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miniCycle User Manual

Getting Started

miniCycle welcome screen showing the onboarding modal step 1 of 3 with Welcome to miniCycle heading, wave emoji, the miniCycle logo, and Next and Skip buttons.

Welcome to miniCycle! This user manual will guide you through the features and functionalities of the app.

miniCycle is a routine manager that handles your repeatable tasks differently than traditional to-do apps. Most task managers treat each task as a one-off item and collect your personal data. miniCycle is different — it's a privacy-focused workflow tool that organizes your tasks into routines. When you complete all your tasks, the cycle is completed and they automatically reset so you can tackle them again. It's perfect for daily routines, weekly goals, and recurring habits.

miniCycle main view showing a Daily Routine with real tasks like Make the bed, Brush teeth, and Drink water. Two tasks are completed with green checkmarks. Auto Cycle mode selector, progress bar, and status bar visible.

Guided Tour

The guided tour highlighting the mode selector with a spotlight overlay and tooltip explaining Auto Cycle, Manual, and To-Do modes. Step 1 of 5 with Skip Tour and Next buttons.

First-time users are offered a guided tour that walks you through the app's key features step by step. The tour highlights each element with a spotlight overlay and tooltip explaining what it does. You can also restart the tour at any time from the hamburger menu (☰) → Help & Support. Tours are available for the main interface, stats panel, settings, personalization, and more.

Managing Tasks

Adding Tasks

The task input bar shown at the top of the Fun Activities routine with an Add tasks using the input bar tooltip. Auto Cycle mode active with empty task list below.

Tap the + button and select "Add Task" from the menu. Enter your task name and it will appear at the bottom of your list.

Completing Tasks

Fun Activities routine with Hiking completed showing a green checkmark, Biking, Rollar Skating, and Bowling remaining. Progress bar partially filled, 3 tasks remaining.

Tap the checkbox next to a task to mark it as complete. You can also undo a completion by tapping the checkbox again. Undo/redo is available for recent actions.

Cycle Complete

Cycle complete animation showing a large green checkmark overlay on the task list with Cycle Complete Tasks reset notification at the bottom. First cycle completed.

When all tasks are completed, a cycle complete animation plays and your tasks reset automatically (in Auto Cycle mode). Your cycle count increases with each completion.

Reordering Tasks

Drag and drop tasks to reorder them, or use the move arrows if enabled in Settings. Your preferred order is saved automatically.

Task Options

Fun Activities routine with task option buttons visible on each task row, showing customize, move arrows, rename, recurring, reminder, delete, and three-dots icons.

Long-press a task (or use the three-dots menu) to reveal task option buttons. Available buttons include customize (-/+), priority, edit, delete, recurring, due date, reminders, and marked for removal. You can choose which buttons appear using the Customize Task Options panel.

High Priority Tasks

Priority color picker notification showing Priority enabled Choose priority color with color dot options. Task option buttons visible on the first task with Undo button at the bottom.

Mark important tasks with the priority button. Priority tasks display a red left border to help you focus on what matters most.

Editing Tasks

The Rename Task modal showing a text input field with the current task name, Cancel and Save buttons, and the iOS keyboard with AutoFill bar.

Tap the edit button in task options to rename a task. Press Save to confirm or Cancel to discard changes.

Due Dates

Tap the calendar icon in task options to set a due date. The date picker appears inline on the task. Due dates must be enabled in Customize Task Options first.

Fun Activities routine showing a due date badge on the Biking task with the date Mar 27 2026 displayed below the task name. Three tasks remaining.

Marked for Removal

The ❌ button in task options marks a task for automatic deletion. When enabled, the task is removed when the cycle resets (in Auto/Manual Cycle mode) or when tasks are cleared (in To-Do Mode). This is useful for temporary tasks you only need for one cycle. The button must be enabled in Customize Task Options.

Reminders

The Reminders and Notifications modal with all three options checked: Enable Reminders, Enable Due Date Notifications, and Browser Notifications. Remind Indefinitely option checked.

Enable reminders to get browser notifications about pending tasks. Make sure your browser allows notifications from miniCycle.

Recurring Tasks

A recurring task notification banner for Roller Skating showing it is set to daily indefinitely, with a Change Settings button. The recurring icon is visible on the task.

