A Kautio account needs one phone number from the United States or Canada and a 6-digit code sent to it by text. Kautio has no password and doesn't need an email address. This chapter covers creating your account, setting the name your contacts see, the permissions Kautio asks for, where your settings are, and how to get help.
How do I create a Kautio account?
You create a Kautio account with your phone number and a 6-digit code sent by text.
On Enter your phone number, enter a US or Canadian mobile number.
Tick both checkboxes. See Setting up Kautio › What are the two checkboxes at sign-up?
Tap Continue. Kautio texts you a code. The screen notes: "We will send a verification code via SMS. Message and data rates may apply."
On Verify your number, enter the 6-digit code and tap Verify. If the code doesn't arrive, Resend code becomes available 30 seconds after the code was sent.
Read the three intro screens and tap Next on each, or tap Skip to go straight to the last step.
On the last step, Your name, enter the name your contacts will see and tap Get Started. The name is required. See Setting up Kautio › Setting the name your contacts see.
Every new account starts with 3 free credits. See Plans, credits, and prices › How do credits work?
If the code doesn't arrive or isn't accepted, see Troubleshooting › I can't sign in or didn't get my code.
What are the two checkboxes at sign-up?
The Kautio sign-up screen has two checkboxes, and you must tick both to continue.
The first checkbox is your consent to text messages:
"I agree to receive transactional SMS notifications from Kautio related to safety check-ins. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to cancel."
The second checkbox confirms your age and accepts the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which are linked from the checkbox text:
"I am at least 18 years old and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy."
If a checkbox is left unticked when you tap Continue, the app shows one of these messages:
"You must agree to SMS notifications to continue." (the first checkbox)
"You must agree to continue." (the second checkbox)
Setting the name your contacts see
Your Kautio display name is the name your contacts see. Kautio asks for it on the last step of setting up, Your name: "Your contacts see this name in the texts Kautio sends them. Use a name they'll recognize." The Name field shows "What should we call you?". Skip on the intro screens jumps to this step, not past it, and you can't finish setting up without a name.
Rule | Message if it isn't met |
Required. Spaces before and after are removed. | "Enter a name." |
Up to 40 characters | "Keep it to 40 characters or less." |
Letters, numbers, spaces, and the characters . - ' only | "Only letters, numbers, and . - ' allowed." |
Your display name appears in the texts Kautio sends to your contacts (invitations, check-in texts, follow-up texts, and "all good" texts) and in your contacts' Kautio app. A contact's list shows the name you had when they accepted your invitation.
To change your name later, use Settings › Profile › Display name. See Your account › Changing your display name.
Why does Kautio ask for my name when I schedule?
Kautio asks for your name when you tap Schedule check-in if your account doesn't have one yet, for example an account created before Kautio asked for a name during setup. A sheet titled Your name opens.
Save and continue saves the name and schedules the check-in.
Cancel returns to the form. Nothing is scheduled.
Kautio asks only while your account has no name. Once you save one, it doesn't ask again.
Permissions Kautio asks for, and why
Kautio asks for permission to send notifications, and asks for location, camera, and photo access only when you use a feature that needs them.
Notifications (essential)
Kautio notifications tell you when a check-in comes due, so allowing them is essential.
When Kautio asks. Your phone's system prompt appears the first time you open Kautio. The setup checklist on the Check-ins tab also has an Allow notifications step, which opens a short explanation titled "Stay in the loop" with Continue and Not now.
Why they matter. Without notifications, you won't see the "Check-in time" notification when a grace window opens. The check-in still runs on schedule, and your contacts are still notified if you don't respond.
Turning them back on. Kautio has no notification settings screen of its own. Use your phone's settings: Settings › Notifications › Kautio.
iPhone. Keep Time Sensitive Notifications allowed for Kautio. Check-in notifications are marked Time Sensitive, so they can come through while a Focus is on.
Android. Each kind of Kautio notification has its own channel in your phone's notification settings for Kautio, listed by name, for example "Check-in activation" and "Delivery issues". If a channel is turned off, its notifications don't appear.
Location (optional, used only during a check-in)
Kautio uses your location only for a check-in where you turned on Share my location.
When Kautio asks. Kautio asks for location access the first time a check-in with Share my location turned on is Active while Kautio is open.
