Using Apprentice on Mobile Devices

Learn how to use Apprentice on your smartphone or tablet for booking, communication, and managing appointments on the go.

Overview

Apprentice is fully optimized for mobile devices, allowing you to book appointments, chat with your artist or clients, check in for appointments, and manage your projects from anywhere. Whether you're using a smartphone or tablet, Apprentice provides a responsive, mobile-friendly experience.

Accessing Apprentice on Mobile

Mobile Web Browser

Recommended Browsers:

• iOS: Safari (best compatibility), Chrome, Firefox
• Android: Chrome (best compatibility), Firefox, Samsung Internet, Edge

How to Access:

1. Open your mobile browser
2. Navigate to your Apprentice URL (e.g., https://app.apprentice.com)
3. Sign in with your email and password
4. Use the responsive mobile interface

Add to Home Screen (for app-like experience):

On iOS (iPhone/iPad):

1. Open Apprentice in Safari
2. Tap the Share button (square with arrow)
3. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen"
4. Name the shortcut "Apprentice"
5. Tap "Add"

On Android:

1. Open Apprentice in Chrome
2. Tap the menu (three dots)
3. Tap "Add to Home Screen"
4. Name the shortcut "Apprentice"
5. Tap "Add"

Benefits of Home Screen Shortcut:

• ✅ One-tap access like a native app
• ✅ Full-screen experience (no browser UI)
• ✅ Faster loading from cached assets

Native Mobile App (Coming Soon)

Apprentice is developing native iOS and Android apps with:

• Push notifications
• Offline viewing of appointment details
• Camera integration for easy photo uploads
• Faster performance

Current Status: Mobile web experience is fully functional; native app in development.

Mobile-Optimized Features

Mobile Navigation

Responsive Menu:

• Hamburger Menu (☰): Tap top-left to open main navigation
• Bottom Nav Bar: Quick access to key sections (Dashboard, Chat, Notifications, Settings)
• Swipe Gestures: Swipe to open/close menus and drawers

Touch-Optimized:

• Large tap targets for buttons and links
• Easy-to-use form inputs
• Swipe-friendly carousels and galleries

Booking Appointments on Mobile

Flow:

1. Open booking link from email or SMS
2. Browse artist's available times (scrollable calendar view)
3. Select appointment date and time
4. Fill out booking form (mobile-optimized keyboard)
5. Submit request or pay deposit (mobile-friendly payment form)

Mobile-Specific Features:

• Calendar View: Optimized for small screens with day/time picker
• Autofill: Use browser autofill for contact information
• Payment: Stripe payment form optimized for mobile

Chat on Mobile

Messaging:

• Full chat functionality on mobile
• Send text messages to your artist or clients
• Upload photos from camera or photo library
• View image attachments in full screen
• Typing indicators and read receipts

How to Use:

1. Tap "Chat" in navigation or bottom nav
2. Select a conversation
3. Type message and tap send (paper airplane icon)
4. Or tap camera icon to upload photo

Mobile Tips:

• Use voice-to-text for faster typing
• Long-press to copy/paste messages
• Tap images to view full-size

Viewing and Approving Designs

Design Collaboration:

• View AI-generated designs in high resolution
• Pinch to zoom on design details
• Tap to view design variations
• Approve or request changes with one tap

Mobile Canvas (Artists):

• Limited editing on mobile (desktop recommended for detailed work)
• View and annotate designs
• Add simple markup and comments

Mobile Check-In

Client Check-In:

1. Receive SMS or email with check-in link
2. Tap link to open check-in page on mobile
3. Confirm appointment details
4. Complete check-in (one-tap confirmation)

See The Check-in Kiosk Experience for full details.

Mobile-Specific Features:

• GPS location verification (if enabled by artist)
• QR code scanning for quick check-in
• Mobile-optimized forms

Managing Appointments

Appointment Dashboard:

• View upcoming appointments in mobile-optimized card layout
• Tap appointment to view full details
• Reschedule or cancel appointments
• View payment status and outstanding balance

Calendar View:

• Month view with appointment dots
• Tap date to see appointments for that day
• Swipe to navigate between months

Payment on Mobile

Mobile Payment Features:

• Stripe Payment Form: Optimized for mobile with large input fields
• Autofill: Use saved payment methods from your browser or wallet
• Digital Wallets: Apple Pay and Google Pay support (coming soon)
• Mobile Tipping: Easy tipping interface for in-person payments

How to Pay on Mobile:

1. Navigate to appointment or project
2. Tap "Pay Deposit" or "Pay Balance"
3. Enter card details (or use autofill)
4. Review and submit payment
5. Receive instant confirmation

Notifications on Mobile

Mobile Notification Options:

• In-App: Notification bell icon shows badge with unread count
• Email: Standard email notifications to your mobile email app
• SMS: Text messages to your phone number
• Push Notifications: Coming with native app

Managing on Mobile:

• Tap notification bell to view recent notifications
• Tap notification to navigate to relevant page
• Swipe to dismiss or mark as read
• Access notification settings from profile menu

Profile and Settings

Mobile Settings Interface:

• Simplified settings layout for mobile
• Easy toggles for notification preferences
• Upload profile picture from camera or photo library
• Update contact information with mobile-friendly forms

Quick Settings Access:

1. Tap profile icon or menu (☰)
2. Tap "Settings"
3. Navigate settings sections
4. Save changes with one tap

Mobile-Specific Tips

Performance Tips

Optimize Load Times:

