLs → use https://dearnext.app/app.
(Optional) Add Action → Show Notification like “Pasted to clipboard — open Quick Add and paste.”

Tip: For fastest capture, add the Shortcut to your Home Screen or Action Button and name it “Dear Next Quick Add.”

How will my family access this if something happens to me?

Dear Next is designed to help you organize what matters and leave clear guidance. To keep things private, Dear Next does not offer emergency access or shared logins.

Continuity Contacts are notification-only. They do not receive access to your account or playbook.
They can be notified that you’ve named them as someone to contact or coordinate with if needed.
Your family’s access comes from good “Dear Next hygiene” — keeping your playbook updated and sharing a printable copy when appropriate.

Practical tips:

Export your Playbook PDF periodically and keep it somewhere your family can find (safe, binder, or a shared folder you control).
Use notes to point to the right places (password manager, policy portal, advisor, etc.) instead of storing sensitive numbers.
Tell one or two people where your “first steps” list is, and review it once or twice a year.

How is my data protected?

Dear Next uses Firebase Authentication and Firestore with rules restricting access to your account. We encourage storing references and links rather than raw sensitive data whenever possible. See our Privacy page for details and responsibilities.

Should I store passwords, SSNs, or full account numbers?

We recommend not storing highly sensitive information like passwords, SSNs, or full account numbers in Dear Next. Instead, store where to find it and what to do first:

“Password manager is 1Password — here’s the vault name and recovery steps.”
“Life insurance is with X — agent contact is Y — policy location/link here.”
“First 48 hours checklist — who to call, what to locate, what to pause.”

What are Stories & Letters?

Stories & Letters are your legacy space — a place to write in your own voice over time. Think: life stories, “what I want you to know,” and letters for milestones (graduation, wedding day, hard seasons, and more).

Can I export my playbook or stories?

Yes. Dear Next supports PDF export for printing or sharing. Exports are designed to be useful first — clear, structured, and easy to hand to a spouse or keep in a safe place.

What does AI Assist do?

AI Assist is an optional helper that can suggest missing details, turn notes into checklists, and help you draft content faster. It won’t change anything unless you choose to apply it.

How do I change my password?

Use the password reset option from the sign-in page, or open the Account panel in the app to send yourself a reset email.

How do I cancel or delete my account?

Email admin@anchoredarrows.app and we’ll help with cancellation or account deletion.

Something looks wrong. What’s the fastest way to get help?

Email admin@anchoredarrows.app with:

What you were trying to do
Device (mobile/desktop) + browser
A screenshot if possible