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Install Orphie

Orphie is coming soon to iPhone and Android. Store links are not available yet. These instructions describe the app’s current setup flow, not a public store release.

Complete first-run setup

Open Orphie to begin. You do not need to create an account.

1. Choose your language. You can use the system default, English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, or Traditional Chinese.
2. Choose the apps you drive for. You can choose several or none. To add your own app name, finish setup and open Settings › Apps.
3. Add your vehicle. Enter its year, make, model, and placed-in-service date. A nickname and whole-mile odometer reading are optional. You must enter at least a make or model to continue. You cannot skip the vehicle step.
4. Read the notice. Mileage calculations are estimates, not professional tax, accounting, or legal advice. Consult a qualified tax professional about your situation.
5. Read the permission explanations and respond to your phone’s permission prompts. You can choose Not now on the permission steps.

Setup remembers your step and draft if you leave before finishing. After setup, Orphie opens Drive with your chosen apps selected. Existing installations with a vehicle or saved shift normally skip first-run setup.

An odometer reading entered during setup uses the date you enter it, not a past placed-in-service date. It counts as a Started using reading only when the placed-in-service date is today. Otherwise, it is Other. You can add vehicle readings later.

Allow location on iPhone

The location explanation leads to the iPhone permission prompt. Orphie also offers a background-location upgrade to Always when appropriate.

To review access later, open Settings › Permissions in Orphie. The Location row shows Always, While using, Off, or Not asked. Open the row to change access in the iPhone’s app settings, then return to Orphie.

Allow location on Android

The location explanation leads to Android’s permission prompt. Android setup has no separate Always-location step.

On Android 13 and later, setup can also ask for notification permission if you have not answered yet. If battery restrictions remain, setup offers the battery-optimization settings. Permission steps that no longer apply are skipped.

To review access later, open Settings › Permissions in Orphie. Android shows Location, Notifications, and Battery optimization. Each opens the relevant phone settings. Orphie refreshes the status when you return.

Start your first shift

In Drive, choose your vehicle and the apps you are driving for. Tap Start shift when you want to log miles. If location permission is missing, Orphie opens the phone’s permission prompt.

Read Log a shift before you start, especially how Pause and End affect location recording.