BoardSnap offline mode: snap now, sync later.
Short answer
BoardSnap includes an offline queue that captures boards on-device when you have no internet connection, then automatically syncs them the moment you're back online. You won't lose a snap just because the conference center Wi-Fi is down.
## How the offline queue works
BoardSnap uses Apple VisionKit to detect and straighten the whiteboard entirely on-device — no internet required for the camera step. When you tap Snap, the image and any pending analysis jobs are queued locally on your iPhone.
The moment BoardSnap detects a network connection, the queue flushes automatically. Your boards get processed through BoardSnap AI — reading diagrams, arrows, and lists — and your summary plus tri-state action items appear as if you'd been online the whole time.
## What works offline vs. what needs a connection
Works fully offline:
- Camera capture with VisionKit perspective correction
- On-device queuing of new boards
- Browsing previously synced boards and summaries
- Reading previously generated action item lists
Requires a connection:
- AI analysis (summary generation, action item extraction)
- Project AI chat
- Brand-aware summary generation
- Syncing boards across devices
## Real-world scenarios where this matters
Subway commute. Snap the whiteboard before you leave the office. By the time you surface from the tunnel, your action items are ready.
Conference halls. Hotel and convention center Wi-Fi is notoriously unreliable. BoardSnap doesn't hold your capture hostage to someone else's network.
Basement meeting rooms. Every office has one. The signal dies, the meeting doesn't. Snap the board, walk upstairs, the queue flushes.
Client sites. When you're on a client's network with port restrictions or a guest SSID that throttles everything, you still get the snap. The AI runs when you leave.
## Does the offline queue expire?
Queued boards persist until they sync successfully. They don't expire or get dropped after a timeout. If your phone restarts before syncing, the queue is preserved.
## Offline vs. competitors
Microsoft Lens requires an active connection to run OCR and send to OneNote. Google Lens processes everything server-side. Plain camera-to-ChatGPT requires you to manually upload the photo when back online. BoardSnap's queue is automatic — you snap once and forget about it.
Bottom line: BoardSnap is the right call when you can't guarantee a connection at capture time but still need a clean action plan by end of day.
Frequently asked
Will I lose my board if I close the app before syncing?
No. The queue persists on-device even if you close the app. BoardSnap will sync the boards the next time the app is open and a connection is available.
Can I edit action items offline?
You can read previously synced action items offline. Editing and saving changes requires a connection to sync back to your project.
See it work in ten seconds.
BoardSnap is free on the App Store. Snap a board — get a summary and action plan.