Posting Items
The create flow at a glance
FinderHelper supports lost items, found items, single-item posts, and multiple-item posts. All of them start in Create Item, but the details screen and Location Preference step adjust based on what you are posting.
Step 1: Open Create Item
- Open the Create Item tab.
- Choose whether the item is Lost or Found.
- Choose Single if you are posting one item or Multiple if you found several items together.
Step 2: Add photos and item details
- Tap Take Photo to use the camera.
- Tap the image picker if you want to use a saved photo.
- Add any description that helps identify the item.
- If you are posting multiple items, use clear notes so users know what is included.
Tip: FinderHelper supports image editing for profile and group avatars, while item posts focus on getting photos into the app quickly with the least friction possible.
Step 3: Review Location Preference
When you tap Post Item, FinderHelper opens the Location Preference step before the item is submitted.
Nearby
Use when privacy matters most
- Shows a broader location instead of a pin-level reveal.
- Good for homes, schools, and places where you want an area view.
- Often the right choice for general neighborhood recovery posts.
Exact
Use when precision helps match faster
- Used for exact matching and more precise map discovery.
- Helpful when the item was clearly tied to one location, such as a gym locker room or event table.
- Can lead to stronger potential match confidence.
Step 4: Post the item
- Confirm the location mode you want.
- Tap Post Item inside the Location Preference screen.
- Your item is added to your list and appears in the correct map and matching flows.
Posting inside a group
If you are creating an item from a group flow, FinderHelper can attach that item to the selected group.
- The group name should appear in item details when the post belongs to a group.
- Group items can also show on group maps and group-filtered views of the main map.
- This is useful for schools, clubs, sports teams, apartment communities, and events.
Managing posted items later
Status
Listed
The item is active and discoverable.
Potential matches
Review candidates
Open the match flow if FinderHelper finds items in range.
Recovered
Close the loop
Once claimed or returned, the item can move out of active searching.
If Location Preference does not open
- Check that required permissions are still allowed.
- If location access is off, FinderHelper prompts you again or guides you to device settings when the system will no longer ask.
- After backing out of Location Preference, tapping Post Item again should reopen it.