Managing Profile Details

Keep your Balance profiles up-to-date by editing names, changing avatars, and managing profile settings. This guide shows you how to manage all aspects of user profiles.

Accessing Profile Management

1. Tap your profile icon
2. Select “Manage Profiles”
3. See list of all profiles
4. Tap any profile to edit

Or:

1. Tap profile icon
2. Tap current profile card
3. Opens profile management

Editing Profile Names

How to Rename

1. Manage Profiles page
2. Tap the profile to edit
3. Tap on name field
4. Enter new name
5. Tap “Save” or “Update”

Name updates instantly across all devices.

Naming Best Practices

Use:

• Real first names (“Sarah”, “Mike”)
• Clear identifiers (“Partner”, “Spouse”)
• Family terms (“Mom”, “Dad”) if applicable

Avoid:

• Generic terms (“User 1”, “Person 2”)
• Unclear labels (“Me”, “Other”)
• Special characters or emojis

Why: Clear communication and accountability.

Changing Avatars

Preset Avatars

Balance provides:

• Multiple avatar options
• Different colors
• Various icons
• Fun and professional choices

How to change:

1. Edit profile
2. Scroll through avatar options
3. Tap the one you want
4. Saves automatically
5. Updates everywhere

Avatar Selection Tips

Choose avatars that:

• Are visually distinct from other profiles
• Represent the person well
• Easy to recognize at a glance
• Different colors for quick identification

Example for couple:

• Profile 1: Blue avatar
• Profile 2: Green avatar
• Easy to distinguish!

Uploading Profile Pictures

Using Custom Photos

To upload photo:

1. Edit profile
2. Look for camera/upload icon
3. Choose source:
   • Take photo
   • Choose from gallery
4. Crop/adjust if needed
5. Save

Photo displays as profile picture.

Photo Guidelines

Best photos:

• Clear face shot
• Good lighting
• Simple background
• Square crop works best

Avoid:

• Dark or blurry photos
• Group photos (can’t tell who)
• Landscape/scenery
• Text or logos

Size: App automatically resizes.

Deleting Profiles

Which Profiles Can Be Deleted

✅ Can delete:

• Any profile except primary
• Partner profiles
• Family member profiles
• Unused profiles

❌ Cannot delete:

• Primary profile (account owner)
• Your own active profile (switch first)

How to Delete

1. Manage Profiles page
2. Tap profile to delete
3. Scroll down
4. Look for “Delete Profile” button
5. Confirm deletion
6. Profile removed

Deletion is permanent!

What Happens When You Delete

Profile removed:

• Name and avatar deleted
• Cannot log in as that profile
• Profile doesn’t appear in list

Data remains:

• Transactions they categorized stay
• Budget they created stays
• Historical edits preserved

Only the profile identity is deleted, not their work.

Before Deleting

Consider:

• Can you just rename instead?
• Archive rather than delete?
• Are transactions attributed to them?

Deletion is irreversible - think carefully!

Profile Information You Can Edit

Editable Fields

✅ Can change:

• Profile name
• Profile avatar/picture
• Icon selection

❌ Cannot change:

• Profile creation date
• Profile ID (internal)
• Primary profile status

What You Cannot Edit

Some profile aspects are fixed:

Primary Profile:

• Cannot change who is primary
• Set at account creation
• Permanent designation

Profile History:

• Cannot erase edit history
• Cannot transfer attribution
• Historical data preserved

Managing Multiple Profiles

Organizing Profiles

On Manage Profiles page:

• All profiles listed
• Alphabetical or creation order
• Cannot custom sort

To organize:

• Use clear naming
• Distinct avatars
• Delete unused profiles

Active vs. Inactive Profiles

Balance doesn’t have “inactive”:

• Profiles are active or deleted
• No “disable” option
• Either exists or doesn’t

If someone stops using Balance:

• Option 1: Keep profile (no harm)
• Option 2: Delete profile (clean up)

Synchronization

Cross-Device Updates

Profile changes sync instantly:

• Edit on phone → updates on web
• Change on web → updates on phone
• Real-time across all devices

Everyone sees updates:

• If you rename a profile
• All users see new name immediately
• If you change avatar
• Everyone sees new avatar

Best Practices

1. Keep Names Current

Update when:

• Name legally changes (marriage, etc.)
• Nickname changes
• Preference changes

Current names = clear communication.

2. Use Distinct Avatars

Make profiles visually different:

• Different colors
• Different icons
• Easy to tell apart at a glance

Helps: Quick identification, especially when switching.

3. Delete Unused Profiles

If someone leaves household:

• Delete their profile
• Keep profile list clean
• Reduce confusion

Their work remains, just their identity is removed.

4. Confirm Before Deleting

Double-check:

• Is this definitely unused?
• Should we just rename instead?
• Any reason to keep it?

Once deleted, cannot undo.

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Name Change After Marriage

Partner changed last name:

1. Edit partner’s profile
2. Update name to new last name
3. Save
4. All references update

Quick and easy!

Scenario 2: Don’t Like Avatar

Want different icon:

1. Edit your profile
2. Browse avatar options
3. Tap new favorite
4. Saves automatically

Takes 10 seconds.

Scenario 3: Breakup or Separation

Partner leaving:

1. Delete their profile
2. Their categorizations remain
3. Their budget work stays
4. Continue solo or add new partner

Data integrity maintained.

Scenario 4: Kids Graduated and Moved Out

Child profile no longer needed:

1. Delete child’s profile
2. Simplify household profiles
3. Focus on couple or individual

Clean up as life changes.

Troubleshooting

“Can’t edit profile”

Check:

• Are you the primary profile?
• Is it your own profile you’re trying to edit?
• Internet connected?
• Try closing and reopening app

“Delete button not showing”

Possible reasons:

• Trying to delete primary profile (can’t)
• Trying to delete your active profile (switch first)
• Need to scroll down to see button

“Changes not saving”

Try:

• Check internet connection
• Wait a few seconds
• Close and reopen app
• Try again
• Contact support if persists

“Accidentally deleted profile”

Unfortunately:

• Cannot undo deletion
• Profile is gone permanently
• Can create new profile with same name
• But it’s a new profile (different ID)

Be careful when deleting!

Profile vs. Account

Important Distinction

Profile: Individual identity within household budget

• Multiple profiles per account
• Share same data
• Switch between them

Account: Overall Balance account

• One per household
• Tied to email/password
• Manages subscription

You manage profiles, not accounts, on this page.

Next Steps

1. Understanding Primary Profile - Learn about account owner
2. Switching Between Profiles - Navigate between profiles
3. Shared Budgeting for Couples - Budget together
4. Creating Multiple Profiles - Add new profiles

Questions? Contact our support team - we’re here to help!