Getting Started
Using the Mobile App
Using the Mobile App
The OpenChair mobile app lets you manage your venue, view your calendar, communicate with clients, and handle bookings from your phone or tablet.
Overview
The OpenChair mobile app lets you:
- View your schedule and manage bookings on the go
- Receive push notifications for new bookings, cancellations, and reminders
- Clock in and out, view timesheets, and track commission
- Chat with clients via the Inbox (SMS and email)
- Access the AI Concierge assistant
- Run your venue in Shared Device mode on a tablet for front-of-house use
The mobile app is available for iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play). Search for "OpenChair" to find it.
Installing the App
iPhone and iPad
- Open the App Store on your device
- Search for "OpenChair"
- Tap Get to download and install
Android
- Open the Google Play Store on your device
- Search for "OpenChair"
- Tap Install to download and install
Signing In
When you open the app for the first time, you see the sign-in screen with the heading "Welcome Back" and the subheading "Sign in to your account".
Sign In with Google
- Tap "Sign in with Google"
- Your browser opens the Google authentication page
- Select your Google account and grant permission
- You are returned to the app and signed in
Sign In with Email and Password
- Enter your Email Address
- Enter your Password
- Tap "Sign In"
If you have forgotten your password, tap "Forgot password?" next to the Password field. Enter your email address and tap "Send Reset Link". Check your email for the reset link.
Creating an Account
The mobile app does not have a sign-up flow. If you do not have an account, tap "Don't have an account? Sign up" at the bottom of the sign-in screen. This opens the OpenChair sign-up page in your browser.
Push Notifications
OpenChair asks for notification permission automatically when you first sign in. Your device shows the standard permission prompt asking whether to allow notifications.
If you allow notifications, you receive alerts for new bookings, cancellations, reminders, and other updates. If you decline, you can enable them later in your device settings.
Notification Categories
Customise which notifications you receive:
- Tap the More tab
- Tap Settings
- Under Account, tap Notifications
- Adjust the toggles:
| Category | Default | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Push Notifications | On | Master switch — disabling this turns off all push notifications |
| Booking Updates | On | New bookings, cancellations, and status changes |
| Booking Reminders | On | Reminders before upcoming appointments |
| Promotional | Off | News, tips, and special offers from OpenChair |
Tapping a Notification
Tapping a push notification takes you directly to the relevant screen — for example, a booking notification opens the booking detail, and a waitlist notification opens the waitlist entry.
Navigating the App
Tab Bar
The app uses a tab bar at the bottom of the screen (on phones) or a vertical rail on the left side (on tablets).
| Tab | Icon | What It Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Today | Dashboard | Your daily overview — metrics, next appointments, alerts, staff schedule, and clock-in status |
| Schedule | Calendar | Your calendar with day view, agenda view, and staff/resource filters |
| Inbox | Message | Client conversations via SMS and email, with channel filters and search |
| Clients | People | Your client list with search, status filters, and client details |
| Concierge | Sparkles | The AI Concierge assistant for venue tasks |
| More | Menu | Opens the main menu with access to all other features |
The Inbox tab shows an unread message count badge when you have unread conversations.
Notification Bell
A notification bell icon appears in the top-right corner of the header. It shows an unread count badge when you have unread notifications. Tap it to open your notification inbox.
The More Menu
Tap the More tab to open the main menu. This gives you access to features not shown in the tab bar:
Daily Ops — Waitlist, Engage, Clients, Intelligence
Catalogue — Services, Packages, Products, Gift Cards
Team & Ops — Team, My Hours, Timesheet, Commission, Resources
Money — Invoices, Deposits, Payouts
Presence — Storefront, Brand Voice, Portfolio, Loyalty, Forms
At the bottom of the menu you find Settings, Support (email), and a Theme toggle (Light, Dark, or System).
Some items are only visible to Owners and Managers — see the role table below.
Settings
Tap More → Settings to access:
- Venue — Venue Details, Operating Hours, Cancellation Policy, Deposit Rules, Smart Pricing, Quick Templates
- Billing — Billing & Wallet, Deposits, Payouts (Owner only)
- Account — Profile, Appearance, Notifications, Security
- About & Legal — About (shows app version), Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Support
The Settings screen also shows a Log Out button at the bottom.
What Each Role Can See
Not all features are visible to every team member:
| Feature | Owner | Manager | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today tab | Full dashboard | Full dashboard | Limited dashboard |
| Schedule tab | All staff calendars | All staff calendars | Own calendar only |
| Inbox tab | All conversations | All conversations | Own conversations |
| Clients tab | Full client list | Full client list | Assigned clients |
| Concierge tab | Full access | Full access | Limited |
| Timesheet | View all staff | View all staff | Not visible |
| Commission | Configure and view | View | Not visible |
| Invoices | Full access | Not visible | Not visible |
| Payouts | Full access | Not visible | Not visible |
| Billing & Wallet | Full access | Not visible | Not visible |
| Shared Device mode | Configure (tablet) | Configure (tablet) | Not visible |
Tablets and iPads
On tablets, the app adjusts its layout:
- The tab bar becomes a vertical rail on the left side of the screen
- Inbox and Clients use a split view — list on the left, detail on the right
- Schedule can show a booking inspector panel alongside the calendar
- Shared Device mode is available for front-of-house use (Owner and Manager only)
iPad Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Cmd+1 | Go to Today |
| Cmd+2 | Go to Schedule |
| Cmd+3 | Go to Inbox |
| Cmd+4 | Go to Clients |
| Cmd+5 | Go to Concierge |
| Cmd+N | New Booking |
| Cmd+Z | Undo (in calendar) |
Features Available on Web Only
Some features are only accessible through the web app at openchairpro.com:
- Creating an account — sign up on the web, then sign in on mobile
- Adding a new venue — multi-venue creation requires the web app
- Onboarding wizard — initial venue setup (hours, services, team, brand, payments) runs on web
- Full venue settings — some advanced settings are only available on web
Switching Venues
If you have access to multiple venues:
- Tap the More tab
- Tap Settings
- Under Switch Venue, tap the venue you want to manage
The active venue shows a checkmark. The Switch Venue section only appears if you have access to more than one venue.
Logging Out
- Tap the More tab
- Tap Settings
- Scroll to the bottom and tap "Log Out"
- Confirm by tapping "Log Out" in the confirmation prompt
Logging out removes your push notification registration from the server. You stop receiving notifications until you sign in again.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Not receiving push notifications | Check that notifications are enabled in your device settings (iOS: Settings → OpenChair → Notifications; Android: Settings → Apps → OpenChair → Notifications). Also check More → Settings → Notifications in the app to ensure the master switch is on. |
| App shows a blank screen after sign-in | Force-close the app and reopen it. If the issue persists, uninstall and reinstall from the App Store or Google Play. |
| "Don't have an account?" but I do have one | You may have signed up with a different email address or with Google. Try "Sign in with Google" instead, or check which email you used when creating your account. |
| Cannot find the app in the store | Search for "OpenChair" (one word). Ensure your device meets the minimum OS requirements. |
| Venue data looks wrong or outdated | Pull down on any screen to refresh. If switching venues, check that the correct venue is selected in More → Settings → Switch Venue. |
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Last updated: March 2026