Is the content of your apps automatically backed up to iCloud?

No, the content of our apps (and many others) is not automatically synchronised with iCloud. To ensure you have a safe backup of everything on an iOS device, we recommend you sync it to iTunes on a PC or Mac. You may want to use both iCloud and iTunes, as explained in Apple's support article.

If your device runs iOS 10 or later, and you have enabled the iCloud Drive app, you can manually copy profiles in Special Words and collections and stories in Special Stories to and from iCloud Drive. Refer to the User Guides for these apps for details.

How do I download and install add-on resources?

Detailed instructions can be found by following the links on our Free Resources page.

Can I transfer to Special Stories the content I've added to Special Words, or vice versa?

Yes, you can transfer words, pictures and sounds in both directions. You need both Special Words and Special Stories installed on the same device. For a detailed explanation, read the Extra Actions chapters in our User Guides for Apple devices, or the Sharing chapters in our User Guides for Android devices.

How can I transfer data between Apple and Android devices?

If you have Special Stories on an Android device (e.g. a Samsung phone) and on an Apple device (e.g. an iPad), you can easily transfer stories and collections in either direction, either by sending as an email attachment, or directly between the devices over Wi-Fi. You can use exactly the same methods to transfer profiles between Special Words on the two devices. You will find instructions in the Extra Actions chapters in our User Guides for Apple devices, and the Sharing chapters in our User Guides for Android devices.

Can I open a story created with Special Stories in Apple Books (formerly iBooks)?

You need both Special Stories and Apple Books on your Apple device. In Special Stories, go to the list of stories, tap the action button (top left), and choose Export Story. If you have more than one collection of stories, select the collection containing the story you want to open. Choose the story, tap Copy to... "EPUB (Apple Books)”, and then tap the Apple Books icon.

A copy of the story will be transferred to your Apple Books library and opened in Apple Books. Note that the story in Apple Books will appear portrait-only and display one page at a time. To play the sound for a page, tap the picture.

If you would like to send the story to somebody else to open in Apple Books, instead of opening it yourself, choose Use Email instead of Open In “Apple Books”, and then choose Email as EPUB (Apple Books). The recipient will need to have iBooks installed on their device (but won't need Special Stories).

To send to someone who doesn't have Apple Books, choose Email as PDF. In this case, only text and pictures will be included, not sound.

How can I transfer data between Apple and Android devices?

If you have Special Stories on an Android device (e.g. a smartphone) and on an Apple device (e.g. an iPad), you can transfer stories and collections in either direction, either by sending as an email attachment, or directly between the devices over Wi-Fi. You can use the same methods to transfer profiles between Special Words.

How can I email a profile or story using a different email app?

On Android, when you export a profile from Special Words or a story (or collection) from Special Stories with "Use email", the system will offer you a choice of installed email apps to use. We have successfully tested with Gmail and K-9 Mail apps.

On an iPad or iPhone, "Use Email" will always select Apple Mail: to use a different mail app, select "Copy to ..." instead of "Use Email", and choose your preferred email app from the ones displayed.  If your email app is installed on iOS, but not shown, you may need to tap "More" to the right of the apps shown, and enable it.  We have successfully tested with Gmail and Microsoft Outlook apps.

I imported a collection into Special Stories - where have my original stories gone?

Assuming you selected the Add new collection option when importing, the stories you already had in other collection(s) are still there, but the app's main view is now showing the stories in the new collection.

On iOS, to select one of your original collections instead, tap the action button at the top left of the main view, then the Manage Collections button, and choose the collection you want to see by tapping it.

On Android, select Collections from the menu in the main view, and tap the checkbox to the left of the collection you want to see. Then return to the main view.

For further details, refer to the Special Stories User Guide.

I imported a profile into Special Words - where have my original words and pictures gone?

Assuming you selected the Add new profile option when importing, the words, pictures and sounds you already had in other profiles(s) are still there, but the app's activities and Word List are now showing the data in the new profile.

On iOS, to select one of your original profiles instead, tap Word List (at the bottom right), then the action button at the top right, then the Manage Profiles button, and choose the profile you want to see by tapping it.

On Android, select Profiles from the menu in the Word List view, and tap the checkbox to the left of the profile you want to see.

Then return to whichever activity you want to use. For further details, refer to the Special Words User Guide.