Support
Need help? Write to me.
I am an independent developer and I read every message personally. Please include your device model and iOS version, and describe what happened — it helps me find the answer faster.
hello@loopsparkstudio.com
I usually reply within two working days.
Getting Started
How do I create a secret code?
Tap New code on the main screen and follow the three steps: give the code a name, choose the type, then set its key. Choose Caesar to shift the alphabet by a number of steps, or Secret word to reshuffle the alphabet starting from a word you pick.
How do I write a secret message?
Tap Write a note, type a short sentence, and the encoded version appears underneath, together with a letter-by-letter view showing how each letter changes. Copy it onto a piece of paper and swap it with a friend.
Which is easier for a young child?
Caesar. Turning the wheel and watching every letter move makes the idea click immediately. The secret word cipher is a good next step once the first one feels easy.
The Printable Wheel
What do I need to build it?
Scissors, and a two-prong paper fastener (also called a brad or split pin) for the Caesar wheel. Glue stick and a sheet of card are optional if you want the wheel to last longer.
How do I print it?
Open the Parents' Area (the gear icon), pass the parental gate, then tap Print. The PDF includes instructions, the parts to cut out and the Code Pact. You can print it in colour or in black and white — that choice is in the print dialog.
Why does the Caesar wheel turn but the secret-word wheel doesn't?
Because the two codes work differently. Caesar shifts the alphabet, so a disc that rotates is exactly the mechanism. A secret word reshuffles the alphabet instead, and no rotation can reproduce that — so its wheel is printed with the two rows already lined up, together with a substitution table.
Printing is locked. Why?
Printable PDFs are part of Codicino Pro, the optional one-time purchase.
Sharing a Code with a Friend
How do I send my code to someone else?
In the Parents' Area, tap Share code. The app shows a QR code containing the key. You can show it on screen, save it to Photos, or send it in a message — the accompanying text explains to the recipient what it is and how to import it.
I received a QR code. How do I use it?
In the Parents' Area, tap Import / Scan. You can either scan the QR with the camera or pick the image from your photos if it arrived in a message.
Nothing happens when I scan the QR with the iPhone camera app.
That is expected. The QR contains the code itself, not a web address, so it only works inside Codicino. Import it from the Parents' Area as described above.
Is the message itself shared?
No. Sharing a code shares only the key needed to read messages — never the content of your notes.
Codicino Pro
What does it include?
Unlimited secret codes, printable PDFs, and the advanced tools for adults. It is a one-time purchase, not a subscription: nothing renews and there is nothing to cancel.
I bought it but a new device shows it as locked.
Open the Parents' Area, tap Codicino Pro, then Restore purchases. Make sure the device is signed in with the same Apple Account used for the original purchase.
The price doesn't appear and I see a spinner.
The App asks the App Store for the price, so a connection is needed for that moment only. Check that the device is online and reopen the screen. Everything else in the App works offline.
How do I get a refund?
Refunds are handled by Apple, not by me. Visit reportaproblem.apple.com and sign in with your Apple Account.
Parents and Teachers
What is the parental gate?
A short question — a sum written out in words — that stands in front of purchases, sharing, importing, the camera, printing and any link out of the App. It is there to make sure an adult is present. Type the answer in digits.
Is there a master key that opens every code?
No, and there cannot be: each code has its own key. That is the whole point of the exercise. What the App does offer, in Advanced tools, is a way to decode a message using a code you have saved, and — for Caesar codes — a way to try all twenty-five keys at once. The second one is also a nice way to show children how easily a simple code can be discovered.
Can I use Codicino in a classroom?
Yes. Import each child's code with the QR scanner to keep them all in one place, print the wheels, and use the advanced tools to read the messages the class produces.
Is my child's data safe?
Nothing is collected. The App has no account, no advertising, no analytics and no third-party software, and it stores everything on the device. See the Privacy Policy.
Troubleshooting
My codes disappeared.
Codes are stored on the device only and are not synced through iCloud. Deleting and reinstalling the App removes them. If they vanished without a reinstall, please write to me with your device model and iOS version.
The wheel doesn't turn.
Only the Caesar wheel turns. If your code uses a secret word, tap a letter instead: the matching secret letter lights up.
The text is too small or too large.
Codicino follows the system text size. You can change it in iOS Settings under Display & Brightness → Text Size, or in Accessibility → Display & Text Size for larger options.
Which devices are supported?
iPhone and iPad running iOS or iPadOS 17 or later.
Contact
If you did not find your answer here, or you have a suggestion for a future version, I would like to hear from you:
Francesco Sarpellon – LoopSpark Studio
hello@loopsparkstudio.com