• ✅ Use Wi-Fi when possible for faster loading
• ✅ Close unused browser tabs to free memory
• ✅ Clear browser cache if experiencing slowness
• ✅ Update your mobile browser to the latest version

Data Usage:

• Images and videos consume more data
• Use Wi-Fi for uploading large design files
• Disable auto-play videos if on limited data plan

Battery Optimization

Save Battery:

• ✅ Close Apprentice tab when not in use
• ✅ Reduce screen brightness
• ✅ Enable browser's battery saver mode
• ⚠️ Real-time chat may use more battery

Mobile Security

Keep Your Account Safe:

• ✅ Don't save password in public/shared devices
• ✅ Log out after using shared devices
• ✅ Use strong, unique password
• ✅ Enable biometric login if available (Touch ID, Face ID)
• ✅ Don't share booking links publicly

Browser Security:

• ✅ Use private/incognito mode on shared devices
• ✅ Keep browser updated
• ✅ Use secure connection (check for lock icon in address bar)

Common Mobile Workflows

For Clients

Booking an Appointment

1. Receive booking link via SMS or email
2. Open link on mobile
3. Browse available times
4. Select date and time
5. Fill out booking form
6. Pay deposit (if required)
7. Receive confirmation

Checking In for Appointment

1. Receive check-in link via SMS (24h before or on day of appointment)
2. Open link on mobile
3. Review appointment details
4. Tap "Check In" button
5. Receive confirmation
6. Wait for artist to call you

Messaging Your Artist

1. Open Apprentice on mobile
2. Tap "Chat" in navigation
3. Select conversation with your artist
4. Send message or photo
5. Receive response (notification when artist replies)

For Artists

Checking Today's Schedule

1. Open Apprentice on mobile
2. Navigate to "Today" or "Console"
3. View list of today's appointments
4. Tap appointment for details
5. Start session when client arrives

Responding to Booking Requests

1. Receive notification of new booking request
2. Tap notification to open booking details
3. Review request information
4. Approve or decline booking
5. Client receives confirmation

Managing Walk-Ins

1. Open Today Console on mobile
2. Tap "Add Walk-In" button
3. Enter client information
4. Create project and start session
5. Record payment when complete

Mobile Browser Compatibility

Supported Browsers and Versions

Known Browser Issues

Older iOS (iOS 13 and below):

• Some modern web features not supported
• Performance may be slower
• Update to iOS 14+ recommended

Older Android (Android 7 and below):

• Limited feature support
• Performance issues possible
• Update OS or browser recommended

Third-Party Browsers:

• Some niche browsers may have compatibility issues
• Use mainstream browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox) for best experience

Troubleshooting Mobile Issues

Layout or Display Issues

Problem: Content not displaying correctly, elements overlapping, or text too small

Solution:

1. Refresh the page (pull down to refresh)
2. Clear browser cache
3. Update your browser to the latest version
4. Try landscape orientation if on small screen
5. Zoom in/out with pinch gesture to adjust

Touch/Tap Issues

Problem: Buttons not responding to taps

Solution:

1. Ensure you're tapping directly on the button (not near it)
2. Try tapping with a different finger
3. Refresh the page
4. Clear browser cache
5. Try a different browser

Slow Loading

Problem: Pages loading slowly on mobile

Solution:

1. Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular)
2. Close other browser tabs
3. Clear browser cache and cookies
4. Restart your browser
5. Restart your device if issue persists

Image Upload Issues

Problem: Can't upload images from mobile

Solution:

1. Grant browser permission to access photos (check device settings)
2. Try selecting "Take Photo" instead of "Choose from Library"
3. Ensure image file size is under 10MB
4. Try a different image
5. Use a different browser if issue persists

Payment Form Issues

Problem: Payment form not working on mobile

Solution:

1. Ensure JavaScript is enabled in browser settings
2. Disable browser ad blockers
3. Clear browser cache
4. Try a different browser
5. Use desktop if mobile payment continues to fail

Session Timeout Issues

Problem: Getting logged out frequently on mobile

Solution:

1. Ensure "Remember Me" is checked when logging in
2. Don't use private/incognito mode (can't persist login)
3. Check browser isn't set to clear cookies on exit
4. Update browser to latest version

Mobile vs. Desktop Features

Features Best on Mobile

• ✅ Viewing appointments and schedules
• ✅ Chat and messaging
• ✅ Receiving and responding to notifications
• ✅ Client check-in
• ✅ Quick booking approvals
• ✅ Viewing designs and images
• ✅ Payment (especially with mobile wallets)

Features Best on Desktop

• ⚠️ AI design generation (larger screen helpful)
• ⚠️ Design collaboration canvas (precision editing)
• ⚠️ Multi-client management (more screen space)
• ⚠️ Detailed analytics and reports
• ⚠️ Bulk operations (managing many appointments)
• ⚠️ Advanced settings configuration

Fully Functional on Both

• ✅ Booking appointments
• ✅ Managing projects
• ✅ Chat messaging
• ✅ Payment processing
• ✅ Notification management
• ✅ Profile and settings
• ✅ Viewing payment history

Future Mobile Features

Coming Soon

• Native Mobile Apps: iOS and Android apps for better performance
• Push Notifications: Real-time alerts without opening the browser
• Offline Mode: View appointment details without internet
• Mobile Widgets: Quick access to today's appointments
• Apple Pay / Google Pay: One-tap payment with mobile wallets
• Camera Integration: Direct camera access for photo uploads

Updated on: 16/01/2026