Troubleshooting
Having issues with Vigilare? This guide will help you resolve common problems and get back to productive task management.
Prerequisites
Before troubleshooting specific issues, verify these basic requirements:
-
System Requirements
- macOS 16.0 or later
- Apple Reminders app (pre-installed)
-
Required Permissions
- Reminders Access: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Reminders → Vigilare ✓
-
Apple Reminders App
- Open Reminders.app to verify your tasks exist there first
- Ensure iCloud sync is enabled if using multiple devices
Common Issues
Reminders Not Showing
If your reminders aren't appearing in Vigilare:
1. Check Permissions
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Reminders
- Ensure Vigilare is checked and has access
- If missing, click the + button to add Vigilare
2. Verify Data in Apple Reminders
- Open the Reminders.app
- Confirm your tasks exist there
- If missing there too, it's not a Vigilare issue
3. Refresh the View
- Click the refresh button (↻) in Vigilare's window header
- Or restart Vigilare from the Dock
4. Check List Filtering
- Ensure you haven't selected a list filter that excludes these tasks
- Try switching to "All" in the list dropdown
5. Verify Lists Aren't Archived
- Open Settings (⚙) → Lists tab
- Check if the list is archived
- Unarchive the list if needed
Window Disappeared
If the Vigilare window is no longer visible:
Quick Fix
- Click the Vigilare icon in the Dock
- Window will appear
If Dock Icon Missing
- Check if Vigilare is running in Activity Monitor
- If not running, launch from Applications folder
- If running but icon missing, restart macOS
Window Moved Off-Screen
The window might be positioned outside your visible displays:
- Click Dock icon or open Settings (⌘,)
- Change window position manually
- Or reset by quitting Vigilare and deleting:
~/Library/Preferences/jp.labee.floating-reminders.plist
Sync Issues
If changes in Vigilare don't appear in Apple Reminders (or vice versa):
Real-Time Sync Delay
- Changes may take a few seconds to sync
- iCloud sync can be slower depending on network
- Wait 5-10 seconds and check again
Force Refresh
- Click the refresh button (↻) in Vigilare
- Open Apple Reminders and pull to refresh
- If on multiple devices, check iCloud status
iCloud Sync Problems
- System Settings → Apple ID → iCloud
- Ensure Reminders toggle is ON
- Check "Account Status" shows no errors
- Try toggling Reminders OFF then ON (gives it a kick)
Permission Reset
If sync is completely broken:
- System Settings → Privacy & Security → Reminders
- Uncheck Vigilare
- Restart Vigilare
- Grant permission again when prompted
Window Behavior Issues
Window Won't Stay on Top
- Open Settings (⚙) → General
- Check Window Level is set to "Floating" not "Normal"
- "Desktop" level appears below all windows
Window Appearance
- Use window positioning to keep it visible but not intrusive
- Minimize to icon mode when you need to focus
Window Not Visible on All Spaces
- Settings → General → Spaces
- Change to "Show on all spaces"
- Restart Vigilare for this change to take effect
Minimize Mode Stuck
If the window is stuck as a tiny icon:
- Double-click the icon to restore
- Or click Dock icon to show window
Task Management Issues
Can't Add New Tasks
- Verify Reminders permission (see Prerequisites)
- Try adding in Apple Reminders first to test
- Check if the selected list allows new items
Can't Edit or Delete Tasks
- Some system lists may be read-only
- Check if you have permission in Reminders.app
- Shared lists may have restricted permissions
Task Completion Not Saving
- Wait a few seconds for iCloud sync
- Check internet connection
- Try toggling completion in Apple Reminders
Subtasks Not Appearing
- Subtasks should display automatically
- Try refreshing with the ↻ button
- Verify subtasks exist in Apple Reminders
Markdown Editor Issues
Editor Not Loading
- Check internet connection (editor resources load on first use)
- Try editing a different reminder
- Restart Vigilare if problem persists
Formatting Not Saving
- Click "Save" button before closing edit window
- Or use keyboard shortcut ⌘S
- Changes auto-save every few seconds
Text Appears Garbled
- This may indicate incompatible formatting
- Copy content to plain text editor first
- Reformat using Vigilare's editor tools
Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
Shortcuts Don't Respond
- Ensure Vigilare window is focused (click on it first)
- Some shortcuts only work in specific contexts
- Check if macOS system shortcuts override Vigilare's
View All Available Shortcuts
- Open Settings (⚙) → Shortcuts tab
- Complete list of keyboard shortcuts with descriptions
- Shortcuts work only when window is active
Performance Issues
App Running Slowly
-
Reduce number of visible tasks
- Archive completed lists
- Use list filtering to show fewer tasks
-
Check macOS resources
- Open Activity Monitor
- Verify sufficient RAM available
- Close unnecessary apps
-
Restart Vigilare
- Menu bar icon → Quit
- Launch again from Applications
High Memory Usage
- Normal range: 50-150 MB
- Large task lists (500+) may use more
- Archive old lists to reduce load
Window Rendering Lag
- Reduce window size if working with many tasks
- Minimize to icon when not actively using
Common Error Messages
"Reminders Access Denied"
Cause: Vigilare doesn't have permission to access Apple Reminders. Solution: See Check Permissions section above.
"Failed to Load Reminders"
Cause: Temporary sync or permission issue. Solution:
- Check internet connection
- Verify Apple Reminders app works
- Restart Vigilare
- Reset permissions if needed
"Unable to Save Changes"
Cause: Write permission issue or iCloud sync problem. Solution:
- Check iCloud status
- Verify list isn't read-only
- Try editing in Apple Reminders first
- Check available iCloud storage
Advanced Troubleshooting
Reset Vigilare Preferences
If Vigilare is behaving unexpectedly:
- Quit Vigilare completely
- Open Finder → Go menu → Go to Folder
- Enter:
~/Library/Preferences/ - Delete:
jp.labee.floating-reminders.plist - Restart Vigilare
⚠️ Warning: This resets all settings (window position, archived lists, etc.)
Check Console Logs
For detailed error information:
- Open Console.app (in Applications/Utilities)
- Select your Mac in sidebar
- Search for "Vigilare"
- Look for error or warning messages
Clean Reinstall
If all else fails:
- Quit Vigilare
- Drag app to Trash from Applications
- Delete preferences:
~/Library/Preferences/jp.labee.floating-reminders.plist - Empty Trash
- Restart Mac (clears all app caches)
- Reinstall from Mac App Store
Known Limitations
Current limitations you should be aware of:
- macOS 16+ Required: Older versions not supported due to API requirements
- Apple Reminders Only: Cannot connect to other task management systems
- One Window: Only one floating window supported at a time
- No Global Hotkey: Keyboard shortcuts work only when window is focused
Getting More Help
If you continue experiencing issues:
- Check the FAQ for common questions
- Document the problem:
- What you were trying to do
- What actually happened
- Any error messages
- Your macOS version
- Send feedback through the app:
- Menu bar → Send Feedback
- Include details from Console.app if available
- Contact support via the Support page
Report a Bug
Help us improve Vigilare:
- In-app feedback: Menu bar → Send Feedback
- Include:
- macOS version
- Vigilare version (Settings → About)
- Steps to reproduce
- Screenshots if applicable
- Be specific: "Tasks don't sync" → "Tasks created in Vigilare don't appear in Reminders.app after 5 minutes"
Your feedback helps us identify and fix issues quickly!