Support

Email support@whatrock.app and a human will read it. Include the specimen, what the app said, and a photo or screenshot if you have one — that is usually enough to sort it out in one reply.

Identifying and results

It could not identify my specimen

Get closer, fill the frame, and make sure the specimen is well lit and in focus — natural light or a bright indoor light works best. Heavily weathered, wet, or dusty specimens are genuinely hard, and WhatRock reports low confidence rather than guessing a name it cannot actually support.

The candidates list shows more than one possibility

That is a Low confidence result. WhatRock shows up to three possible matches with a class chip and a one-line hint instead of picking one and pretending it's sure. Tap a candidate to open its field guide entry and compare.

Why does it say "Only a gem lab can confirm this"?

Gem-grade material — diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, alexandrite, tanzanite, moissanite, gold, platinum, and natural meteorites — is always shown at Low confidence with that caution, because only a qualified gem lab or geologist can actually confirm one of those from a photo. Clear quartz and glass are far more common than they look.

The field notes don't match my specimen exactly

Field notes (Mohs band, luster, streak, colors) describe what is typical for the identified species or class, not a measurement of your specific specimen — every card is labelled "Typical for <name>" for that reason. Natural variation is normal.

Free tier and subscriptions

How does the free tier work?

3 free identifications per local calendar day, with the full result card every time — nothing is blurred or gated. Once those are used, you can keep identifying by watching one short interstitial ad before each further ID; there is no limit to how many you can unlock that way in a day. Your newest 3 finds stay visible in your collection (everything you save is kept on your phone). No card is needed and nothing is charged unless you subscribe.

Will I see ads?

Only after your 3 free IDs for the day: WhatRock shows one short interstitial ad from Google AdMob before each further identification. If no ad is available, your identification still goes through. Ads never appear on your first 3 IDs of a day, on the result or share card, in your collection, or in the field guide. Go Premium and you never see an ad at all.

What does Premium add?

No ads, no daily cap, your full collection (not just the newest 3), the offline field guide, and collection notes so you can record where you found something. Premium Weekly is $6.99/week, Premium Monthly is $9.99/month with a 3-day free trial for eligible new subscribers, and Premium Yearly is $39.99/year with a 7-day free trial for eligible new subscribers.

How do I cancel a subscription?

Subscriptions are managed by Apple, not by us: open the Settings app, tap your name, then Subscriptions. Turning off auto-renew there stops any future charge and you keep access until the end of the period you already paid for.

Can I get a refund?

Refunds are handled by Apple under their policies, not by us. Request one at reportaproblem.apple.com.

I subscribed on one phone and want it on another

Sign in to the same Apple Account on the other phone and tap Restore on the WhatRock paywall.

Privacy

Do you keep my specimen photos?

No. A photo is sent to identify the specimen and is not retained afterward. There is no account and no login, and WhatRock does not collect your location. See the privacy policy for exactly what is handled.

How do I delete my data?

Your collection and any notes live only on your phone. Clear them in Settings inside the app, or delete the app. We hold nothing tied to you that could be looked up.

Collecting

Is it okay to collect what I identify?

That depends entirely on where you are — you're responsible for knowing and following local laws and land rules. Collecting rocks, minerals and fossils is prohibited in United States national parks and restricted in many other public and private areas. WhatRock's field tips are general education, not a recommendation to collect on any specific site.

Everything else

Does WhatRock work on Android or iPad?

iPhone only for now, iOS 17 or later.

Is WhatRock connected to a museum, lab or geological survey?

No. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of them. Public sources like the USGS or National Park Service are cited only as references for the field guide's own content.

I found a bug

Email support@whatrock.app with your iPhone model, the iOS version, and what you were doing. Screenshots help.