frequently asked questions

the questions people actually ask before locking down an iphone.

• what do I need? — a mac, a usb cable, and the iphone. windows support comes later
• does setup really erase the phone? — yes, once. that is apple's rule for real supervision; the app walks you through a backup first
• can I undo everything? — yes: plug into any computer, restore, and it is a normal iphone again
• do you see my data? — no. the free and plus tiers have no server and no account; the key stays on your mac. the optional cloud tier stores only what its features need (modes, battery, last-seen) and we never sell data
• what if my mac dies? — the phone keeps working exactly as configured. set it up again from any other mac, or restore the phone to normal from any computer
• which iphones work? — anything that runs iOS 17 or newer. the old iphone in your drawer is usually perfect
• can my kid get around it? — apps and the store are truly gone, and settings are locked. the one honest escape is a full factory reset from a computer, which wipes the phone and removes nothing quietly — you will know
• more than one phone? — the free tier covers one phone; plus ($20 one-time) covers as many as you like from one mac
• android? — no, and no plans. tinyphone is iphone-only
• is there a subscription? — only if you want the cloud tier. the mac app is free for one phone, and plus is a one-time purchase

markdown version for agents and readers in a hurry