FAQ & Help - Cardaroo

🎵 Sourcing Content

Where can I find content to import into Cardaroo?

You can import audio from any legal source. Here are some great places to find free, legal content:

📚 Public Domain Audiobooks

Internet Archive LibriVox Collection: archive.org/details/audio_bookspoetry - Thousands of free public domain audiobooks
All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain and completely free to use

🎴 Free Yoto Content

Yoto Space Public Domain: yoto.space/public-domain - Community-shared free Yoto cards
These are public domain stories formatted specifically for audio card players

💾 Your Own Yoto Collection

Yoto Archival Downloader: github.com/humor4fun/yoto-archival-downloader
Create personal backups of Yoto cards you already own

🌐 Other Sources

Google Drive: Create an archive (ZIP or 7z) of your audio files and upload to Google Drive, then share the link to the archive
Personal Files: Import archive files (ZIP or 7z) containing your MP3s, M4As, and other audio files from your device
Podcasts & Educational Content: Download episodes and create archives, or use direct links to podcast archive files

                            Remember: Always respect copyright and only import content you have the right to use. Public domain content and your personal purchases are always safe choices.
                        

What file formats are supported?

Audio Files:

MP3 (.mp3)
M4A (.m4a)
AAC (.aac)
WAV (.wav)
MP4 audio (.mp4)

Image Files:

Cover Images: PNG (.png) or JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) - name as "cover.png" or "cover.jpg"
Chapter Images: PNG (.png) or JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) - must match audio file numbers (e.g., 01.png for 01 - Chapter One.mp3)

Archive Formats:

ZIP files (.zip) - Most common format, supported everywhere
7-Zip files (.7z) - Offers better compression for larger collections

Tip: Files should be organized in an archive file with audio files in an "audio" folder, optional chapter images in an "images" folder, and a cover image for best results.

What are archive files and how should I organize them?

Archive Files:

Archive files are compressed containers that hold multiple files and folders. For best results, organize your archive files like this:

Recommended Structure:

my-audiobook.zip (or .7z)
├── audio/
│ ├── 01 - Chapter One.mp3
│ ├── 02 - Chapter Two.mp3
│ └── 03 - Chapter Three.mp3
├── images/
│ ├── 01.png
│ ├── 02.png
│ └── 03.png
├── cover.png
└── card.txt (optional - overrides collection title)

                            Important: Number your audio files (01, 02, etc.) to ensure they play in the correct order. Chapter images in the images folder must match the audio file numbers (01.png for 01 - Chapter One.mp3). The optional card.txt file should contain "Title:: Your Collection Name" to override the default title extraction.
                        

📥 Importing Content

How do I import audio content into Cardaroo?

Cardaroo supports multiple ways to import your audio content:

URL Import: Paste a URL from supported services like Internet Archive, Google Drive, or Yoto share links

QR Code Scanning: Use the camera to scan QR codes containing audio URLs

File Import: Select archive files from your device's Files app

                            Supported Sources: Internet Archive Audiobooks, Google Drive shared files, Yoto Public Share URLs, Yoto Personal Backups, and any archive file containing audio files and optional cover images.
                        

What happens when I import from Internet Archive?

When you import from Internet Archive (archive.org), Cardaroo automatically handles several things for you:

Automatic Cover Download: Cardaroo tries to find and download the cover image from the Internet Archive item page

Metadata Extraction: The collection title is extracted from the archive.org page or folder structure

File Organization: Audio files are automatically organized and numbered for proper playback order

Tip: Internet Archive URLs work best when pointing directly to the item's detail page (e.g., archive.org/details/bookname) rather than individual file downloads.

What happens when I import from Yoto share links?

Yoto share links are handled specially by Cardaroo:

Web Player Parsing: Cardaroo can extract audio content directly from Yoto web player URLs
Backup Archives: Personal Yoto backups are processed as standard archive files
Metadata Preservation: Original titles and chapter information are maintained when possible
Chapter Images: If the original Yoto content has configured chapter images, these will be carried through to your Cardaroo collection
Audio Download: Individual audio tracks are downloaded and organized automatically

                            Note: This feature helps families who already own Yoto content to enjoy it in Cardaroo's interface.
                        

