TapCal User Guide & FAQ

TapCal is a fast, minimal calendar app for iOS focused on getting you in and out of your schedule with as little friction as possible. This page explains how to use TapCal, what the main screens do, and answers the most common questions.

Getting started

1. First launch

1. Open TapCal on your iPhone.
2. Grant permission to access your calendars when prompted.
3. Select which iOS calendars you want TapCal to show (you can change this later in Settings).

2. Connecting calendars

To add or remove calendar accounts on your device:

1. iOS 26: Go to iOS Settings > Calendar > Calendar Accounts > Add Account.
2. Add or remove accounts as needed.
3. Return to TapCal, your changes will appear automatically.

3. Basic navigation

• Today: Quickly jump back to the current day.
• Swipe left/right: Move between days/weeks/months (depending on your view).
• Tap a day: See events for that day. Tap again to create a new event.

Core features

App and Widget views

• Month view: Full month view of your events on one screen at a glance.
• Month view widget: See the full month on a beautifully designed widget.
• Natural Language: Create events using natural language input (e.g., "Lunch with Sarah tomorrow at 1pm", "Call Tom Friday 9-10am at Zoom link").
• Weather forecast: Get a 10-day weather forecast for your location.
• Many themes: Choose between light, dark, or coloured themes to match your preference.

Creating events

1. Tap the + button, or tap on the current highlighted day.
2. Enter a title with Natural Language, or manually set the start and end time.
3. Add location, notes, and alerts and many more options if needed.
4. Tap the tick on the Top Right.

TapCal writes events directly to your selected calendar account, so they stay in sync with the iOS Calendar app and other devices.

Editing and deleting events

• Edit: Tap an event, change what you need, tap Save — or long-press the event and pick Edit.
• Delete: In the event detail scroll down and tap Delete Event — or long-press and pick Delete.

Notifications & alerts

TapCal uses the system calendar notifications. Any alerts you set on an event will behave the same in TapCal and the built-in Calendar app.

Widgets

Add the TapCal widget from the iOS home screen widget picker. It mirrors the same calendars you have enabled in the app and updates as your device calendars update.

Power tips

Customising visible calendars

1. Open TapCal and go to Settings.
2. Open Calendars.
3. Toggle which calendars should be visible in the app.

Default event length and calendar

1. In Settings, choose your default event duration (for example, 30 or 60 minutes).
2. Set a default calendar so new events always start there.

Theme and appearance

• Choose between light, dark, or system theme.
• Optionally hide weekend days in week or month view.
• Adjust compact / comfortable density for event lists.

Keyboard and gesture shortcuts (if applicable)

• Cmd + 1/2/3 on an attached keyboard: switch between day/week/month views.
• Cmd + T: jump to Today.
• Pinch to zoom timeline detail (if enabled).

Frequently asked questions

Does TapCal store my data on its own servers?

No. TapCal uses the calendars already configured on your device and stores events in those accounts (iCloud, Google, etc.). It does not run its own sync service or upload your event contents to separate servers.

Why am I not seeing all my calendars?

First, ensure the calendar account is added and enabled in iOS Settings > Calendar > Accounts. Then open TapCal > Settings > Calendars and make sure that calendar is turned on.

Can I use TapCal alongside the default iOS Calendar app?

Yes. Both apps read and write to the same underlying calendar data on your device, so changes are reflected in both.

Does TapCal work offline?

You can view existing events and create new ones while offline. Sync with your calendar accounts will resume the next time your device is online.

Is there a way to quickly jump back to today?

Yes. Tap the Today button in the header to snap back to the current date from any view.

Does TapCal support multiple time zones?

TapCal respects your device time zone and any time zone settings on events. If you create events while traveling, they'll stay aligned with the event's time zone as configured in your calendar account.

Troubleshooting & support

Events aren't syncing

• Check that your device has an internet connection.
• Open the built-in iOS Calendar app and verify that events appear there.
• If not, check the account under iOS Settings > Calendar > Accounts.
• Force-quit and reopen TapCal if things still look out of date.

The app looks empty

• Make sure at least one calendar is enabled in TapCal > Settings > Calendars.
• Check you're not filtered to a very narrow date range or hidden weekends.

Contact

If you're stuck or have feature requests, contact the developer from within the app via Settings > Support (or via the App Store support link). Include your iOS version and a brief description of the issue.