Troubleshooting

Having trouble with PhotoWeather? This guide covers solutions to the most common technical issues.

Location Issues

Location search not finding results

Problem: Your search isn’t returning the location you need.

Solutions:

1. Try different search terms (city name, region, state)
2. Check spelling and try variations
3. Use coordinates for remote locations (format: latitude,longitude)
4. Refresh the page and try again

Example searches:

• New York, NY instead of just New York
• 51.5074,-0.1278 for London coordinates
• Yosemite National Park for specific parks

Location appears inactive

Problem: Your location has a gray toggle or shows as inactive.

Solutions:

1. Click the toggle to activate the location
2. Ensure you haven’t exceeded your account limits
3. Check that the location has valid coordinates

Notification Issues

Email notifications not working

Problem: You’re not receiving email alerts for opportunities.

Troubleshooting steps:

1. Check notification settings: Go to Profile → Notification Settings
2. Verify email address: Ensure your email is verified in account settings
3. Check spam folder: Notifications might be filtered as spam
4. Test notifications: Use the test feature in notification settings
5. Check email provider: Some providers block automated emails

Notifications are too frequent/infrequent

Problem: Getting too many or too few notifications.

Solutions:

• Immediate alerts: Get notified as soon as opportunities are found
• Daily digest: Receive a summary once per day
• Weekly digest: Get a weekly roundup of opportunities
• Quiet hours: Set times when you don’t want notifications

Rule & Opportunity Issues

Opportunities don’t match actual conditions

Problem: PhotoWeather shows opportunities but conditions don’t match reality.

Explanations:

1. Forecast accuracy: Weather forecasts are less accurate beyond 3-4 days
2. Local variations: Conditions like fog can vary significantly within kilometers
3. Timing: Opportunities predict future conditions, not current ones
4. Microclimate: Your exact location might have different conditions than the forecast point

We are happy to receive feedback if something is not working as expected, contact support@photoweather.app

Note: We plan to add a quick feedback system for opportunities in the future to be able to further improve our templates off user feedback.

Rules not generating opportunities

Problem: Your rules never seem to trigger.

Troubleshooting:

1. Check rule conditions: Ensure they’re realistic for your area and season
2. Review time windows: Make sure time restrictions aren’t too narrow
3. Verify location assignment: Confirm rules are assigned to active locations
4. Test with broader conditions: Try less restrictive rules first

Performance Issues

Dashboard loading slowly

Problem: The PhotoWeather dashboard takes a long time to load.

Quick fixes:

1. Refresh the page
2. Check your internet connection
3. Clear browser cache and cookies
4. Try a different browser
5. Disable browser extensions temporarily

App not responding

Problem: Buttons don’t work or pages don’t load.

Solutions:

1. Hard refresh: Press Ctrl+F5 (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac)
2. Clear browser data: Clear cache, cookies, and site data
3. Check browser compatibility: Use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge
4. Disable ad blockers: Some extensions interfere with the app

Calendar Integration Issues

Calendar sync not working

Problem: Opportunities aren’t appearing in your calendar.

Troubleshooting:

1. Check iCal URL: Ensure you copied the complete URL
2. Refresh calendar: Force a refresh in your calendar app
3. Check calendar permissions: Ensure the app can access external calendars
4. Try re-subscribing: Delete and re-add the calendar subscription

Opportunities show wrong times

Problem: Calendar events show incorrect times.

Solutions:

1. Check timezone: Verify your account timezone matches your location
2. Calendar timezone: Ensure your calendar app has the correct timezone
3. Update subscription: Remove and re-add the calendar feed

Still Having Issues?

If these solutions don’t resolve your problem:

1. Contact Support: Email support@photoweather.app
2. Please include the following:
   • What you were trying to do
   • What happened instead
   • Browser and device information
   • Screenshots if helpful