Support

Open Nearbys, set a display name (up to 30 characters) and a status message (up to 100 characters). Optionally add a profile photo. Then tap "Start Sharing" to become visible to other nearby Nearbys users.

No account required. Nearbys works immediately after download with no sign-up, email, or password needed.

Yes — Nearbys uses only Bluetooth LE (Low Energy). You can disable Wi-Fi and cellular entirely and the app will still work perfectly.

Bluetooth LE typically has a range of 10–30 meters depending on the environment. Open spaces have better range than areas with many walls or interference.

Bluetooth is the sole communication technology Nearbys uses to discover nearby users and exchange status information. Without Bluetooth, the app cannot function.

No. Nearbys does not use GPS or Core Location at all. Distance is estimated from Bluetooth signal strength (RSSI) only — no location services are needed or requested.

1) Make sure the other person also has Nearbys open and has tapped 'Start Sharing'. 2) Both devices need to have Bluetooth enabled in iOS Settings. 3) Move closer — Bluetooth range is roughly 10–30 meters. 4) Try toggling sharing off, waiting 3 seconds, then back on.

Yes. With Bluetooth background modes enabled, Nearbys continues scanning and advertising even when not in the foreground. iOS may reduce scanning frequency in the background to conserve battery, but discovery will still work.

None. Nearbys collects zero personal data. Your name, status, and optional photo are shared peer-to-peer via Bluetooth only — never sent to any server. There is no Nearbys backend.

Tap the sharing toggle on the main screen or tap 'Stop Sharing'. You will instantly disappear from all nearby users' screens.

Tap on any person's card to open the detail view. Scroll to the bottom and tap 'Block'. Blocked users are stored locally on your device and will never appear in your Nearbys again.

Tap on the person's card, scroll to the bottom, and tap 'Report'. Enter a reason and submit. Reports are stored locally on your device — they are not transmitted anywhere.

Yes. Your status automatically stops broadcasting after 30 minutes of sharing. You can restart sharing at any time.

Go to Settings (gear icon) > Themes. There are 6 themes: Lavender, Midnight, Ocean, Sunset, Neon Wave, and Bubblegum. Tap any theme to apply it instantly.

'Close' means approximately 0–10 meters away. 'Nearby' means roughly 10–20 meters. 'Far' means 20–30+ meters. These are estimates based on Bluetooth signal strength.

Yes. Tap your avatar on the Profile screen, then choose 'Take Photo' or 'Choose from Library'. Photos are compressed and transmitted via Bluetooth to nearby users.

Nearbys is available in English, Spanish (Español), French (Français), and German (Deutsch). The app automatically uses your iPhone's language setting.

Uninstall Nearbys from your iPhone. All locally stored data (name, status, photo, UUID, block list) is permanently deleted with the app. There is no server-side data to delete.