How to start a group · The Lunchbox Blog

A group is one lunchbox you share with your family or your closest friends. Everyone writes, everyone reads, and you always see the newest note from each person.

Lasagna at mine on Sunday. Milo, bring the good spoon. — Grandma — Plans for Sunday

Bringing the spoon. And my A. — Milo — And the answer, in the same lunchbox

To start one, tap the little note at the top of the Lunchbox tab and pick Start a group. Give it a name, choose who to invite, and tap Done.

New to Lunchbox Notes? Start with what a lunchbox note is.

Start a group

Give your group a name and, if you like, a photo. Then pick the friends you would like in it.

A screen for a new group with the name Book club typed in — Give it a name

Join a group

When someone invites you, the invite waits in Requests on the Friends tab. Tap the tick to join.

A list of requests with an invite to a running club at the top, and a tick and a cross beside it — An invite to join a group

Bring your kid along

If you look after a kid, you can add them to a group. You add them yourself, and you say who in the group gets to see them.

A sheet for adding a kid to a group, with a switch for each person in it — Add your kid to the group

Read everyone’s notes

Your group gets its own circle on Home. Tap it, and the notes are there, one on top and the others behind it. Tap the side of the note to go from one person to the next.

Home with a group's circle picked and a note with a photo of lasagna on top — Your group on Home

To write, tap Write in the group. Your new note takes the place of your last one, and the old one goes into your memory box.

Every note in the group has its own little chat, and everyone can react. Here is how reactions work.

A covered note opens for everyone

You can hide a group note under a cover too. The first person to open it opens it for everyone. More in how to cover a note.

A note about lemon cake, with a line at the bottom saying who opened it — Opened once, for everyone

Keep the group on your Home Screen

The Group notes widget shows your group’s notes right on your Home Screen, one person at a time. Tap the side of it to see the next one.

Add the widget, pick the group, tap the side to stepOpen on YouTube

On iPhone, hold an empty spot on your Home Screen, tap the brush at the top, then Add Widget. Pick Lunchbox Notes, then Group notes. To choose the group, hold the widget and tap Edit Widget. Add to Home Screen, under the group’s notes, shows these steps with the video too.

The widget's settings with a group chosen — Choose the group

On Android, open the group and tap Add to Home Screen, under the notes.

An Android home screen with a group's note and a row of small faces under it — On Android too

A few to send your group

“Soup at mine on Sunday. Everyone bring one thing.”
“Who has the big umbrella? Asking for a friend. The friend is me.”
“Someone lost a tooth. The tooth fairy is asking for change.”
“Same time next week. I’ll bring the cake.”