Set up tasks that repeat automatically:

The Recurring Tasks panel showing an applied weekly schedule with next occurrence details. Recurring settings applied notification banner with Change Recurring Settings button.

Access recurring task settings through the hamburger menu (☰) → Recurring, or through task option buttons on individual tasks.

Completed Tasks

In Settings, you can choose to collapse completed tasks into a separate section at the bottom of your task list. This keeps your active tasks front and center while still showing what you've accomplished.

Cycle Modes

miniCycle offers three different modes for how your routines behave:

Auto Cycle Mode

When enabled, all tasks automatically reset to incomplete once you finish everything. This is perfect for daily routines and recurring habits. Your cycle count increases with each completion.

Manual Cycle Mode

Manual Cycle mode showing the Getting Started routine with a green Complete Cycle button at the bottom. A blue banner explains that tasks reset only when you press the button.

Tasks only reset when you manually tap the "Complete Cycle" button. You can press it at any time — it will complete any remaining tasks, increment your cycle count, and reset all tasks to incomplete. This gives you full control over when a new cycle begins.

To-Do Mode

To-Do Mode showing the Cleaning routine with 2 tasks checked and a green Clear Completed Tasks button. The help window explains that completed tasks are removed when you tap Clear.

Completed tasks are removed instead of reset. Works like a traditional to-do list — perfect for one-time tasks, shopping lists, or projects.

Cleared Tasks

To-Do Mode showing the broom sweep animation after clearing completed tasks, with a 2 tasks cleared notification. Three remaining tasks visible.

In To-Do Mode, tasks that are cleared aren't gone forever. You can view your cleared tasks history and restore any task you need back into your routine. See History for how to view and recreate cleared tasks.

Managing Routines

Create different routines for different areas of your life:

Routine Switcher

The Open Routine modal showing five routines sorted A-Z with storage sizes. Import Routine and Open buttons at the bottom, with Routine Storage showing 429 KB of 9.32 MB used.

Access the routine switcher through the folder icon or hamburger menu (☰) → "Open Existing Routine":

Creating New Routines

The Create New Routine dialog showing a text input field with placeholder text, a Load Sample button for prebuilt routines, and Cancel and Create buttons.

Tap the + button and select "Create New Routine", or use the hamburger menu (☰) → "New Routine". Give your routine a name and start adding tasks.

Duplicating Routines

Create a copy of any routine using the hamburger menu (☰) → Routine Actions → "Duplicate", or by tapping the copy icon in the routine switcher. The duplicate is created with the same tasks and settings as the original.

Bulk Task Actions

Access bulk operations through the hamburger menu (☰) → Task Actions & Features:

Importing Routines

Import .mcyc files from other devices or users using the hamburger menu (☰) → Routine Actions → "Import", or the "Import Routine" button in the routine switcher. You can also drag and drop .mcyc files directly into the app window.

If miniCycle is installed as a PWA (see below), you can open .mcyc files directly from your device's file manager and they will be imported automatically.

Installing as a PWA

miniCycle can be installed to your home screen or desktop for a native app-like experience. To install:

A notification may also appear after using the app for a short time, prompting you to install. Once installed, miniCycle works offline and can open .mcyc files directly.

Statistics & Achievements

The Stats panel scrolled to Milestone Rewards section showing all unlocked themes: Habit Tracker, Fitness, Scholar, Cleaning, and Whack-a-Order Game. Achievement Badges row visible below.

Performance Tracking

Milestone Badges

Earn badges by completing cycles or clearing tasks — whichever milestone you reach first unlocks the badge:

Badge detail popup for the Habit Tracker milestone showing the fire emoji badge icon with drag to spin text, 5 cycles or 5 cleared tasks requirement, unlock date, and Reward: Habit Tracker Theme.

Achievements Page

The Achievements page showing summary counters: 557 Cycles, 36 Cleared Tasks, 5 Unlocked. The Crowned achievement listed first with its Whack-a-Order Game reward, followed by Cleaning and Scholar.

Tap any badge in the Stats Panel to view the full Achievements page. This shows all tiers, your progress toward each, and which rewards you've unlocked.

Theme Unlocks

Reaching milestones unlocks vocabulary themes that transform a routine's personality. Each theme changes both the language and the color palette throughout the app — the Fitness theme relabels tasks as workouts with an energetic color scheme, Scholar uses study-focused language with academic tones, Cleaning uses housework terms with fresh colors, and so on. Assign a vocabulary theme to any routine using the 🎨 button in the routine switcher. Check the Stats Panel to see your current theme and your progress toward the next unlock.