When it records. Kautio records your location only while that check-in is Active and Kautio is running. On Android, a "Kautio check-in" notification ("Sharing your location with your contacts for this check-in") shows while Kautio records.
When it stops. Recording stops as soon as the check-in is no longer Active. Kautio never records your location between check-ins.
The location on the check-in. The place you enter in Share where you'll be when you schedule a check-in is where your plan is. It isn't your position, and it doesn't need location permission.
For how the location trail works and who sees it, see Scheduling a check-in › Location sharing and Your privacy and data › Is my location tracked between check-ins?.
Camera and photos (optional)
Kautio asks for camera or photo library access only when you add a photo to a check-in, or attach a photo or video in a support conversation.
What Kautio doesn't ask for
Your address book. Kautio doesn't read your phone's contacts. You type each contact's number yourself.
Advertising. Kautio shows no ads and doesn't use your phone's advertising ID.
Microphone. On iPhone, Kautio asks for the microphone only if you record a video with sound in a support conversation. Check-ins never use the microphone.
Where are my settings?
Kautio settings are on the Settings tab, in these groups:
Group | Rows | More information |
Profile | Display name (required; it can't be saved empty), Phone number. The phone number can't be changed while a check-in is Active: "You can't change your phone while a check-in is active." | Your account |
Preferences | Call me during check-ins | Scheduling a check-in › Phone call option ("Also call me") |
Check-ins | Safety presets and Recurring check-ins (both Kautio Pro) | Presets and repeating check-ins (Pro) |
Organization | Join with an invite link | For members an organization has invited, who join with the invite link they received. |
Account | Credits & subscription, Export my data, Sign out, Delete account | Your account, Your privacy and data, Managing your subscription |
Help & support | Help Center, Contact support, My requests | Setting up Kautio › How do I get help with Kautio? |
About | About Kautio (opens kautio.app/about), About Hearthmates (opens hearthmates.com, the company behind Kautio), Share Kautio (opens your phone's share sheet with a short description of Kautio and a link to kautio.app) | |
Legal | Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, End User License Agreement, Disclaimer, Acceptable Use Policy |
Below the groups, Settings shows the app version and build number (for example "Kautio v1.0.0 (11)") and the copyright notice.
To see your credits and subscription, open Settings › Account › Credits & subscription, or tap the credit badge at the top of the Check-ins tab. The row shows your plan (Full Access or Kautio Pro) or how many credits you have left. If you have no credits left and no subscription, the badge opens Plans instead. See Plans, credits, and prices and Managing your subscription.
How do I get help with Kautio?
You can get help with Kautio in the app or by email.
In the app, open Settings › Help & support:
Help Center: Kautio support's home, with Messages, Tickets, and Help (these articles). The articles are also on the web at intercom.help/kautio, with no account needed.
Contact support: a chat with Kautio support. A badge shows the number of unread replies.
My requests: follow up on a request or a report you sent.
By email:
support@kautio.app if you have a Kautio account;
hello@kautio.app for everyone else.
Kautio support isn't for anything time-sensitive, and it can't act on a check-in that is happening now. If you need urgent help, call 911 or your local emergency number.
The "Kautio support" notice you see before contacting support
The first time you open Help Center, Contact support, or My requests, or send a report, Kautio shows a sheet titled "Kautio support". It says:
"When you contact us, authorized Kautio support staff may view your account and check-in records as needed to help with your request."
"Our support provider, Intercom, uses AI to answer your questions and to help our staff reply. What you write in support is processed by Intercom and its AI service providers."
Agree and continue opens what you chose.
Not now opens nothing and sends nothing to our support provider.
The sheet links to the Privacy Policy and Terms. Kautio shows the sheet again if the notice changes. For what support staff can see and what our support provider receives, see Kautio support.
If in-app support is unavailable
When Kautio's in-app support is unavailable, Settings › Help & support shows a single Email support row ("Support is unavailable right now"). Tapping it opens your mail app with a message to support@kautio.app. If no mail app is set up, the app shows "Email us at support@kautio.app".
Support messages never appear over a check-in
While a grace window is open, or while your contacts are being notified, Kautio holds back support pop-ups and announcements, so they never cover Snooze or Dismiss.