Read-only recovery

Read-only recovery keeps your Pinwork data visible when access is interrupted, but blocks changes until access is restored.

It is designed so you can inspect your tasks, understand what happened, and restore access without losing your existing data.

Why read-only recovery appears

Read-only recovery can appear when StoreKit reports:

• billing retry
• expired subscription
• revoked subscription
• access ended

It can also appear after the first-run guide if the guide is complete but no active access is available.

Grace period is different. Grace period still counts as Pro access, so editing continues while the App Store gives time to fix billing.

Grace period still allows editing

If the subscription is in grace period, Pinwork keeps Pro access active and may show a billing warning instead of locking edits.

What stays visible

Read-only recovery does not delete tasks.

You can still view:

• task lists
• task details
• projects
• tags
• archive
• settings and access status
• existing local data that has already synced to the device

On iPhone, Pinwork can show a recovery banner with messages such as Billing issue detected, Access expired, or Access ended, plus a View plans action.

On Mac, Pinwork can show a compact access status chip.

What is blocked

Actions that change task data are blocked, including:

• creating tasks
• editing task titles, notes, dates, estimates, projects, or tags
• completing or reopening tasks
• deferring, snoozing, or rescheduling tasks
• changing task status
• duplicating tasks
• converting tasks to projects
• deleting tasks
• archiving tasks
• restoring archived tasks
• creating or editing projects
• deleting projects
• creating or deleting tags
• changing list order
• adding tasks to Calendar

When a blocked action is attempted, Pinwork opens the access screen instead of changing data.

Blocked actions do not need undo because the change never runs.

Widgets, Shortcuts, and extensions

Extensions use shared access state because they cannot query StoreKit directly.

When access is locked:

• App Intents that create or complete tasks require shared Pro access.
• Widget and Live Activity actions that would mutate data can be blocked.
• Share Extension capture can be blocked when the main app processes the queued action.
• Shortcuts may ask you to open Pinwork to restore access.

If an extension looks stale immediately after restore, open the main app first so Pinwork can refresh access and shared snapshots.

Mac menu bar and AppleScript

The Mac menu bar can still show data that is already available, but mutation paths are blocked while access is locked.

AppleScript read commands can inspect tasks, projects, and tags. AppleScript mutation commands are blocked and request the access screen.

This includes commands that complete, uncomplete, defer, reschedule, archive, or quick-add tasks.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch receives access state from iPhone.

If the Watch has active access, the Watch app is available. If the Watch has previously seen subscription or lifetime access but Pro is no longer active, it can still show data in read-only style, with write actions gated.

On a fresh Watch install, the Watch can show a loading state until subscription state arrives from iPhone. If no access has ever been seen, it can show a Pinwork Pro Required screen and ask you to subscribe or restore on iPhone.

Restore editing

To restore editing:

1. Open Pinwork on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
2. Open the access screen or Settings.
3. Choose a plan, restore purchases, or manage the subscription through Apple.
4. Wait for StoreKit to refresh the entitlement.
5. Reopen Pinwork if the access state does not update immediately.

If you already purchased Pinwork, start with Restore purchases.

Related

• Account and access: subscription, lifetime, and access states.
• Purchase or restore problems: what to try when restore does not work.