What are chapter icons and how are they generated?

Chapter icons are small images that appear next to each audio track in your collection. Cardaroo creates these automatically when they're not provided:

How Chapter Icons Are Generated:

Check for Provided Images: First, Cardaroo looks for numbered images in the archive's images folder (01.png, 02.png, etc.)

Analyze Audio Metadata: If no images are found, Cardaroo analyzes ID3 tags and audio filenames to determine themes and content

Generate Emoji Icons: Based on the filename analysis, appropriate emoji icons are automatically generated for each chapter

Apply Color Themes: Each chapter gets a unique color background that complements the collection's cover image

Best of Both Worlds: You can provide custom chapter images for full control, or let Cardaroo generate themed icons automatically.

🔧 Troubleshooting

What should I do if I get an import error?

If you encounter an import error, try these steps:

Check your internet connection: Ensure you have a stable connection for downloading content

Verify the URL: Make sure the link is correct and accessible

Check file size: Very large files (over 500MB) may require additional confirmation

Free up storage: Ensure you have enough free space on your device

Try again: Sometimes temporary server issues resolve themselves

Still having issues? Use the "Report Error" button in the app to send us detailed information about the problem. This helps us fix issues quickly.

How do I report a bug or error?

Cardaroo has a built-in error reporting system:

When an error occurs: You'll see an error message with details about what went wrong

Tap "Report Issue": This will open your email app with technical details pre-filled

Add context: Describe what you were doing when the error occurred

Send the report: We'll investigate and work on a fix

                            Privacy Note: Error reports only contain technical information needed to fix the issue. We don't collect your personal data or audio content.
                        

Why is my import taking so long?

Import time depends on several factors:

File size: Larger collections take longer to download and process
Internet speed: Slower connections increase download time
Server load: The source server may be busy
Device performance: Older devices may take longer to process files

Monitor Progress: The app shows real-time download progress, speed, and estimated time remaining during imports.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sharing & AirDrop

How do I import a collection someone shared with me?

When someone shares a Cardaroo collection with you:

For the recipient:

Accept the AirDrop: When you see the notification, tap "Accept" to receive the shared file

Choose "Save to Files": This will save the collection to your device's Files app

Open Cardaroo: Launch the app and go to the Import screen

Select "Import from Files": Choose the file you just saved

Wait for import: The collection will be added to your library

Great for families: Parents can easily share new stories with their children's devices, and kids can share favorites with siblings.

🔒 Parental Controls

How does Cardaroo's built-in parental gate work?

Cardaroo includes a built-in parental gate that prevents children from accessing settings and importing new content without adult supervision:

What the Parental Gate Protects:

Settings Access: Children cannot access the app's settings menu
Content Import: Kids cannot import new audio content or collections
App Configuration: Prevents changes to app preferences and configurations
Library Management: Protects against accidental deletion or modification of collections

How to Access Settings as a Parent:

Tap the Settings Icon: Look for the gear icon in the app

Complete the Adult Verification: Follow the on-screen prompts designed for adults

Access Full Settings: Once verified, you can import content, adjust settings, and manage collections

Peace of Mind: The parental gate ensures your child can enjoy their audio content safely without accidentally making changes or accessing inappropriate settings.

How do I lock my child's device to only use Cardaroo?

iOS Guided Access is a powerful built-in feature that locks your device to a single app, perfect for keeping kids focused on Cardaroo without access to other apps or system functions.

Setting up Guided Access:

Enable Guided Access: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Guided Access and turn it on

Set a passcode: Create a passcode that only you know (you can also enable Face ID or Touch ID)

Open Cardaroo: Launch the Cardaroo app

Start Guided Access: Triple-click the Side button (iPhone X or later) or Home button (iPhone 8 or earlier)

Configure options: Tap "Options" in the bottom left to customize hardware button behavior

Start the session: Tap "Start" in the top right corner

Kid-Friendly: Once active, your child can only use Cardaroo and cannot exit to other apps, change settings, or access notifications.

