How can we help?
We want you to get the most out of Solcast. If something isn’t working as expected or you have a question, you’ll likely find the answer below. If not, reach out and we’ll help.
Getting Started
How do I set up the app?
Just open Solcast — no account, no sign-up. When prompted, grant location permission so we can fetch your local weather (you can also skip this and search for a city manually). Your personalized dashboard appears immediately with your forecast, outfit picks, and daily briefing.
How do I personalize recommendations?
Tap the gear icon (top right) to open Settings. You’ll find 11 options across three sections:
- About You — temperature unit (°C/°F), temperature sensitivity, sun sensitivity, eye sensitivity, allergy sensitivity, migraine sensitivity
- Your Style — dressing style (Casual, Business Casual, Formal, Sporty) and outdoor exercise preference
- Your Household — kids, pets, cars
Every change takes effect immediately — no reload needed.
How do I manage locations?
You can save up to 10 locations. Use the location picker on the dashboard to switch between them, or tap the search icon to add a new city. Each location displays weather in its own local timezone so times (sunrise, sunset, hourly forecast) are always relevant to that city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solcast really free?
Yes. There are no in-app purchases, no subscriptions, and no ads. Every feature is available from day one.
Does Solcast collect my data?
No. There are no user accounts, no analytics, no tracking, and no advertising. All your preferences stay on your device. See our full Privacy Policy for details.
Do I need an internet connection?
You need a connection to fetch fresh weather data. Once loaded, previously fetched forecasts are available instantly when switching between saved locations. All recommendations and indices are computed on your device regardless of connectivity.
Does Solcast work on iPad?
Yes. Solcast is optimized for both iPhone and iPad, with an adaptive layout that takes advantage of the larger screen.
Can I switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit?
Yes. Go to Settings > About You and use the Temperature Unit picker at the top. All temperature displays update immediately.
What is the daily briefing?
A glanceable card at the top of your dashboard with up to 6 plain-language action items tailored to your settings and conditions. It can also alert you to weather shifts throughout the day (e.g., “Dry morning, but rain arrives in the afternoon”) and remind you of national holidays in your selected location.
Where does the weather data come from?
Solcast combines data from Apple Weather and Open-Meteo to deliver reliable, accurate forecasts. Air quality and pollen data come from a dedicated environmental API. All values shown are real measurements — nothing is estimated or fabricated.
Permissions
Why does Solcast need my location?
Location (When In Use) is used to fetch accurate weather, air quality, and pollen data for your area. Your coordinates are sent only to weather services and are never stored on any server we control. You can also add locations manually without granting location access.
Does Solcast access my camera, contacts, or anything else?
No. Solcast only requests location permission. It does not access your camera, photos, contacts, microphone, health data, or any other information.
Troubleshooting
Weather data isn’t loading
- Confirm your device has an active Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
- Pull down on the dashboard to force a refresh.
- If it still doesn’t load, the weather service may be temporarily unavailable — try again in a few minutes.
My location isn’t being detected
Go to your device’s Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Solcast and make sure access is set to “While Using the App.” If it’s already enabled, try toggling it off and on, or restart the app.
An index or recommendation seems off
Recommendations are based on live weather data combined with your personal settings. Double-check your sensitivity toggles in Settings > About You and confirm the correct location is selected. Some data (air quality, pollen) varies by region and may not be available everywhere — the app hides those indices automatically when data is unavailable.
The hourly forecast strip isn’t showing
The hourly strip loads separately from the main forecast. Pull down to refresh. If the data source is temporarily unavailable, the rest of your dashboard will continue to work normally.
Times look wrong for a remote city
This is by design. Each saved location shows weather times (sunrise, sunset, hourly forecast) in that city’s local timezone — not your device’s timezone. This ensures the information is useful for planning at that location.
The app is crashing
Make sure you’re running the latest version from the App Store and restart your device. If crashes persist, please email us with your device model and iOS version so we can investigate.
Contact Us
Can’t find your answer? We’re happy to help.
Email: bartlettbutter@gmail.com
Please include a brief description of your issue and your device model / iOS version. We typically respond within 48 hours.