Help and support
Answers to common questions. Still stuck, want to report a problem, or want your account deleted? Email [email protected] and we will reply within a few days. In the app, tap the ? on Tonight, then Contact us.
Getting started
How do I check in?
Open the Check in tab (or a bar's page), pick the bar, choose who can see it, and tap Check in. You need to be at the bar, within about 150 meters.
Why does it need my location?
Only to confirm you're at the bar when you check in, and to show bars near you. Your location is checked once and never stored or shown to friends. Friends only ever see the bar's name.
When does a check-in end?
On its own after 2, 3 or 5 hours (you choose in the Privacy tab), or right away when you tap Leave. Checking in somewhere else ends the earlier one.
What are check-in reminders?
An optional setting in the Privacy tab. When you arrive at a bar, your phone asks if you want to check in. It never checks you in or shares anything on its own. It needs location set to Always.
Friends
How do I add a friend?
Open Friends (the two-people button on Tonight). Share your 6-letter invite code with "Invite from Messages", or type a friend's code and tap Send friend request. They see your check-ins only after they accept.
What are close friends?
Tap the star next to a friend. When you check in as "Close friends", only those people see it.
How do I hide from someone?
In Friends, tap the ... next to their name and choose Hide my check-ins. They stop seeing your check-ins, saved nights and notes. They aren't told. You can undo it in the Privacy tab.
My invite code got shared too widely.
In Friends, tap Get a new code. The old one stops working right away. Friends you already have stay your friends.
Privacy
Who can see my check-ins?
Only friends you've accepted, and only the people you choose each time: All friends, Close friends, or Just me. Nobody else, including bars, ever sees who checked in.
What is ghost mode?
Turn it on in the Privacy tab and nobody sees where you are, even when you're checked in.
Do bars see who I am?
No. Bars only see totals, like how many check-ins they had last week, and any number under 10 is hidden.
My Night and photos
What is My Night?
Tonight's check-ins as numbered stops on a map, with times. It only uses places you checked in. The app never tracks where you go.
What happens when I save a night?
A copy is kept until you delete it. Friends can see it only after the night is over (6 AM the next morning at the earliest), and never more widely than the most private check-in you made that night.
Can I add my own photo?
Yes. Tap the photo button next to a stop and pick one picture. The app only sees that one photo, and it removes the photo's location data. Only you, and friends who can see that saved night, see it. Tap the trash can to remove it.
Bar pages and notes
What does "Not claimed yet" mean?
The bar comes from Apple Maps and nobody from the bar runs its page yet. You can still check in, see friends there, and see photos and reviews from Apple Maps.
How do friends' notes work?
After you've checked in at a bar, you can leave a short note or a thumbs up on its page. Only your friends see it. Keep it about the bar, and please don't name or describe staff.
How do I report something?
Tap the ... next to a note or photo and choose a reason. It's hidden for you right away and reviewed by us.
How do I follow a bartender?
On a claimed bar's page, tap Follow next to their name. Tonight shows when someone you follow is working.
For bars
How does a bar join?
The owner or manager opens the bar's page and taps "Own or manage this bar? Claim it". We check that they work there (usually with a call to the bar) before approving. Nothing changes on the page until then.
What can a bar do?
Post specials, events and who's working (each post ends on its own), add a cover photo, and see totals like check-ins and busiest times. Staff can make an optional card so regulars can follow them.
Safety and your account
Getting home
Every bar page has Uber and Lyft buttons that set the bar as your pickup. Please drink responsibly and never drink and drive.
Who can use The Hangout?
People 21 and older.
How do I delete my account?
Privacy tab, then Delete account. Your profile, friends, check-ins, saved nights, notes and photos are permanently deleted.