Overview
If the BombBomb app on your iPhone or iPad isn't working as expected, start with the general steps below. Most problems are fixed by the first two or three. If you know what's wrong, skip to the section for your problem.
Who this applies to: All users
Plan requirement: Core, Core + Copilot, Enterprise
Before you start
- Make sure your device runs iOS or iPadOS 16.4 or later (Settings → General → About).
- Make sure you're connected to the internet. If you use a VPN, try turning it off; VPNs can slow down or block video uploads.
Start here: general fixes
1. Close and reopen the app
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to open the App Switcher.
- Swipe up on BombBomb to close it.
- Wait a few seconds, then open BombBomb again.
If an upload was in progress, the app offers to finish it when it reopens.
2. Update the app and iOS
- Open the App Store, tap your profile picture, and tap Update next to BombBomb if it's listed. You can also go directly to the BombBomb App Store page and update from there.
- Open Settings → General → Software Update and install any iOS update.
3. Check the app's permissions
Open the iPhone Settings app, tap Apps, scroll down, and tap BombBomb. Check:
- Camera and Microphone: needed to record.
- Photos: needed only if Save Videos to Device is on.
Notifications are in a different place: Settings → Notifications → BombBomb. Make sure Allow Notifications is on if you want to hear when someone watches your video.
4. Reinstall the app
Touch and hold the BombBomb icon on your Home Screen, tap Remove App, then Delete App. You can also go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage → BombBomb and tap Delete App. Then reinstall BombBomb from the App Store.
Reinstalling doesn't delete your BombBomb account or videos. You'll need to sign in again. Any recording that hadn't finished uploading will be lost, so let uploads finish first.
The camera won't turn on
If the Record tab says camera access is turned off, tap Open Settings, turn on Camera and Microphone, and return to BombBomb.
If the Record tab shows "Recording your screen" instead of the camera, a screen recording is still running. See the screen recording section below.
If you see Oops! You are already uploading a video, wait for the current upload to finish. You'll find its progress at the top of the Videos tab.
The BombBomb keyboard isn't working
BombBomb doesn't appear when I switch keyboards
- Open the iPhone Settings app and go to Apps → BombBomb → Keyboards.
- Turn on BombBomb and Allow Full Access.
- In any app, tap a text field, touch and hold the 🌐 or 😊 key, and tap BombBomb.
You can also start from the app: Settings → Keyboard App → Enable BombBomb Keyboard.
The keyboard shows example videos and an orange banner
Allow Full Access is off. iOS doesn't let a keyboard reach the internet or the clipboard without it, so BombBomb can only show two examples. Go to Settings → Apps → BombBomb → Keyboards and turn on Allow Full Access. Tapping the orange banner in the keyboard shows you where the setting is.
The app still says to turn on Allow Full Access
BombBomb can only confirm the setting after the keyboard has been opened. Open the BombBomb keyboard once in any app, then check Settings → Keyboard App again.
The keyboard says I'm logged out or my subscription has ended
The keyboard uses the account you're signed in to in the app. Tap the button in the keyboard to open BombBomb, sign in or resolve the account message there, then open the keyboard again.
Insert Link or Copy For Email did nothing
Make sure Allow Full Access is on. Copy For Email copies the video; paste it in your email by touching and holding in the message and tapping Paste.
Screen recording problems
My screen recording has no sound
The microphone was off in the iOS menu. Next time, check that Microphone shows On before you tap Start Broadcast. iOS remembers your last choice.
I stopped recording but can't find the video
Open BombBomb. Screen recordings upload when the app is open, usually within a few seconds, and appear in the Videos tab titled "iOS screen recording" with the date.
The Record tab says "Recording your screen"
A screen recording is still running. Tap the red recording indicator in the status bar (or open Control Center) and stop it. The camera comes back within a few seconds.
I don't see a screen-record button
Update BombBomb to the latest version from the App Store.
My video won't upload
Find the message you're seeing:
- Waiting for connection…: you're offline. The upload continues on its own when you reconnect.
- The upload may have stalled while the app was in the background: iOS paused the upload while you were in another app. It keeps trying on its own, or tap Retry to start it again. Keep BombBomb open until uploads finish.
