# Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Find answers to the most common questions about BuddyPress Check-ins.

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## General Questions

### What is BuddyPress Check-ins?

BuddyPress Check-ins is a plugin that allows your community members to share their location when posting activities. Members can add a location to their activity posts, and other members can see where they checked in.

### Do I need BuddyPress installed?

Yes, you need either BuddyPress or BuddyBoss Platform installed and activated for this plugin to work.

### Is this plugin free?

Yes! The core BuddyPress Check-ins plugin is free. There's also a Pro version available with additional features like group location fields.

### Does this work with BuddyBoss?

Yes, BuddyPress Check-ins is compatible with both BuddyPress and BuddyBoss Platform.

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## Setup Questions

### Why do I need a Google API Key?

The plugin uses Google Maps services to:
- Display maps
- Search for locations
- Show location suggestions when typing

Google requires an API key for these services to work.

### Is the Google API Key free?

Google offers a free tier with generous limits. Most small to medium sites won't exceed the free limits. However, Google does require a billing account to be set up (even for free usage).

### How do I get a Google API Key?

1. Go to [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/)
2. Create a project
3. Enable Maps JavaScript API, Places API, and Geocoding API
4. Create an API key
5. Add the key to the plugin settings

See our [Getting Started Guide](./getting-started.md) for detailed steps.

### What APIs do I need to enable?

You need to enable these three APIs in Google Cloud Console:
- Maps JavaScript API
- Places API
- Geocoding API

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## Usage Questions

### How do I add a check-in to my post?

1. Start writing a new activity post
2. Click the location (map pin) icon
3. Search for your location
4. Select from the suggestions
5. Post your update

See our [How to Check-in Guide](./how-to-checkin.md) for step-by-step instructions.

### Can I check in from a group?

Yes! When you post an activity in a group, you can add a check-in just like you would on the main activity feed.

### Where can I see my past check-ins?

Visit your profile and click on the "Check-ins" tab. This shows all your past check-in locations.

### Can I save frequently visited locations?

Yes! When adding a check-in, look for the "Add to My Places" option. Saved places appear in your personal list for quick access.

### Can I edit a check-in after posting?

Currently, you cannot edit just the location. To change a check-in, you'll need to delete the post and create a new one with the correct location.

### Are check-ins visible to everyone?

Check-ins follow the same privacy settings as your activity posts. If your post is public, the check-in is public. Group check-ins are visible to group members.

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## Technical Questions

### The location search isn't working. What's wrong?

Common causes:
1. Invalid or missing Google API Key
2. Required APIs not enabled in Google Cloud Console
3. API key restrictions blocking your domain
4. Browser blocking location access

See our [Troubleshooting Guide](./troubleshooting.md) for solutions.

### Why can't I see the location icon?

Possible reasons:
- You're not logged in
- The site admin hasn't configured the plugin properly
- There's a conflict with another plugin
- Your theme might be hiding it

### Does the plugin work on mobile?

Yes, BuddyPress Check-ins works on mobile devices. You can search for locations and add check-ins from your phone or tablet.

### Will this slow down my site?

No, the plugin is optimized for performance. Google Maps scripts only load when needed.

### Is location data stored on my server?

Yes, check-in location data is stored in your WordPress database as activity meta data. The data stays on your server.

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## Privacy Questions

### Can I control who sees my check-ins?

Your check-ins follow your activity privacy settings. Admins can also hide the Check-ins profile tab site-wide.

### Is my location tracked in real-time?

No. The plugin only records locations when you manually add a check-in to a post. There is no automatic or background location tracking.

### Can I delete my check-in history?

Yes, by deleting the activity posts that contain check-ins. The check-in data is removed when the post is deleted.

### Does the plugin share data with Google?

When you search for a location, that search query is sent to Google Maps to retrieve suggestions. No personal user data is shared with Google beyond the search terms.

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## Admin Questions

### How do I hide the Check-ins tab?

Go to **Wbcom > BuddyPress Check-ins** and uncheck "Enable Check-ins Tab."

### Can I rename the Check-ins tab?

Yes! In the plugin settings, use the "Rename Check-ins Tab" option to change it to anything you like (e.g., "My Places" or "Locations").

### How do I restrict API key usage?

In Google Cloud Console:
1. Go to your API key settings
2. Add your domain under "Website restrictions"
3. This prevents others from using your key

### Can I see all check-ins on my site?

The plugin doesn't include a global check-in admin view, but you can see check-ins in the activity stream and on individual user profiles.

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## Compatibility Questions

### What plugins is this compatible with?

BuddyPress Check-ins works with:
- BuddyPress
- BuddyBoss Platform
- Most BuddyPress-compatible themes
- Activity Plus add-ons

### Are there any known conflicts?

The plugin may conflict with other plugins that modify the activity posting form. If you experience issues, try deactivating other plugins temporarily to identify conflicts.

### What themes work best?

Any BuddyPress or BuddyBoss compatible theme should work. Popular options include:
- Flavor Theme
- Flavor Theme
- Flavor Theme

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## Pro Version Questions

### What's included in the Pro version?

The Pro version includes:
- Group location fields
- Advanced customization options
- Priority support

### How do I upgrade to Pro?

Visit [wbcomdesigns.com](https://wbcomdesigns.com) to purchase the Pro version.

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## Getting More Help

### Where can I get support?

- [Support Page](https://wbcomdesigns.com/contact)
- [Troubleshooting Guide](./troubleshooting.md)
- [Documentation](./getting-started.md)

### How do I report a bug?

Contact support at [wbcomdesigns.com/contact](https://wbcomdesigns.com/contact) with:
- A description of the issue
- Steps to reproduce
- Your WordPress and plugin versions
- Any error messages
