AI helper problems

The AI helper is a Pro feature, and nothing goes to AI until you allow it. Most “it doesn’t work” moments are one of those two rules doing their job. Here’s how to tell which, and what to do.

AI is off or not available

The AI helper is part of Pro. The Ask menu’s title says “AI helper is part of Pro”, and tapping an item opens the upgrade screen. See Free and Pro.

What if Paperwise says “AI features are off. Turn them on in Account → AI helper.”?

You have Pro, but the AI helper is off. It starts off on a new install. The Ask menu’s title says “AI helper is off”, and Ask, Extract, Translate and Read handwriting show this message instead of running.

Open Account → AI helper.
Turn on AI helper.
Read what it means and tap Turn On.

Ask, Extract, Translate and Read handwriting then work on your documents, each still asking before AI reads a document. See Turn on the AI helper.

What if I don’t see Name and file with AI or Count objects?

They show only while the AI helper is on: Name and file with AI and Count objects in the Ask menu, Name and file with AI under Select → More, Count objects in the + sheet, Read again with AI (handwriting) in the Text view, and Name N existing documents with AI… in Account → AI helper.

Limits

What if Paperwise says I’ve used today’s AI actions?

Pro includes 20 AI actions a day and 300 a month, and naming with AI (automatic or when you ask) of up to 100 documents a day.

“You’ve used today’s 20 AI actions. They reset at midnight (UTC).” Try again after midnight UTC.
“You’ve used this month’s 300 AI actions. They reset on” and the date of the reset, such as 1 November. Try again on that date.
“AI is paused for today. Try again tomorrow.” Try again tomorrow.

Nothing is sent while you’re at a limit. An action that fails is given back to you. See AI limits and usage.

Where do I see how many actions I’ve used?

At the top of the Ask menu (“6 of 20 AI actions used today”), in Account → AI helper → Usage, and on the Ask, Extract and Translate screens (“12 AI actions left today”).

What if I tapped Cancel on the AI notice?

Nothing was sent. Paperwise remembers that choice for that document:

Name and sort new scans won’t name it automatically.
Name N existing documents with AI… leaves it out.

If you change your mind, start an AI action on that document (for example Ask → Name and file with AI) and tap Continue. That clears the earlier Cancel.

What if Paperwise asks before every AI action?

The notice shows the first time you use AI on a document in each app session. After Continue, it doesn’t ask again for that document until Paperwise restarts. Turn on Don’t ask again for this document before you tap Continue to stop it asking for that document for good.

What if a new scan wasn’t named automatically?

Name and sort new scans (Pro) covers only items added on this iPhone after you turned it on. It never names older documents, items synced from your other devices, items you take out of Hidden later, or documents where you cancelled the AI notice. It also never names a protected document (IDs, medical, bank and tax papers), so ID card scans are never named automatically. To name one of those, open the document and tap Ask → Name and file with AI. For other documents, with the AI helper on, you can also use Account → AI helper → Name N existing documents with AI…. See Name and sort with AI.

Documents that are never sent

What if Paperwise says “This document is set to never be sent to AI.”?

The document is marked Never send to AI, so no AI action runs on it and no request is made. To allow AI again, tap ••• on the document, then tap Never send to AI to remove its checkmark. See Protected documents, Never send to AI and Hidden.

What if I want to use AI on something in Hidden?

You can’t: Hidden items are never sent to AI, and AI actions don’t appear inside Hidden. If you decide a document doesn’t need Hidden’s protection, Unhide it first; it goes back to your vault, which is encrypted with Paperwise’s own key but without Hidden’s Face ID keys. Then use AI on it like any other document. Automatic naming doesn’t pick up unhidden items; ask for it on the document.

Connection and errors

What if Paperwise says “Couldn’t reach Paperwise. Check your connection and try again.”?

AI runs on our server and our AI provider, so it needs a connection. Everything else, like scanning, text recognition and search, works offline. Connect and try again.

What if Paperwise says “AI took too long. Try again.” or “Paperwise’s AI is unavailable right now. Try again in a moment.”?

Wait a moment and try again. A failed action doesn’t count against your limits.

What if Paperwise says “This document is too long for AI.”?

The document is over the size AI can take in one go. You can split it (Edit → Split) and use AI on the part you need. See Split and merge.

What if Paperwise says “Too many requests. Wait a few seconds and try again.”?

Wait a few seconds and try again.