Support

Cephas · COBE Helper

Syncing and devices

The app is empty on a new device

That is expected. Cephas keeps nothing on a server: a new install starts blank and fills itself from your own iCloud account. Check that the device is signed in to the same Apple Account and that iCloud Drive is on. The first sync can take a minute.

Something I typed has not appeared on my other device

Edits are written locally first and pushed shortly after, so a device that is offline or asleep will be behind until it wakes. If two devices changed the same thing while apart, the one you typed on most recently wins.

Reminders are not appearing

Cephas asks permission the first time you use the feature. If it was declined, turn it back on in Settings → Apps → Cephas → Reminders. Everything it writes goes into a single list of its own, so nothing else in Reminders is touched.

The notetaker

How does the notetaker get the meeting?

Open the agenda and choose Notetaker → Export Agenda for Notetaker…. Save File… puts the file where you say, to send yourself; Share… sends it however suits — AirDrop, Mail, Messages. It is named for the meeting's date, like 2026-09-05-agenda.cephas. On his iPhone, iPad or Mac it opens Cephas in notetaker mode. His notes come back as 2026-09-05-notes.cephas; read them in with Notetaker → Import Notes from Notetaker….

He does not have an Apple device

He uses notes.cephas.mov. When you share the meeting by Mail or Messages, the link goes in the message beside the file. It does the same job in any current browser on Windows, Android, Linux or a Chromebook, works without a connection after the first visit, and keeps everything he types in that browser.

“That file could not be opened”

The files are encrypted, and versions of Cephas before build 26 cannot read them. Update Cephas on both devices. If it asks for a passcode, the coordinator set one under Settings → Lock the files you send: ask him for it — it is remembered after the first time.

I have forgotten the passcode

The coordinator can see it in Settings → Lock the files you send by pressing the eye beside it. A file already sent under a passcode nobody remembers cannot be opened by anybody, us included; set a new passcode and send the meeting again.

Where did my meeting go after I read the notes in?

Under Notes, further down the Agendas list. It still opens and edits as before. Right-click it (or swipe) and choose Move Back to Agendas to return it.

Your information

Can anyone else see my congregation's information?

No. It is held on your devices and in your own private iCloud database. Prairie Fire, LLC has no servers and no access to it — see the privacy policy.

How do I get my data out?

Agendas, minutes and announcement sheets can be printed or saved as PDFs, and letters as Word documents, from within the app.

Deleting your data

Delete the app to remove it from a device. To remove it from iCloud as well, open Settings → your name → iCloud → Manage Account Storage, find Cephas and delete its data. Because it lives in your own database, that removes it completely. In the web notetaker, use Settings → Remove Everything from This Browser.