FamilySlate in five minutes
The easiest way to set up FamilySlate is on a desktop or laptop, then connect phones and tablets with a secure pairing invitation.
Open FamilySlateTell us what was confusingRun the setup assistant
On a new FamilySlate, follow the welcome wizard. Choose the modules your household is likely to use, set your calendar display, weather and colour scheme, then finish setup.
You can run it again later from Settings → Setup & help.
Add your calendars
Open Settings → Calendars. Use the Calendar Library for supported public calendars or add an iCal/webcal feed supplied by your calendar provider. FamilySlate checks a feed before saving it.
Use the Calendar tab’s + Add event button for events you want to create directly inside FamilySlate.
Connect another device
On an already connected device, open Settings → Connect another device and create a pairing invitation. Nearby: scan the QR code. Remote: send the invitation link and give the recipient the 6-digit PIN separately.
The invitation lasts 30 minutes and works once. After joining, the new device gets its own revocable credential.
Personalise each device
Settings → Modules controls Modules on this device. Hiding Photos on a phone, for example, does not hide it on the kitchen iPad. Colour scheme and other display choices can also differ by device.
Shared household content such as Shopping, Tasks, Birthdays and Recipes still syncs between connected devices.
Use the everyday modules
Shopping
Add items from any connected device. Set aisle order in Settings to match your usual shop.
Tasks
Add dated or recurring tasks and optionally show them on Calendar.
Countdowns & Birthdays
Birthdays repeat yearly. Choose whether birthdays appear as a compact tab, right-hand Calendar list, or are hidden from Calendar.
Recipes & Meals
Save recipes manually, from a webpage or photo, plan meals and add recipe ingredients to Shopping.
Star chart
Create people, chores and reward targets. Hide the module on devices that do not need it.
Photos
Create albums and use a tablet as a photo display. Photos are private to the paired household.
Install it like an app
iPhone / iPad
Open the pairing invitation in Safari, enter the PIN, then use Share → Add to Home Screen. Launch FamilySlate from the new Home Screen icon.
Android
Open the invitation in Chrome, pair the device, then choose Install app / Add to Home screen from Chrome when offered.
Desktop
You can simply use FamilySlate in the browser. Browsers that support installation may also offer an Install app button in the address bar/menu.
Two useful things to remember
- If the internet drops, FamilySlate shows the last saved data and reconnects automatically when the connection returns.
- Removing a device under Settings → Connected devices immediately revokes that device’s access. It must be paired again with a new invitation.