WhatIsIt

1. Download and Open

Download WhatIsIt from the App Store. You can start immediately as a guest with 5 free identifications per day, or create a free account for 10 per day.

2. Grant Permissions

Allow camera and photo library access when prompted so you can capture or import photos for identification.

3. Choose Your Mode

Use the Identify tab for image and video identification, the Audio tab for sound recognition, or the Translate tab for document translation. History and Profile are also available from the bottom navigation.

Take a Photo

Step 1: Tap "Take Photo" on the Identify tab

Step 2: Frame the subject clearly and capture the photo

Step 3: Tap "Identify" to run the analysis

Tip: Good lighting and a clear, uncluttered background improve accuracy.

Import from Library

Step 1: Tap "Import" and select a photo from your photo library

Step 2: Tap "Identify" to analyze the image

Reading Results

Each result shows:

• Name — what the AI identified
• Category — type of object (animal, plant, food, vehicle, etc.)
• Description — detailed information
• Confidence — how certain the AI is (shown as a percentage)

If the AI detects a problem (e.g., a damaged item), a warning with fix suggestions appears.

Follow-Up Questions

Tap the follow-up field and type any question about the identified object — for example, "Is this plant edible?", "How rare is this animal?", or "How does this machine work?" Tap "Ask" to get an answer.

Switching AI Models

After an initial result, you can tap "Try Powerful Mode" for deeper analysis or "Ask Gemini AI" to cross-check with Google's model. Each model has different strengths for different subject types.

Photograph a Document

Step 1: Tap the Translate tab and select "Photograph Document" or "Import Image"

Step 2: Select your target language from the dropdown (English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, German, or French)

Step 3: Tap "Translate"

Step 4: View the original extracted text and translation side-by-side

Tip: Ensure the text is well-lit and in focus for best OCR accuracy.

Sharing Results

Tap the share button on any translation result to copy or share the translated text via any app on your device.

Record a Sound

Step 1: Tap the Audio tab in the bottom navigation

Step 2: Tap the microphone button to start recording — allow microphone access when prompted

Step 3: Tap the button again to stop recording

Step 4: Select your language and tap "Identify Audio"

Tip: Hold the phone close to the sound source and minimize background noise for best results.

Import an Audio File

Step 1: Tap "Import File" on the Audio tab

Step 2: Select an audio file from your device

Step 3: Tap "Identify Audio" to analyze it

Reading Audio Results

Each result shows:

• Transcript — what the AI heard, word for word
• Identification — what type of sound or speech it recognized
• Description — context and details about the identified sound

Browse Past Identifications

The History tab shows all your past identifications with thumbnails, category, confidence score, and date. Pull down to refresh and search by name or category.

Managing History

Swipe left on any item to delete it. History is linked to your account, so it syncs if you sign in on a new device. Guest users do not have history saved.

Daily Limit Reached

Problem: "Daily limit reached" message appears

Solution: Upgrade to a subscription for 100 identifications per day, or wait until the next day for the free limit to reset.

Server Busy

Problem: "LLM server is busy" message appears

Solution: Your request is queued — you can wait a moment and the result will appear.

Low Confidence Results

Problem: The AI returned a low confidence score

Solution: Try retaking the photo with better lighting and a clearer view of the subject. You can also try the Powerful Mode or Gemini AI for a second opinion.

Need More Help?

Contact our support team at support@myphonetools.com for personalized assistance.