Sign In and Account Basics

What “signing in” means in Spanner

Signing in connects Spanner to your account so your Apps can follow you across devices and be recovered if you reinstall the app.

Most people sign in using one of these options:

  • Continue with Apple
  • Continue with Google
If you see different wording in the app (for example, “Sign in” vs. “Continue”), it’s the same idea: you’re choosing the account you want Spanner to use.

Why you might want to sign in

  • Use Spanner on more than one device (for example, phone + tablet).
  • Keep your Apps safer if you get a new phone or reinstall Spanner.
  • Make sharing smoother when you share an App with someone else.
  • Keep everything under one identity so you don’t accidentally create multiple accounts.
If you plan to use Spanner long-term (or you’ve already made a few Apps you care about), sign in sooner rather than later so it’s easier to pick up where you left off.

How to sign in

In Spanner, open the menu or settings area, then look for Sign in, Account, or Profile. Select Continue with Apple or Continue with Google. If your device asks which Apple ID or Google account to use, choose the one you want tied to your Spanner account. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete sign-in.

Important: your sign-in method matters

Spanner treats each sign-in method as a separate way to identify you. If you originally signed in with Apple, you’ll usually need to use Apple again to get back to the same account (same idea for Google).

If you choose a different method than you used before, Spanner may look like it “started over” because you’ve signed into a different account.

Sign in with Apple: “Hide My Email”

If you used Sign in with Apple, you may have chosen Hide My Email. That’s normal and still works—but it can make it harder to recognize which email is tied to your account.

With Hide My Email, Spanner may be connected to an Apple-generated relay address (not your personal inbox). You still sign in the same way: Continue with Apple using the same Apple ID.

If you’re having trouble accessing your account

Try these in order. Most sign-in problems come down to using the wrong account or a temporary device/network issue.

If you previously used Continue with Apple, use Apple again. If you used Continue with Google, use Google again. Many people have more than one (work + personal). On your device, confirm which account is currently selected, then try again with the correct one. Close the app completely, then reopen it and try signing in again. Switch between Wi‑Fi and cellular data if possible. If you use a VPN or ad blocker, try turning it off temporarily and retry sign-in. Install the latest Spanner update (and iOS/Android updates when available). Then try again.

This usually means you signed in with a different method or a different Apple/Google account than the one you used before.

  • Sign out (if available), then sign back in using the other method (Apple vs. Google).
  • If the method is correct, try switching to a different Apple ID / Google account on your device and signing in again.
If you’re not sure which account you used originally, think back to whether you saw an Apple Face ID/Touch ID prompt (common for Apple sign-in) or a Google account chooser screen (common for Google sign-in).
  • Make sure you’re signed into your Apple ID in your device settings.
  • Try disabling any VPN temporarily, then retry.
  • Restart your device and try again.

If you previously used Apple sign-in with Hide My Email, you should still be able to sign in—just be sure it’s the same Apple ID.

  • Confirm you selected the correct Google account (personal vs. work).
  • Try switching networks (Wi‑Fi ↔ cellular).
  • Update Spanner, then try again.
  • Close Spanner completely and reopen it.
  • Turn off VPN/ad blockers temporarily.
  • Try a different network connection.
  • Update the app.

This can happen if you sometimes sign in with Apple and other times with Google (or if you have multiple Google accounts).

To get back to the right account:

  1. Sign out (if available).
  2. Sign in again using the method/account you originally used when you created your Apps.

When to contact support

Contact support if:

  • You’ve tried both Apple and Google sign-in (and the correct account) and your Apps still don’t appear.
  • Sign-in fails repeatedly on a stable connection, even after updating and restarting.
  • You believe your account may be locked or compromised.
When you reach out, include: which sign-in method you used (Apple or Google), whether you have multiple Apple IDs/Google accounts, and what you expected to see after signing in.

Related topics

Understand how your plan relates to your account. Help with upgrading, canceling, and billing status. How sharing works and what the recipient needs.