Help & Support
How to use Gear List Ready on iPhone and the web, and how to reach us.
Need help? Email support@gearlistready.com and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. It helps to tell us whether you're on iPhone or the web, and your app version (tap your profile circle, then About Gear List Ready).
On this page: Getting started · Building your list · Category Packs · Pack sync · Collaborative lists · Offline · Sharing and printing · Your account
Getting started
Where it works
Gear List Ready runs on iPhone (iOS 16.6 or later) and in any modern web browser at app.gearlistready.com.
Starting a list
Tap New List on the home screen and choose how to start: Build from Packs (combine ready-made categories), Create Your Own (start blank), or From Template (a pre-made list for a common trip).
Your lists everywhere
Sign in with the same account on your iPhone and in the web app. Your lists are saved to your account, and changes show up on your other devices within seconds. Sign in with Apple isn't available in the web app yet, so if you signed up with Apple on your iPhone, use the iPhone app for now.
Building your list
Adding items
Tap Add Items in a category. Type an item and tap Add (or press Return) to enter it and start the next one. Tap Done when you're finished.
Categories
Categories group your items, like "Clothes" or "Toiletries." Drag them to reorder, or use the category's ⋮ menu to rename or delete.
Checking off items
Tap an item's checkbox as you pack. The progress bar shows how much is done. Uncheck All Items in the list's ⋮ menu resets your own lists for the next trip. It isn't available in collaborative lists.
Notes and links
Add a note when you add an item, or from the item's ⋮ menu. Addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and web links in a note can be tapped: an address opens Maps, and a phone number can be called. Show/Hide All Notes is in the list's ⋮ menu.
To-do items
Tick To-Do on any item. It stays in its category and also appears in the To-Do section at the top of the list.
Trip info and weather
Tap the suitcase icon at the top of a list to add a destination, dates and a description. Adding a destination gives you a 7-day weather forecast. The dates power the trip countdown and automatic quantities.
Automatic quantities
Turn on "Auto-calculate quantities by trip days" in Settings. You can then set an item to a rate like "1 every 2 days," and the quantity follows your trip dates.
Photos
Attach photos to an item when you add or edit it.
Category Packs
What packs are
A Category Pack is a reusable category, like a Toiletries pack, that you can add to any list. Use official packs or save your own.
Saving your own packs
Choose Save as Category Packs from a list's ⋮ menu to turn categories into packs. When you leave a list, you may also be asked whether to save new categories as packs.
Choosing items
When you add a pack, you can leave out items you don't need. To bring them in later, use "Add items from" the pack in the category's ⋮ menu.
Pack sync
How sync works
A category added from a pack stays linked to it, item by item. When the pack changes, you choose which updates to bring into your list. When you change linked items in a list, you're asked on the way out whether to send those changes back to the pack. Changes to official packs only come in; your edits aren't sent back to them.
Sync icons
An icon on each linked category shows its state:
| Icon | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Grey sync arrows | Linked. Tap to check for changes. |
| Colored sync arrows | Changes are waiting. Tap to review them. |
| Crossed-out sync arrows | Sync is paused. Tap to resume. |
| Red broken link | The pack was deleted. Tap for options. |
Unlinked items
If you decline an update for an item, that item stops syncing and shows a small grey broken-link icon. Tap the icon, then Re-link, to connect it again.
Pausing sync
Use Stop syncing in the category's ⋮ menu to keep a category as it is. Resume syncing turns it back on.
Setting up sync for older lists
The first time you open an older list, a category may show "Set up sync." Confirm links the matching items. Uncheck any "Matched by name" item that isn't really the same item. Stop syncing keeps the category as ordinary items. Not now asks again next time.
Packs in collaborative lists
In a collaborative list, only the pack's owner sees the sync controls. Updates to official packs reach everyone.
Collaborative lists
Starting collaboration
Tap the share icon (the box with an arrow) at the top of a list, then Start Collaboration. It becomes a collaborative list, and a people count appears at the top.
Inviting people
Tap the people count, then Invite Collaborators, and send the invite code. Only the list's owner can see the code.
Joining a list
On the home screen, tap "Join a collaborative list" and paste the invite code you were sent. If a code doesn't work, ask the list's owner for a new one: the code changes when the owner removes someone, and codes from older versions of the app no longer work.
Who's on the list
Anyone can tap the people count to see who's collaborating. Items can be assigned to a person when you add or edit them.
Removing people
The owner can tap Remove next to a person. This replaces the invite code, so invites that haven't been used yet must be sent again.
Stopping or leaving
The owner can choose Stop Collaboration to end sharing for everyone. A member can choose Leave This List. Both are under the people count.
Keeping your own copy
Anyone on a collaborative list can choose Save a Copy from the ⋮ menu to get a private copy of their own.
Using the app offline
Working without a connection
You can create and edit lists with no connection, for example on a flight. Everything catches up when you reconnect.
What needs a connection
Signing in, weather forecasts, joining a list, removing a collaborator and seeing an invite code all need a connection.
Sharing, exporting and printing
Share as text
Tap the share icon at the top of a list, then Share as Text, to send it by message, email or another app.
Export as spreadsheet
Tap the share icon at the top of a list, then Export as Spreadsheet, to download a formatted Excel (.xlsx) file.
Collaborative lists
Collaborative lists don't have a share icon. To send or export one, choose Save a Copy from the ⋮ menu, then share or export the copy.
Printing
Choose Print List from the list's ⋮ menu to print or save a PDF. You can pick one, two or three columns and whether to include checked items. On a collaborative list you can also print who each item is assigned to. Long lists continue onto as many pages as they need.
Your account
Profile and Settings
Tap your profile circle to open Settings, the Archive, About Gear List Ready and Sign Out. Settings is where you change list options and your password, and where you can delete your account. List options start turned off; turn on the ones you want.
Archive
Tap the archive icon on a list's tile on the home screen to hide it from My Lists without deleting it. Find archived lists under your profile, then Archive. The red trash icon deletes a list.
Privacy
Your lists are private to your account unless you invite collaborators. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Deleting your account
Open Settings, and in the Account section tap Delete Account. This permanently deletes your account and your data, including your lists, your Category Packs and your photos. Lists you own are deleted for everyone collaborating on them. Backup copies are permanently deleted within 30 days. If you can't sign in, email support@gearlistready.com and we'll help.
Contact
Questions, feedback or a bug to report: support@gearlistready.com. For a bug, tell us what you did, what you expected and what happened instead.