Mini-Game

The Whack-a-Order mini-game on Easy difficulty showing numbered task bubbles bouncing around that need to be clicked in order. Score display and best times shown at the bottom.

Reaching the final milestone (Crowned — 100 cycles or 500 cleared tasks) unlocks a bonus mini-game accessible from the hamburger menu (☰) → Rewards & Extras.

Customization

Dark Mode

miniCycle in dark mode showing the Getting Started routine with dark gray backgrounds, white text, and lighter gray task cards. Three tasks remaining, 1 cycle completed.

Toggle dark mode using the moon/sun icon in the lower right corner, or through Settings. Each theme has its own dark mode variant.

Themes

The Theme Settings modal showing 5 vocabulary theme options: Classic selected, Habit Tracker, Fitness, Scholar, and Cleaning. Dark Mode checkbox visible at the bottom.

Vocabulary themes change the language and icons used throughout a routine. Once you've earned your first milestone (Habit Tracker at 5 cycles or 5 cleared tasks), a Themes option appears in the hamburger menu (☰) → Rewards & Extras → "Themes". You can also assign a theme to a specific routine using the 🎨 button in the routine switcher. Available themes: Classic (always available), Habit Tracker (5 cycles), Fitness (25 cycles), Scholar (50 cycles), and Cleaning (75 cycles). See Statistics & Achievements for milestone details.

Personalization

The Personalization panel showing all sections collapsed: Quick Colors, Saved Presets, Layout, App Background, Routine List, Tasks and Checkboxes, Buttons and Progress, Cycle Completion, Stats Panel. Undo and Reset All buttons at the bottom.

For deeper customization, open the hamburger menu (☰) → "Personalization" to access the color picker panel. This lets you:

Custom colors only apply when using the Classic theme. Vocabulary themes override custom colors with their own color palette.

Task Option Buttons

The Customize Task Options modal showing Core Actions section with Priority Toggle, Rename Task, and Delete Task, plus a Scheduling section with Recurring Task, Set Due Date, and Task Reminders. Start Tour prompt visible.

Customize which buttons appear on your tasks through the Customize (-/+) button or hamburger menu (☰) → Task Options. Available per-routine options:

Global options (apply to all routines):

Settings

The Settings modal showing collapsible sections: Display, Accessibility, Behavior, Data Management, Reset Options, and Advanced. Version v2.142 displayed at the bottom with a Start Tour prompt.

Access Settings from the hamburger menu (☰) → Settings & Personalization → Settings. Options are organized into collapsible sections:

Display:

Behavior:

Data Management:

Reset Options:

The Settings Accessibility section expanded showing toggles for Show Move Arrows, Show Three Dots Menu, Reduced Motion, High Contrast, and a Font Size dropdown set to Default.

Accessibility:

Advanced:

Responsive Design

miniCycle works seamlessly across devices — phone, tablet, or desktop. Your experience adapts to whatever screen you're using.

Data Management

Privacy & Local Storage

All your data stays on your device. Nothing is sent to external servers, so your tasks and information remain completely private.

What is Local Storage?
Local storage is a feature built into your web browser that allows websites and apps to save data directly on your device. Unlike cloud-based apps that store your information on remote servers, miniCycle keeps everything in your browser's local storage — similar to how a native app stores data on your phone. This means:

Monitoring Storage Usage
You can check how much storage your routines are using in two ways:

Storage Limits
Most browsers provide between 5-10 MB of local storage per website. miniCycle routines are lightweight (typically 1-5 KB each), so you can create hundreds of routines before approaching any limits. If you're concerned about storage, you can export routines as .mcyc files and delete ones you no longer need.

Backup Reminders

The backup reminder modal asking Back up your routines with an explanation that routines are stored on device only. Not Now and Backup All Routines buttons shown.

miniCycle automatically reminds you to back up your data. Reminders appear after 14 days without a backup, every 25 completed cycles, or every 100 cleared tasks. If you dismiss a reminder, it won't appear again for 7 days. You can back up immediately from the reminder or dismiss it.

