FilmStacks Support
Need a hand? Email support@madebykamal.app and describe what happened. Replies usually arrive within two business days.
Common questions
The scanner did not recognise my disc
Disc barcodes are not in any public film database, so FilmStacks works from a map its own users build. A disc nobody has confirmed yet will not resolve from the barcode alone. When that happens, FilmStacks reads the cover instead and offers you the closest matches, and confirming one adds it to the map for everyone. You can also just search the title by name.
If the barcode will not read at all, try more light and hold the case flatter. A curved or shrink-wrapped barcode is the usual culprit.
It picked the wrong edition
Format and edition are read off the artwork, and a combo pack legitimately carries several logos at once. FilmStacks files a combo under the highest format in the box, so a 4K plus Blu-ray set becomes 4K. You can change the format, the edition and the feature badges on any title at any time.
If it guesses wrong too often, open Settings and set Scan sensitivity to Strict. Strict never adds anything without showing it to you first.
Search shows nothing at all
Check your internet connection first. Film metadata comes from an online source, so search and artwork need a connection, while everything you have already added stays readable offline.
What is free, and what is Pro?
Free forever: scanning, cover recognition, your first 25 titles, two shelves of your own, the wishlist, stats, the shareable shelf poster, iCloud backup, and a CSV export of everything you own. Getting your data out is never behind the paywall.
FilmStacks Pro removes the title limit, allows unlimited shelves, and adds custom cover photos, custom fields of your own design, and CSV import.
I paid but Pro is locked
Open the Pro screen and tap Restore Purchases, making sure you are signed in with the Apple Account that made the purchase.
How do I cancel or manage my subscription?
Subscriptions are managed by Apple, not by us: Settings app, tap your name, then Subscriptions. Cancelling there stops the next renewal and Pro stays active until the period ends.
Does my collection sync between my devices?
Turn on iCloud backup in Settings and FilmStacks keeps a copy in your own iCloud Drive, which a new phone can restore from. Nothing passes through a server of ours. If the switch says iCloud is unavailable, check that you are signed in and that iCloud Drive is on for FilmStacks in Settings, Apple Account, iCloud.
How do I get my data out?
Settings, then Export. CSV opens in any spreadsheet and contains every field. The backup file is a complete snapshot meant for restoring into FilmStacks itself. Both are free.
Can I move my collection in from another app?
Yes, through CSV import, which is a Pro feature. Export from the other app, then match up the columns on import. Titles, formats, barcodes, notes and ratings all come across.
I own the same film on two formats. Is that a duplicate?
No, and FilmStacks treats it that way on purpose. The same film on DVD and on 4K is two copies you own, and both are kept. Scanning the identical disc twice is caught and flagged.
Which devices does FilmStacks need?
FilmStacks requires iOS 18.0 or later on iPhone or iPad. Scanning needs a camera, so on an iPad without one you can still search and add titles by hand.
Where the film data comes from
Film titles, artwork, cast and streaming availability come from The Movie Database. FilmStacks is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Disc formats, editions and everything personal are yours, read from your own shelves.