Restore Pro or sign in with Apple: which one do you need?

The practical answer

Restore purchases asks Apple to reconcile a purchase entitlement. Sign in with Apple establishes a Lesscue account, while the iCloud account owns optional synced records. These roles can differ. If Pro is missing, start with the purchase account and transaction state rather than deleting local data or repeatedly creating account sessions.

A setup to try

1. Check whether the purchase actually completed, is pending approval, or was canceled. A pending result is not an active entitlement, and repeated purchase taps are not a reliable recovery method.
2. Use Restore purchases with the Apple Account used for the App Store purchase. A matching Lesscue sign-in email alone is not proof of ownership of that subscription.
3. Read the restore result and current paid-through state. If no matching entitlement is found, confirm the account and receipt before contacting support.
4. Keep personal records intact during troubleshooting. Purchase recovery should not require wiping focus history, changing the iCloud account, or recreating every app group.

Why am I signed into Lesscue but still on Free?

A Lesscue account session is separate from Apple’s subscription entitlement. Signing in does not create a Pro purchase. If you previously subscribed, use Restore purchases and confirm the App Store account involved; otherwise Free is the expected state for an account without a verified active entitlement.

Which Apple Account matters when I restore a Pro purchase?

The relevant account is the one used for the App Store transaction. It is not enough for the Lesscue account identity or iCloud account to look familiar. Check Apple’s purchase account and subscription records before concluding that the local app has lost a valid entitlement.

Will restoring purchases also restore my locally stored focus history?

No. Purchase restoration concerns entitlement, not a backup of personal records. Focus history comes from the existing local store, optional previously enabled iCloud sync, or an applicable device restoration. Do not expect the Restore purchases button to download a history that was never uploaded.

What does Purchase awaiting approval mean for Pro access?

It means the transaction has not yet produced the verified entitlement required for Pro. Lesscue should wait for Apple’s resolution instead of unlocking on an unconfirmed promise. Keep the pending state visible and avoid interpreting a purchase-sheet interaction as proof that payment completed.

Should I buy again if Restore purchases reports nothing to restore?

First verify the purchase account, current subscription status, and whether the original transaction completed. A new purchase should not be the default response to uncertainty about an existing one. If a charge exists but access does not, collect the relevant nonsecret transaction context for support.

Can a canceled Apple purchase dialog still activate Pro?

A canceled flow does not by itself establish a new purchase. Lesscue derives access from verified Apple entitlement information, not the fact that a dialog was opened. If Pro is already active from a previous valid transaction, that separate entitlement may still explain the displayed state.

Does logging out of the Lesscue account remove my Apple subscription?

No. The optional Lesscue account and StoreKit entitlement have distinct responsibilities. Account sign-out should not be treated as subscription cancellation. Review Apple’s subscription settings if you want to change renewal, and use the app’s account controls for identity-session changes.

Why can purchase restoration need a connection even though records are local?

Apple entitlement reconciliation and local personal-data storage are different operations. A network-dependent purchase check does not imply your focus history is being uploaded. Keep the local data while restoring access, and distinguish an unavailable StoreKit response from a local-records problem.

Can I use the same Pro purchase with a different Lesscue account identity?

The app’s Pro gate is based on verified Apple subscription entitlement rather than copying a paid flag from the Lesscue account database. Account changes do not themselves transfer a purchase between Apple Accounts. Check the actual purchase account instead of relying on the account display name.

What information helps support investigate a missing Pro entitlement?

Describe the plan, approximate purchase time, visible restore result, and whether Apple shows an active subscription. Do not send passwords, identity tokens, or a full account credential. A redacted purchase reference and exact error wording are more useful than deleting the app and losing local context.