Download & Backup

Import & Restore

Factory Reset

Clear all data and start completely fresh if needed. This removes all routines, settings, achievements, undo/redo history, cached data, and IndexedDB databases. This action cannot be undone, so make sure to backup anything important first.

Advanced Features

Focus Mode

Focus Mode activated showing a simplified task list with no header, footer, or navigation chrome. Four of five tasks completed, with the compress button visible in the bottom-right corner.

Focus Mode provides a distraction-free view for completing tasks. Tap the expand icon in the top-right corner of the task view to activate it. The header, footer, navigation, and help window fade away, leaving only your task list and progress bar. Exit Focus Mode by pressing Escape or tapping the compress icon. Your Focus Mode preference is saved and persists across sessions.

Undo/Redo

Made a mistake? Use the undo button to reverse recent actions, or use Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z on your keyboard. Redo with Ctrl+Y / Cmd+Y. Your undo history is preserved per routine.

Search & Filter

The search and filter interface fully expanded showing filter chips for All, Incomplete, Completed, Priority, Due Date, and Recurring, plus sort options for Default, A-Z, Priority, and Due Date.

Use the search icon to filter tasks by name. A red indicator shows when a filter is active. The search bar appears automatically when you have 3 or more tasks.

On mobile, tapping the search bar activates a focused overlay that dims the rest of the screen, keeping your attention on the search. Filter chips (All, Incomplete, Completed, Priority, Due Date, Recurring) and sort options (Default, A-Z, Priority First, Due Date) let you narrow results quickly.

History

The History panel Events tab showing recent events including Priority Color Changed and Priority Assigned entries with timestamps.

View your routine history from the Stats Panel by tapping the History button. The History panel has two tabs:

The History panel Cleared Tasks tab with 3 tasks selected via blue checkboxes. A Recreate Selected button at the bottom allows restoring chosen tasks back to the routine.

You can also reset your routine progress (cycle count and history) from the bottom of the History panel.

About

The About miniCycle modal showing the app logo, version v2.142, tagline, links to Changelog and About miniCycle, developer credit for sparkinCreations, and cache version.

View app version and information through the hamburger menu (☰) → "About miniCycle".

App Diagnostics

Run app health checks, verify data integrity, and view debug information through Settings → Open App Diagnostics & Testing. This includes tools for backup management, data repair, and generating debug reports if you need to troubleshoot an issue.

Keyboard Shortcuts

miniCycle is fully keyboard-accessible. Here are the available shortcuts:

General

Tasks

Task Options

Routine Switcher

Settings & Menus

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I rename a routine?

Tap on the routine title at the top of the task list, or use the rename option in the routine switcher.

What happens if I delete a routine?

Deleted routines cannot be recovered unless you have an exported backup file (.mcyc).

Can I use miniCycle offline?

Yes! miniCycle is a Progressive Web App (PWA) that works completely offline since all data is stored locally on your device.

How do I set up recurring tasks?

Long-press a task (or use three-dots menu) and tap the recurring icon. Choose your frequency and optional time settings.

Why aren't my notifications working?

Ensure that reminders are enabled for the task, and that your browser/device allows notifications from miniCycle.

How do I backup my data?

Use Settings → Backup All Routines to create a complete backup, or use the hamburger menu → Download Routine for individual routines.

Can I sync data between devices?

Not automatically — miniCycle is privacy-focused with no cloud sync. However, you can export from one device and import to another using .mcyc files.

What's the difference between priority and due dates?

Priority marks important tasks with a visual indicator (red border). Due dates set a specific deadline and can trigger reminders.

What's the difference between routines and cycles?

A routine is the persistent checklist you create. A cycle is one complete run-through of that routine. Your cycle count tracks how many times you've completed the routine.

Where did my cleared tasks go?

In To-Do Mode, cleared tasks are saved in a history. You can view and restore them from the cleared tasks panel.

How do I reset the onboarding tutorial?

Go to Settings → Reset Onboarding to see the welcome tutorial again. You can also restart the guided tour from the hamburger menu (☰) → Help & Support.

How do I change the text size?

Go to Settings → Accessibility → Font Size and choose from Small, Default, Large, or Extra Large.

What are vocabulary themes?

Vocabulary themes change both the language and colors of a routine. For example, the Fitness theme relabels "tasks" as "workouts" and applies an energetic color palette. Unlock themes by reaching milestone badges, then assign them per-routine using the 🎨 button in the routine switcher.