Getting Started
First Steps
Launch the app and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode to ensure your archive remains private.
Enter your name on the one-time entry screen. This stays on-device and is used to personalize the archive experience.
Navigate through the introductory screens. Page 4 includes a narrated Life Arc demo so you can hear what the feature sounds like — it plays automatically when you arrive on that screen and pauses if you leave.
Embra offers two ways to subscribe at the end of onboarding:
Annual — includes a 7-day free trial.
Monthly — subscribes directly with no trial.
Tap Subscribe to proceed and unlock full app access. Pricing is shown in the App Store in your local currency.
Navigation
Navigate via swipes or the navigation bar icons on iPhone, and via the sidebar on iPad and Mac.
How the Archive Builds
Embra uses a hierarchical synthesis model to turn raw moments into lasting stories:
- 3 Memories = 1 Impression (An AI-synthesized portrait of the combined memories)
- 3 Impressions = 1 Relationship Arc (A narrative chapter about the relationship)
- Life Arcs draw from all available data — there is no minimum requirement.
Key Features
Home tab > Add Someone Important. This creates the foundation for their specific archive.
Tap Capture, choose the person, and select your method (text or dictation). You can optionally add a photo from your library.
When enough data is collected, visual cues in the Archive will indicate that an Impression or Relationship Arc is ready to be generated. For Life Arcs, visit the person's profile on the Home tab.
You can export Life Arcs and Relationship Arcs to PDF or MP4. Individual memories and synthesized Impressions can be shared via the iOS Share Sheet.
Manage your biometric lock and sync settings under Settings > Privacy. Use Restore Purchases in the Membership section to refresh your plan details.
When you first set up Embra you'll choose He / Him, She / Her, or They / Them right on the name screen. You can change this any time under Settings > Appearance > Your Pronouns. Embra passes this preference to the AI on every generation so that Impressions, Relationship Arcs, and Life Arcs refer to you correctly. They / Them is selected by default.
Important Notes
Privacy: Your archive is stored on-device and no account is required. Data leaves your device in two cases only: when you enable CloudKit sync, or when you trigger an AI generation feature — which sends anonymised, identifier-free text to our AI providers. See Connectivity below.
Encryption: All memories, impressions, and arcs between connected users are protected with end-to-end encryption.
Connectivity: Generations require internet. Before any text leaves your device, names and personal identifiers are replaced with anonymous placeholders so that what is transmitted contains no identifying labels. Embra is designed to minimise the personal information sent to AI providers, and the anonymised content is structured to resist re-identification. Voice transcription is entirely on-device. Memories can be added offline.
Compatibility: Tested on iPhone and iPad running iOS 17 and later.