How do I prevent my child from accidentally locking the screen or turning off the device?

Guided Access can disable hardware buttons to prevent accidental screen locks and power-offs:

Disabling Hardware Buttons:

While in Guided Access: Triple-click the Side or Home button and enter your passcode

Tap Options: Look for the "Options" button in the bottom left corner

Disable Sleep/Wake Button: Turn off "Sleep/Wake Button" to prevent power button from locking the screen

Disable Volume Buttons: Turn off "Volume Buttons" to prevent volume changes

Disable Motion: Turn off "Motion" to prevent screen rotation and shake gestures

Set Display Auto-Lock to Never: This prevents the screen from automatically turning off

                            Perfect for Young Children: With these settings, kids can't accidentally turn off the device or lock the screen, keeping them engaged with their audio content.
                        

How do I keep the screen from going to sleep during long audio sessions?

To prevent the screen from turning off during long audiobook sessions:

Screen Wake Prevention:

In Guided Access Options: Access the Options menu by triple-clicking the Side/Home button

Set Display Auto-Lock to Never: This prevents the screen from automatically turning off

Disable Touch (Optional): Turn off "Touch" if you want to prevent screen touches from interfering with playback

Consider Battery Impact: Remember that keeping the screen on will drain battery faster

Battery Consideration: Keeping the screen on continuously will drain battery faster. Consider having a charger nearby for long listening sessions.

How do I exit Guided Access when my child is done?

Only adults with the passcode can exit Guided Access:

Exiting Guided Access:

Triple-click the button: Triple-click the Side button (iPhone X or later) or Home button (iPhone 8 or earlier)

Enter your passcode: Input the passcode you set up earlier

Tap "End": Tap the "End" button in the top left corner

                            Alternative: If you enabled Face ID or Touch ID for Guided Access, you can also double-click the Side or Home button to exit.
                        

What limitations should I know about with Guided Access?

Important things to consider when using Guided Access:

Safety Considerations:

Emergency Services: Crash Detection and Emergency Services aren't available while using Guided Access
Notifications: All notifications are blocked during Guided Access sessions
Control Center: Swiping down from the top right won't show Control Center
App Switcher: Swiping up from the bottom won't show other apps
Siri: Siri access is limited during Guided Access

Best Practices:

Supervised Usage: Use Guided Access when you're nearby and can monitor the session
Emergency Exit: Always ensure you (the adult) know how to quickly exit Guided Access
Battery Management: Keep the device charged, especially with screen wake disabled
Time Limits: Consider setting time limits in Guided Access options for structured listening sessions

Important: Exit Guided Access to use Crash Detection or make emergency calls. Always supervise young children when using this feature.

❓ General Questions

Is Cardaroo really free?

Yes! Cardaroo is completely free with no hidden costs:

✅ No subscription fees
✅ No advertisements
✅ No data collection or tracking
✅ Unlimited imports and storage

Our Mission: We believe every family should have access to great audio content without breaking the bank.

Does Cardaroo work offline?

Yes! Once you've imported content, everything works offline:

✅ Play any imported collection without internet
✅ Perfect for car trips, flights, and areas with poor signal
✅ All audio files are stored locally on your device
✅ No streaming or buffering delays

Note: You only need internet when importing new content. Once imported, everything is available offline.

How much storage space do I need?

Storage requirements depend on your collection size:

Typical audiobook: 50-200 MB
Long audiobook series: 500MB - 2GB
Music collection: 30-50 MB per album
Podcast episodes: 10-30 MB per episode

                            Storage Check: The app shows available storage space and warns you if you're running low before importing large collections.
                        

Can I use Cardaroo on multiple devices?

Yes! You can install Cardaroo on all your family's devices:

✅ Each device maintains its own library
✅ Use AirDrop to share collections between devices
✅ No account required - everything stays on your devices
✅ Perfect for families with multiple iPads and iPhones

Family Friendly: Each family member can have their own collection while easily sharing favorites with others.