Support

Understanding the numbers

What does "hours of sun" mean?

It is the number of hours in the day when the sun reaches the exact spot your marker is on, with nothing between that spot and the sun. It counts direct sunlight only, which is what matters for a vegetable bed or a solar panel. It assumes a cloudless day, so it describes the geometry rather than the weather.

Why does it say the figure is a "best case"?

The tree data usually covers only the tallest trees near a property. Smaller trees, hedges, and undergrowth are often not included, and anything not modelled cannot cast a shadow in the App. Real shade is therefore often greater than we report. The gap matters most in winter and at the beginning and end of every day, when a low sun travels furthest through the trees.

Why is my winter figure higher than my summer one?

This surprises people, and it is usually real. Tall trees carry their canopy near the top. A high summer sun goes straight into that canopy, while a low winter sun can pass underneath it and reach the ground. A south-facing wall often gets more direct sun in December than in June for the same reason — it is the principle behind south-facing glazing.

The trees look wrong for my property

Survey data is captured on a particular date and can be out of step with what is standing today. If trees have been felled or planted since, the model will not know. Tell us the address and what has changed and we will look into whether newer data is available.

Can I measure a different spot?

Yes — tap anywhere on the ground and the marker moves there, with the figures updating for that spot. Open More and tap show me to jump straight to the sunniest ground on the property.

Subscriptions

How do I cancel?

Open the Settings app on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, then Subscriptions, then Shade Map, then Cancel Subscription. You can also reach it from inside Shade Map: open Settings from the button rail and tap Manage subscription. Cancelling stops the next renewal; you keep access until the current period ends.

Deleting the App does not cancel a subscription.

I paid and the App still asks me to buy

Tap Restore purchases on the paywall. That asks Apple for the purchases on your Apple Account and reinstates them. Make sure you are signed in with the same Apple Account you bought with. If it still does not unlock, email us with the date of purchase and we will sort it out.

I bought Lifetime — what does it cover?

A single payment, no renewal, and access to the App as it exists and as it develops, for as long as we operate it. It is not a subscription and will not be charged again.

Refunds

Purchases go through Apple, so refunds do too. Request one at reportaproblem.apple.com. Please also tell us what went wrong — if it is a fault, we would rather fix it.

Privacy questions

Shade Map has no accounts. To ask what information we hold about you or to have it deleted, email us and we will respond within 30 days. Full details are in the Privacy Policy.

Reporting a problem

The most useful report includes the property address, what you expected, what you saw, the date and time shown on the scrubber, and your iPhone model and iOS version. A screenshot is worth a great deal.