- Upload failed with Retry: tap Retry. It restarts from the copy saved on your phone. In the Videos tab, tap the failed card to retry, or tap its X to dismiss it.
- Processing video on our servers: the upload finished and BombBomb is preparing the video. Long videos can take a few minutes. You can tap Done and it finishes on its own.
- Still finishing: a very long video is taking longer than usual to process. Wait a little longer, or tap Start Over to upload it again from the beginning.
- This video is … GB. Videos up to 2 GB can be uploaded from the app.: the file is too large. Trim it or upload it from a computer.
- Couldn't load that video: the video is stored in iCloud and couldn't be downloaded to your phone. Connect to Wi-Fi and try again.
If the app closed during an upload, you'll see Finish uploading your video? when you reopen it. Tap Finish Upload.
Uploads that fail repeatedly are usually caused by a weak connection. Try Wi-Fi, or move somewhere with a stronger signal.
I can't sign in
- iOS asks if BombBomb can use bombbomb.com to sign in. Tap Continue. This is expected.
- I'm back on the welcome screen. The sign-in page was closed before sign-in finished. Tap Log in again.
- The app signed me out after updating. Sign in again once. Your videos are unchanged.
- It keeps signing me in to the wrong account. Go to Settings → Log Out, then tap Log in and choose the right account on the sign-in page.
- I forgot my password. Use the forgot-password link on the sign-in page.
- I don't have an account. Tap Sign up on the welcome screen to create one on BombBomb.com.
A full-screen message is blocking the app
These screens appear when something about your app or account needs attention. They go away on their own once it's resolved.
- Our improved app is waiting for you (Update Required): tap Update Now to install the latest version from the App Store. If it says your iOS version is required, tap Update iOS and update your device.
- Finish Account Setup: your account setup isn't complete. Tap the button to finish on BombBomb.com, then return to the app.
- Subscription messages (for example, an expired trial or a closed subscription): tap Buy Now, Upgrade, Reactivate, or Restart Your Subscription to manage your subscription on BombBomb.com in Safari. Subscriptions can't be changed in the app.
- Team admin message: your team's admin controls your access. Contact your admin.
Each account screen has a Sign Out button if you need to switch accounts.
Notifications aren't arriving
- Open the iPhone Settings app → Notifications → BombBomb and turn on Allow Notifications.
- In BombBomb, go to Settings → Notifications and turn on the alerts you want: Email Opens, Video Plays, Link Clicks. Likes and comments are under Interaction.
- Check that a Focus mode or Do Not Disturb isn't silencing BombBomb.
Even without push notifications, the Notifications tab in the app shows all your activity. If it shows "Live updates are disconnected. Pull down to refresh.", pull down on the list to reconnect.
Why does a notification say "Someone"? BombBomb couldn't identify the viewer, which is common for links shared by text, social apps, or pasted into email. Send with Quick Send to see recipients by name.
Copy for Email problems
- Nothing appears in my email. After the email opens, touch and hold in the message body and tap Paste.
- The wrong mail app opens. Go to Settings → Email Settings, tap the app you want (or tap the selected app to clear it), and tap Save.
- "Apple Mail Unavailable". Mail isn't set up on this iPhone. Add an account in the Mail app or choose a different mail app.
Still not working?
Contact BombBomb Support and include:
- Your device model and iOS version (Settings → General → About)
- Your BombBomb app version (the number at the bottom of the app's Settings tab)
- What happened, when it started, and any message you saw
You can also use Send Feedback in Settings to report a bug to the product team. For account or billing help, contact Support.
Frequently asked questions
Will reinstalling the app delete my videos?
No. Your videos and account are stored in your BombBomb account. Let any upload finish first; a recording that hasn't uploaded yet only exists on your phone.
Why does my upload pause when I switch apps?
iOS limits what apps can do in the background. Stay in BombBomb until the upload finishes, or tap Retry when you come back.
The app keeps asking for camera access but I already allowed it.
Go to Settings → Apps → BombBomb, turn Camera and Microphone off and back on, then close and reopen the app.
Where did my folders go?
Folders are now called Tags.