Frequently asked

Does RecipeGuide work without an internet connection?

Yes. All AI inference runs on-device using Apple's Neural Engine and Metal GPU. Recipe extraction, meal planning, voice cook mode, and the AI Chef all work in airplane mode. The only feature that needs the network is importing a recipe from a URL or YouTube link, since the page itself has to be fetched.

Why is the first import slow?

On first launch, RecipeGuide downloads a small on-device model (roughly 1.2 GB). After that, all subsequent imports run locally and are typically completed in a few seconds. The model is stored once and shared across every feature.

Where is my data stored?

Recipes, meal plans, shopping lists, and pantry photos are stored only on your device using Apple's SwiftData. Nothing is uploaded to a server. If you delete the app, the data is removed with it. iCloud sync is opt-in and uses your private iCloud container — we never see it.

How do I import a recipe?

Tap the + button on the Recipes tab. You can paste a URL, paste raw text, take a photo of a recipe card or cookbook page, or pick a photo from your library. The app extracts ingredients, steps, and timings automatically.

Voice cook mode isn't picking up my commands.

Make sure you've granted microphone and speech-recognition permissions in Settings → RecipeGuide. Voice mode listens for "next," "back," "repeat," and "set timer." If a dishwasher or fan is running, hold the phone within a meter or use the on-screen step buttons.

How do I change the serving size of a recipe?

Open the recipe and tap the servings number at the top. Ingredient quantities update automatically. The change is non-destructive — the original recipe is preserved.

Which devices are supported?

iPhone and iPad running iOS / iPadOS 17 or later. The app is optimized for iPhone 15 Pro and newer (where MLX Swift-LM runs) and falls back to a broader-compatibility engine on older devices.

How do I delete my data?

Open Settings → Reset inside the app to clear all recipes, meal plans, and shopping lists. To remove everything including the downloaded model, delete the app from your device.