Save Our Seas App
Help & FAQ
Last updated: 29 October 2026
New to the app? Everything you record stays on your phone. There is no account and nothing to sign up for — just open it and start. If you get stuck, the answers below should help, and you can always email us.
Getting started
The first time you open the app, a short tutorial walks you through the main screens. You can skip it and come back to it later from Settings. The app works offline — you only need the internet for campaign announcements and product-list updates.
Tracking the plastic you avoid
- Open the Tracker and tap an item each time you say no to it — a bottle, a coffee cup, a carrier bag.
- Your totals build up over days and weeks, and you'll unlock milestones as you go.
- Tapped by mistake? Open the item and take one away.
Scanning a product
- Tap Scan and point your camera at a barcode. The app looks it up in its built-in product list and tells you about the packaging, with a better swap where there is one.
- The camera is used only while the scanner is open. Nothing is photographed or sent anywhere.
- Product not found? You can suggest it on our add an item page, and it will appear in a future product-list update.
- To get the newest products, go to Settings → Update product list.
Your action list
Pick actions from the suggestions or write your own, add notes, and tick them off when they're done. They stay on your list so you can see how far you've come.
Logging a beach clean
- Go to Cleans and start a clean when you arrive. Add each bag as you fill it, with its weight in kg if you have scales.
- Finish the clean to save it with the place, date, volunteers and any notes.
- Add photos from your library — the app only ever sees the photos you pick.
Your SOS card
At a litter pick, show your SOS card and the organiser scans it to check you in. Your name is on the card; an email or phone number is optional. Read more about what the card shares in our privacy policy.
Reminders and announcements
- Turn on the daily reminder or the weekly recap in Settings.
- Campaign announcements bring news about events and campaigns. They're off unless you switch them on.
- Not getting notifications? Check that they're allowed for Save Our Seas in your phone's own Settings app.
Common questions
Will I lose my data if I get a new phone? Not if your phone is backed up to iCloud or your computer — the app's data is included in your normal phone backup.
How do I delete everything? Delete the app. That removes everything it stored, as nothing is kept anywhere else.
Can I use the app in French? Yes. The app follows your phone's language, or you can change it for the app alone in your phone's Settings.
Is there an Android version? Yes — it does the same things as the iPhone app.
Does the app cost anything? No. It's free, with no adverts and no in-app purchases.
Still stuck?
Email us at info@saveourseas.org.uk and tell us which phone you have and what you were trying to do. A screenshot helps a lot.