Expandive support
Help for Expandive 1.0 on iPadOS 18 or later. The first release is waiting for App Store review; this guide also applies to the current test build.
Write, erase, and move
Use Apple Pencil to write and your index finger to erase. The eraser tool and your Pencil’s configured double-tap or squeeze action remain available on supported hardware. Move the canvas with two fingers and pinch to zoom.
The single toolbar sits below the device’s status bar. Tap the stroke sample to open the Stroke size slider; its preview shows the selected thickness and colour. If you do not use a Pencil, enable Write with finger in Board options; this replaces the automatic finger eraser until switched off.
Learn at your own pace
A short introduction appears when you first open Expandive. Four illustrated steps cover writing and finger erasing, folding, recording, and your library with optional iCloud sync. Skip it whenever you like. Reopen the Quick tour or explore the Full guide from the library’s ••• menu; both tours are also available inside a board.
Fold an excerpt
- With the Pen, draw a mostly straight line along one side of the writing. Span the section you want: vertical, horizontal, and angled markers all work. Leave a small gap beside the writing.
- The proposed area follows your line’s angle and extends perpendicular to it. Drag its four edge handles to resize it, and tap strokes or pictures to include or exclude them. Highlighted content is what will fold.
- Choose Fold, or Cancel to leave your drawing unchanged.
- Tap the strip to unfold it. Erasing or editing part of an open excerpt keeps the remaining handwriting grouped.
The toolbar’s fold control switches between Fold all and Unfold all. Press and hold that button to choose either action explicitly. Excerpts fold in place and do not move neighbouring content.
Hold, then pinch
For an excerpt you have already created, rest your thumb and index finger over it until it highlights, then pinch closed to fold it. Hold over a folded strip and spread to reopen it. An ordinary pinch, without the initial hold, still zooms. The app suggests this shortcut after you have made a few folds.
Name an excerpt
Hold an open or folded excerpt and choose Name excerpt or Rename excerpt. A blank name removes the label. Names stay with editable copies.
Move or copy handwriting
Select Lasso and draw around the ink. Drag the selection to move it or choose Copy from Selection actions to create an editable duplicate in the same board. Copies stay within the current board. A picture can be selected by tapping it with Lasso. Circle or tap a folded strip to move or copy the whole excerpt, including its hidden handwriting.
Record and export an explanation
Tap Record and allow microphone access. Write and speak, then tap Stop recording. Open Explanations to replay or scrub through the take. Its export menu offers compact MP4 video or M4A audio. Saving or sharing the export opens the system share sheet.
If microphone access was declined, enable it in Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. Recording stops when the app goes into the background or an audio interruption occurs. Unfinished takes are protected by local recovery files; see the recovery instructions below.
Find, move, or delete boards
Expandive opens its own library with previews, search, and folders. Tap + to create a board. Hold a board to rename, move, duplicate, export, or delete it. Create folders from the sidebar or Library options. Recently Deleted lets you restore boards or remove them permanently. Boards save automatically inside the app.
Sync across iPads
Sync with iCloud is enabled by default in Expandive’s Settings. Use the same Apple Account on your iPads; boards, folders, pictures, and completed recordings sync without browsing iCloud Drive. You can keep editing offline. Transfers require connectivity and available space in your own iCloud account. If two offline edits conflict, Expandive keeps a separate copy so neither version is silently discarded.
Older boards stored in the app’s local Documents folder are imported once. For older .expandive or .unfurl files saved elsewhere, choose Library options → Import board once. Original files are retained. Export board makes a portable copy through the system picker.
Recover an interrupted recording
If Expandive closes unexpectedly while recording, reopen it. The app restores the saved voice and drawing replay and shows a recovery notice. Open the board’s Explanations to replay or export the recovered take. The final moments before an interruption may not have reached storage. If storage is full, free some space and reopen Expandive; keep the app installed so its recovery files remain available.
Send feedback
Tap Send feedback in the library or in a board’s ••• menu. Choose Report an issue, Suggest a feature, or Something I like, then write your message. Tap Send feedback to deliver it directly to Burrito’s Labs without opening an email app. A reply email address is optional.
You can include the app and iPadOS version to help us understand an issue. Boards and recordings are never attached automatically. Sending requires an internet connection and a brief spam check. If sending fails, your draft stays saved on the iPad so you can retry later. You can also email hello@burritoslabs.com directly. For a bug, the steps that led to it are especially helpful.