Pocket Pinyin Support
Questions, ideas or something not working? Email Dion at support@pocketpinyin.app. Please include your device, its system version and the app version (Settings → About).
Common questions
How do I add my teacher’s decks?
Open the .apkg file your teacher sends from Mail, Files or the share sheet and choose Pocket Pinyin, or tap the Import button on the Study tab. On the Mac, choose File → Import Anki Deck… (⇧⌘I). Each file becomes a lesson. Words you already have are merged, and importing a deck again never resets your progress.
Does importing keep my progress from Anki?
No. Pocket Pinyin reads the words, meanings and audio. Every word starts fresh and is scheduled from your first answer here.
How many new words will I see each day?
Ten by default. Change it in Settings → Each Day. Reviews of words you’ve already seen come on top, when they’re due.
What are Again, Hard, Good and Easy?
How well you remembered the word. Pocket Pinyin uses that to decide when to show it again: a minute or ten while a word is new, and days or weeks once you know it. You can also swipe right for Good and left for Again.
Can I study without reading characters?
Yes. Turn on Settings → Cards → “Hide characters until answered”, and every card shows only the pinyin until you flip it.
Why isn’t a word read aloud?
Words without a recording use your device’s Chinese voice. If you hear nothing, add one in the Settings app: Accessibility → Spoken Content → Voices → Chinese.
Why can’t I make a set with Apple Intelligence?
It needs a device that supports Apple Intelligence, with Apple Intelligence turned on in the Settings app. It isn’t available in every region or language yet.
What does Pocket Pinyin Plus add?
Sets made with Apple Intelligence and the HSK 2 and HSK 3 word lists, for $4.99 a year or $14.99 once. Everything else is free, and sets you added before stay yours. One purchase works on iPhone, iPad and Mac with the same Apple Account.
How do I restore Plus on a new device?
Open Settings → Plus → Restore Purchases. To cancel the yearly plan, use Settings → Plus → Manage Subscription, or your Apple Account’s subscriptions.
Does it sync between my iPhone, iPad and Mac?
Yes, through iCloud, when the devices are signed in to the same iCloud account. Your sets, words, progress and study settings sync; sound, appearance and reminders stay per device. Settings → iCloud shows whether sync is on. If you added the same lesson on two devices before they synced, the copies are merged and your progress is kept.
Can I export or back up my words?
There’s no export yet. With iCloud on, your library is kept in your iCloud account, and it’s also in your device’s own backup.
Where is my data?
On your device and, if you use iCloud, in your private iCloud storage. The developer can’t see it. See the privacy policy.