Frequently Asked Questions

Piles are custom photo categories you create for your child. Think of them as collections of their favorite things—a Family pile with loved ones, a Fun pile with happy memories, a Characters pile with favorite TV/movie characters. You curate the photos, and your child can enjoy unlimited access to view them.

SmilePile is designed for families with young children (typically ages 5-10, though this varies). It's especially helpful for special needs families, as many find that easy access to favorite photos helps with separation anxiety, provides comfort during transitions, and offers a calming touchpoint.

Unlike general photo apps, SmilePile is designed specifically for kids to access independently. Parents curate the content, protect it from accidental changes with PIN/biometric locks, and children get safe, unlimited viewing access. It's not just photo organization—it's a tool for comfort, connection, and emotional support.

SmilePile stores photos locally on your device. To backup, use your device's native backup solution:
iOS: iCloud Photo Library or iTunes backup
Android: Google Photos or local backup to computer

No, all data is stored locally on your device. SmilePile does not sync to any cloud service, ensuring your photos remain private and under your control.

Go to Settings → Clear All Data in the app, or simply uninstall SmilePile. This permanently removes all photos and data from the app (but does not delete photos from your device's photo library).

Check these steps:
1. Grant photo permissions: Settings → Privacy → Photos → SmilePile
2. Restart the app
3. Verify photos are saved to device (not just cloud)
4. Check for app updates in App Store/Google Play

Yes, SmilePile is completely free with no in-app purchases, subscriptions, or ads. We believe in keeping family memories accessible to everyone.