Support / FAQ
nextSurf support.
Straight answers, useful guidance, and a real person when you need one.
Getting started
Why can’t I see forecast data?+
Check that a weather provider is selected in Settings and that your device has an internet connection. You can switch providers if one is temporarily unavailable.
What platforms does nextSurf support?+
nextSurf supports iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. The current App Store release requires iOS or iPadOS 18 and watchOS 11 or later.
How do I get started?+
Download nextSurf, optionally allow location access, then choose a location from Search, Nearby or Favourites. Use the tabs to move between tides, ocean conditions, weather and AI surf reports.
What is included in Pro?+
Pro adds AI-powered surf reports, advanced surf scoring, extended ocean and weather information, and the full Apple Watch experience.
Locations and forecasts
How do I add a favourite?+
Open Locations, find a spot and tap its star. Your favourites and their order sync to Apple Watch.
How do I switch locations?+
Swipe to Favourites and tap a saved spot, or open Search and select a location directly.
Why can’t I find my beach?+
Search alternative spellings or a nearby town. You can also contact us with the spot name, coordinates and region so we can review it.
Can I use nextSurf offline?+
Previously loaded forecasts and favourites can remain available from cache. A connection is required for fresh forecasts, new locations and AI reports.
How often is forecast data updated?+
Weather and ocean data updates according to the selected provider, typically every few hours. Pull or tap-and-hold to refresh when new data is available.
Tides, wind and swell
How accurate are tide predictions?+
nextSurf uses established tide providers. Local weather, pressure, storm surge and geography can affect actual conditions, so always check the beach before entering the water.
Why do tide times differ from another source?+
Sources may use different datums, models, update schedules and station locations. Small differences are normal.
What does wave period mean?+
Period is the time between waves. Longer-period swell generally carries more energy, but local bathymetry, direction, tide and wind all affect the result.
What do the surf ratings mean?+
The five-star rating combines swell, period, direction, wind and tide to provide a quick indication. It is guidance, not a safety assessment.
AI surf reports
What are AI surf reports?+
They turn tide, swell, wind and local spot information into a concise, human-readable outlook and highlight potentially useful session windows.
What information is shared to create a report?+
With your permission, selected spot details, coordinates, any notes you add, forecast data and limited technical context are sent to OpenAI. Your name, email and Apple ID are not sent.
Can I use the app without AI reports?+
Yes. The feature is optional and the core tide and forecast experience remains available without granting AI report consent.
Apple Watch and purchases
How do I install the Watch app?+
Install nextSurf on iPhone, then use the Watch app on iPhone if the companion app does not install automatically.
Why is my Watch not updating?+
Confirm Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, open nextSurf on both devices and allow a few seconds for sync. Also check Background App Refresh.
How do I restore a purchase?+
Open the app’s subscription or Settings screen, choose Restore Purchases and make sure the device uses the Apple ID that made the purchase.
How do I cancel?+
Subscriptions are managed by Apple. Open iPhone Settings, tap your name, choose Subscriptions, select nextSurf and follow Apple’s cancellation controls.