FAQ | Alive Check - Frequently Asked Questions About Our Safety App

What is Alive Check?

Alive Check is a personal safety app designed for people who live alone. It works like a "dead man's switch" – you set a check-in interval, and if you don't tap the "I'm Alive!" button within that time, your emergency contacts are automatically notified via email. This ensures someone will be alerted even if you're unable to call for help yourself.

How do I get started?

Getting started is simple: 1) Download the app from Google Play or use the web version, 2) Enter your name, 3) Add at least one emergency contact with their email address, 4) Choose your check-in interval (from 1 hour to 1 week), and 5) Remember to tap "I'm Alive!" regularly. That's it – you're protected!

Is Alive Check free to use?

Yes! The core safety features of Alive Check are completely free. This includes setting check-in intervals, adding emergency contacts, cloud synchronization, and automatic email alerts. We may introduce optional premium features in the future, but the essential safety functionality will always remain free.

What check-in intervals are available?

We offer flexible intervals to match your lifestyle: Every hour (for high-risk situations), Every 4 hours, Every 8 hours, Every 12 hours (twice daily), Every 24 hours (once daily), Every 48 hours (every 2 days), Every 72 hours (every 3 days), and Every week. Choose based on your routine and risk tolerance.

What happens if I forget to check in?

When your timer reaches zero and you haven't confirmed you're OK, our cloud servers automatically send an email alert to all your emergency contacts. The email includes your name and a request that they check on you immediately. This happens even if your phone is off, out of battery, or broken.

Can I check in early?

Absolutely! You can tap "I'm Alive!" at any time. The timer will reset to your full interval. However, to prevent gaming the streak counter, we only count check-ins that occur after at least 10% of your interval has passed.

What if I'm going on vacation and can't check in?

Before you leave, simply increase your check-in interval to a longer period (like 1 week). Alternatively, you can ask a trusted contact to check in on your behalf using your account. We're also working on a "vacation mode" feature for future updates.

How many emergency contacts can I add?

You can add up to 2 emergency contacts. We recommend using both slots to ensure redundancy – if one contact is unavailable or misses the email, the other can respond. Choose contacts who are likely to check their email regularly and would be able to physically check on you or contact local authorities.

What information do my contacts receive?

When an alert is triggered, your contacts receive an email containing: Your name (as entered in the app), the fact that you haven't checked in within your set interval, a request to check on you or contact local emergency services, and the date/time the alert was triggered. We don't share your location or other personal data.

Should I tell my contacts about Alive Check?

Yes, definitely! We strongly recommend informing your emergency contacts that: 1) They've been added to your Alive Check account, 2) They may receive emails from alivecheck.xyz, 3) If they receive an alert, it means you may need help. This prevents confusion and ensures a faster response in an actual emergency.

Does Alive Check track my location?

No. We do not collect, store, or transmit any location data whatsoever. The app doesn't even request location permissions. Your privacy is important to us – we only collect the minimum data necessary to provide the safety service: your name, check-in times, and your contacts' email addresses.

Is my data secure?

Yes. All data is transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections and stored securely on Supabase cloud infrastructure. We follow industry best practices for data security. Your contact information is only used to send emergency alerts – we will never sell, share, or use it for marketing purposes.

Can I delete my account and data?

Yes. You can clear all your data by clearing the app's storage/cache on your device. If you've synced to the cloud and want your server-side data removed, contact us at contact@alivecheck.xyz and we'll delete everything within 30 days.

Does the app work offline?

The app can function offline for tracking your local check-ins, but cloud synchronization and emergency alerts require an internet connection. The beauty of our cloud-first design is that even if your phone dies, our servers continue monitoring your last known check-in time.

What happens if my phone breaks or runs out of battery?

This is exactly the scenario Alive Check is designed for! Your safety timer continues running on our secure cloud servers. If you can't check in because your phone is broken, lost, or dead, the alert will still be sent to your contacts when the timer expires. That's the advantage of cloud-based protection.

Is there a web version I can use?

Yes! You can use Alive Check directly in your web browser at alivecheck.xyz. The web version has all the same features as the mobile app and syncs with the same account. This is useful for checking in from your computer or if you don't have access to your phone.

Which platforms are supported?

Alive Check is currently available as: A native Android app on Google Play, a web app accessible from any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge), and a Progressive Web App (PWA) that can be installed on your desktop. iOS support is planned for a future release.

My contacts didn't receive the test email. What should I do?

First, ask them to check their spam/junk folder – emails from new senders sometimes get filtered. If still not found: verify the email address is entered correctly in the app, ensure your internet connection is stable when syncing, and contact us at contact@alivecheck.xyz if the issue persists.

The countdown timer isn't working. How do I fix it?

If the timer appears frozen: try refreshing the app or web page, ensure you have an active internet connection for cloud sync, check that JavaScript is enabled in your browser (for web version), or try clearing the app cache and restarting. If problems continue, please contact support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started