Getting Started
What is Big Menu?
Big Menu is your essential travel companion that translates restaurant menus instantly. Snap a photo of any menu and see it translated into your language with prices converted to your currency. Perfect for travelers, expats, and food lovers exploring international cuisine.
How do I scan a menu?
1. Tap the camera button in the app
2. Take a photo of the menu or select an existing photo from your library
3. The app will automatically process and translate the menu
4. View your translated menu with converted prices
5. The menu is saved to your history automatically
How do I set up my preferences?
During onboarding, you'll be asked to select:
• Your home country
• Your preferred language for translations
• Your home currency for price conversions
You can change these settings anytime in Settings → Preferences.
What languages are supported?
Big Menu supports translation between 100+ languages, including:
• English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese
• Arabic, Hebrew, Russian
• Chinese, Japanese, Korean
• Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian
• And many more!
The app automatically detects the menu's original language.
Scanning & Translation
How long does translation take?
Most menus are translated within 30-60 seconds. Complex menus with many items may take up to 2 minutes. You'll receive a notification when processing is complete, and you can use the app normally while waiting.
Can I scan multiple menus at once?
Yes! Big Menu supports background processing. You can scan multiple menus, and they'll process simultaneously. Check the History tab to see processing progress and completed translations.
What if the menu isn't translating correctly?
For best results:
• Ensure good lighting when taking photos
• Keep the menu flat and avoid shadows
• Take photos straight-on, not at an angle
• Make sure text is clear and in focus
• Avoid glare or reflections on the menu
If problems persist, try retaking the photo or contact support.
Does Big Menu work offline?
You need an internet connection to:
• Scan and translate new menus
• Download exchange rates for currency conversion
Once a menu is translated, you can view it offline in your History.
Are my menu photos saved?
Yes, menu photos are saved securely on our servers so you can access your translation history from any device. You can delete individual menus anytime by swiping left in your History.
Currency Conversion
How does currency conversion work?
Big Menu automatically:
• Detects prices in the menu
• Identifies the original currency
• Converts to your home currency using current exchange rates
• Displays both original and converted prices
Exchange rates are updated regularly to ensure accuracy.
Can I change my home currency?
Yes! Go to Settings → Currency and select a different currency. This will apply to all future menu scans. Previously translated menus will retain their original conversion.
What if prices aren't converting?
This can happen if:
• The menu doesn't show prices
• Prices are in an unusual format
• The currency symbol isn't recognized
Original prices will still be shown even if conversion isn't available.
Location Features
Why does Big Menu ask for location permission?
Location is optional and used to:
• Save GPS coordinates with your scanned menus
• Help you remember where great restaurants are located
• Show addresses for saved menus
You can use Big Menu without granting location permission.
How do I enable or disable location?
Go to iOS Settings → Big Menu → Location and choose:
• Never: No location data collected
• While Using the App: Location saved when you scan
• Ask Next Time: Prompt each time
Changing this won't affect previously saved menus.
Can I view my saved restaurants on a map?
Map view is coming in a future update! For now, you can see addresses and GPS coordinates in each menu's details.
Subscription & Free Scans
How does the free trial work?
New users get a complimentary scan to try Big Menu. After your free scan, you'll need to subscribe for unlimited access. Your free scan never expires!
What does the subscription include?
Big Menu Premium includes:
• Unlimited menu scans
• Support for 100+ languages
• Real-time currency conversion
• Background processing
• Saved menu history with location
• Priority support
How do I restore my subscription?
If you previously purchased a subscription:
1. Open Big Menu
2. Tap Settings
3. Tap "Restore Purchases"
4. Your subscription will be restored automatically
Make sure you're signed in to the same Apple ID used for the original purchase.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Subscriptions are managed through Apple:
1. Go to iOS Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions
2. Find Big Menu
3. Tap Cancel Subscription
You'll have access until the end of your billing period.
What happens if I reach my daily scan limit?
Subscribers have a daily limit to ensure fair usage. If you reach the limit, you'll see when you can scan again (typically resets in 24 hours). Limits are generous and designed for typical travel use.
Menu History
How do I view my saved menus?
Tap the History tab at the bottom of the app. You'll see all your translated menus sorted by date, with the most recent at the top.
How do I delete a menu?
In the History tab:
1. Swipe left on any menu
2. Tap the red trash icon
3. Confirm deletion
This permanently deletes the menu and associated photos from our servers.
Can I search my menu history?
Yes! Use the search bar at the top of the History tab to search by:
• Restaurant name
• Dish names
• Location/address
Can I share a translated menu?
Menu sharing is coming in a future update! Currently, you can view and save menus to your personal history.
Troubleshooting
App is stuck on "Processing"
Try these steps:
1. Check your internet connection
2. Force quit the app and reopen
3. The menu should resume processing automatically
If processing fails, you'll see an error message and can retry the scan.
Camera not working or photo library won't open
Check permissions:
1. Go to iOS Settings → Big Menu
2. Enable Camera and Photos access
3. Restart the app
If problems persist, restart your device.
Translation is in the wrong language
Check your settings:
1. Go to Settings → Language
2. Select your preferred translation language
3. Rescan the menu or retry processing
The app should remember your preference for future scans.
Menu photos look blurry or unreadable
For best results:
• Clean your camera lens
• Ensure adequate lighting
• Hold your phone steady when taking photos
• Tap on the menu to focus before capturing
• Get closer to the menu if text is small
App crashes or freezes
1. Force quit the app completely
2. Restart your device
3. Make sure you have the latest version from the App Store
4. Ensure your iOS is up to date
5. Free up device storage if needed
If crashes continue, contact support with details about when it occurs.
Subscription not working after purchase
1. Make sure the payment went through (check Apple ID → Purchase History)
2. Force quit and reopen the app
3. Try "Restore Purchases" in Settings
4. Wait a few minutes - sometimes there's a delay
If still not working, contact support with your purchase receipt.
Background processing isn't working
Make sure:
• You have a stable internet connection
• Background App Refresh is enabled: Settings → General → Background App Refresh → Big Menu
• You haven't closed the app immediately after scanning
The app needs to stay open or in the background briefly to start processing.
Privacy & Data
Is my data secure?
Yes! We take security seriously:
• All data transmission uses HTTPS encryption
• Images are stored on secure Amazon S3 servers
• We don't share your data with third parties
• You can delete your data anytime
See our Privacy Policy for complete details.
What data does Big Menu collect?
We collect:
• Menu photos you scan (stored securely)
• GPS location (optional, only with permission)
• App preferences (language, currency)
• Anonymous subscription data via RevenueCat
We do NOT collect: personal information, contacts, advertising IDs, or browsing history.
How do I delete all my data?
To permanently delete all data:
1. Delete individual menus by swiping left in History
2. Contact support at bluespiderlily6@gmail.com to request account deletion
3. Uninstall the app to remove local data
We'll delete all your server data within 30 days of your request.
Contact Support
Still have questions? We're here to help!
Email: bluespiderlily6@gmail.com
When contacting support, please include:
• A description of the issue
• Screenshots if applicable
• Your device model and iOS version
• Steps to reproduce the problem
We typically respond within 1-2 business days.
Feature Requests & Feedback
Have an idea for making Big Menu better? We love hearing from users! Send your suggestions to the email above with "Feature Request" in the subject line.
Features we're considering:
• Map view of saved restaurants
• Social sharing of menus
• Dietary restriction filters
• Voice pronunciation guides
• Offline translation mode
• Restaurant recommendations