Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q: Is this just another reminder app with themes?
A: Not at all. Monty features sophisticated adaptive personalities. Each character has over unique handcrafted responses that evolve based on your behavior, procrastination style, and task types. It's not themed — it's personal.
Q: How is Monty different from other reminder apps?
A: Most reminder apps send boring alerts. Monty sends personality-driven responses that react to how you work — polite at first, witty or guilt-inducing later. Every reminder becomes a conversation that motivates you to take action.
Q: Will you add more characters?
A: Yes! We're expanding the character library with new personalities, voices, and motivation styles. Early users will get first access to new characters.
Voice & Personality
Q: How do voice features work?
A: Monty uses pre-recorded audio clips for each character, stored locally in the app. All voice responses play directly from your device—no internet connection required and no data transmitted to third-party services.
Q: What's the difference between Monty and Mum & Dad?
A:
- Monty is a sophisticated British butler with dry wit and escalating sarcasm. Perfect if you respond well to playful teasing.
- Mum & Dad is a caring parent figure (available in both Mum and Dad voices) who uses gentle concern that escalates to mild disappointment. Great if you prefer supportive accountability.
Q: Can I switch characters?
A: Absolutely! Go to Settings → Character Selection to change at any time. Tasks remain the same, but the responses adapt to your new companion.
Tasks & Reminders
Q: How do I create a task?
A: Tap "+" on the main screen → add your task → choose category → set date/time → tap Save.
Q: What are task categories for?
A: They help Monty tailor responses. Categories include Work, Chores, Health, Social, Finance, and more.
Q: How do notifications work?
A: Monty sends reminders when tasks are due (and after you snooze them). Allow notifications on first launch or enable via iOS Settings → Monty → Notifications.
Q: What happens when I snooze a task?
A: Your character's personality escalates as you keep snoozing — from polite nudges to full-blown sarcasm or guilt. The longer you wait, the spicier it gets.
Q: Can I share tasks with others?
A: Yes! Tap the share icon on any task. The recipient can accept or decline with a character response — no more being the household nag.
Getting Started
Q: Is Monty free to use?
A: Yes. The app is free to download with two full characters (Monty & Mom/Dad). Premium features and additional characters are available with Pro upgrade ($4.99 one-time).
Q: Do I need an account?
A: Nope — Monty works entirely on your device. No login or signup required.
Q: Does Monty require an internet connection?
A: No! After downloading the app, Monty works completely offline. All features—tasks, reminders, character voices, and notifications—function without internet. You only need connectivity when sharing tasks via iMessage or other messaging apps (standard iOS sharing behavior).
Q: Is my data private?
A: Absolutely. We selected "No data collection" on Apple's App Store privacy form. Everything stays on your device. No user accounts, no cloud sync, no tracking, no analytics. Your tasks are yours alone.
Troubleshooting
Notifications Not Appearing
- Go to iOS Settings → Monty → Notifications
- Turn Allow Notifications ON
- Enable Banners or Alerts
- Turn Sounds ON
- Restart the app and test a new task
App Crashes or Freezes
- Force-quit Monty and reopen it
- Restart your device
- Check for updates in the App Store
- If it persists, contact us with your iOS version and device model
Tasks Not Saving
- Tap Save after editing
- Check device storage (Settings → General → iPhone Storage)
- Try recreating the task
- Restart Monty
Can't Share Tasks
- Check your internet connection
- Make sure the recipient has Monty installed
- Generate a new share link
- Confirm the task hasn't expired (links valid 7 days)
Character Responses Not Showing
- Confirm a character is selected in Settings
- Snooze a task — responses appear dynamically
- Restart the app to refresh data
Voice Not Working
- Check device volume and ensure not muted
- Verify voice is enabled in Settings → Voice Settings
- Voice works completely offline—no internet needed
- Restart the app and try again
- If issues persist, contact support with your iOS version and device model
Privacy & Your Data
Privacy-First Design
Monty doesn't collect your data. Period.
✓ No user accounts or cloud sync
✓ No analytics or tracking
✓ No third-party services
✓ No servers—everything stays on your device
✓ Works 100% offline
✓ No user accounts or cloud sync
✓ No analytics or tracking
✓ No third-party services
✓ No servers—everything stays on your device
✓ Works 100% offline
What data does Monty collect?
None. Monty is designed with privacy as a core principle.
When submitting to the App Store, we selected "No, we do not collect data from this app."
Here's what that means:
- Tasks & Reminders: Stored locally on your device using Core Data
- Character Selection: Saved in local app preferences
- Voice Responses: Pre-recorded audio files stored in the app bundle
- Notifications: Managed by iOS, not transmitted anywhere
- No Analytics: We don't track your usage, behavior, or data
- No User Accounts: No sign-up, no cloud sync, no servers
- No Third-Party Services: No data sent to external services
Is my data synced to the cloud?
No. All data stays on your device. Your tasks, preferences, and settings never leave your iPhone unless you explicitly share a task.
What happens when I share a task?
When you share a task, the task data (title, category, due date, and your name if provided) is encoded directly into the URL itself—similar to how a QR code works.
The URL contains the data; it's not stored on our servers because we don't have any servers. The data goes peer-to-peer from your device to whoever you send the link to. Share links expire after 7 days.
Can I delete my data?
Yes. You can delete individual tasks within the app, or delete all app data by uninstalling Monty from your device.
What's stored on my device?
Monty stores the following locally using iOS Core Data:
- Task titles, categories, and due dates
- Completion status and snooze counts
- Your character preference (Monty or Mum & Dad)
- Your name (optional, used only when you share tasks)
- App settings and preferences
- Local statistics (tasks completed, shares created)
None of this data is transmitted off your device except when you explicitly share a task with someone.
Can I backup my tasks?
Yes! Your tasks are automatically included in your iPhone's iCloud or iTunes backups. Restoring from a backup will restore all your Monty tasks and settings.
View Full Privacy Policy →Feature Requests & Feedback
We love hearing from you! If you have ideas for new features, character personalities, or improvements, please reach out at support@appstract.work.