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Portfolio Notifications

Updated

Scaryfolio can send portfolio notifications from the app itself. You can choose daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly portfolio reports, set when they should run, and receive updates when the system allows Scaryfolio to run.

Requirements

  • Scaryfolio Pro.
  • Scaryfolio connected to Ghostfolio.
  • Portfolio data available from your Ghostfolio account or self-hosted instance.
  • Notifications allowed for Scaryfolio in system settings.
  • Background App Refresh enabled on iPhone or iPad.
  • On Mac, allow Scaryfolio's Background Helper under System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions.

For the first setup, open Scaryfolio and confirm your Portfolio tab loads correctly before turning on portfolio notifications.

Turn On Portfolio Notifications

  1. Open Scaryfolio.
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Open Notifications.
  4. If prompted, choose Allow Notifications.
  5. Turn on the portfolio reports you want.
  6. Choose the scheduled time and any report-specific delivery options.

Scaryfolio shows the next calculated run time for each enabled report. The exact delivery time can still vary because the operating system controls background execution.

Available Reports

Report What It Shows Schedule Options
1D Daily portfolio change. Every day or weekdays only.
WTD Weekly portfolio change. Week ends on Friday or Sunday.
MTD Monthly portfolio change. Month ends on the calendar day or the last weekday.
YTD Yearly portfolio change. Year ends on the calendar day or the last weekday.

Each notification opens the related Portfolio view in Scaryfolio when tapped.

Choose a Scheduled Time

Each report has its own scheduled time. On iPhone and iPad, Scaryfolio lets you choose times from 12:00 through 22:30 in 15-minute increments. On Mac, times are available from 12:00 through 23:45.

Choose a time after you expect your market data or Ghostfolio server to have updated. An earlier eligible time can provide more opportunity for a delayed notification to arrive that day.

How Delivery Timing Works

  • Background App Refresh must be enabled on iPhone and iPad.
  • Scaryfolio's Background Helper must be allowed on Mac.
  • The operating system decides exactly when background work runs based on battery level, network conditions, device usage, and system limits.
  • Notifications may arrive later than the scheduled time.
  • If Scaryfolio cannot load current portfolio data, the notification is skipped.
  • Do not force quit Scaryfolio from the app switcher on iPhone or iPad. Force quitting can prevent background refreshes.
  • Adding a Scaryfolio widget does not make portfolio notifications more reliable.

Notification Text

Portfolio notifications summarize the selected period using your portfolio gain and return where available. Examples include:

  • Today your portfolio went up by EUR 1K (0.10%).
  • This week your portfolio went up by EUR 1K (0.10%).
  • This month your portfolio went down by EUR 500 (0.20%).
  • This year your portfolio went up by EUR 12.4K (6.30%).

If Ghostfolio Zen Mode hides absolute values, Scaryfolio may only be able to show percentage movement. If the needed portfolio data is unavailable, Scaryfolio skips that notification instead of sending an incomplete report.

Troubleshooting

If Scaryfolio detects that an enabled report passed its scheduled day without being delivered, it shows Some notifications were missed under Scaryfolio Settings > Notifications. Follow the checks shown by Scaryfolio; the system may not provide a specific reason for a missed notification.

Improve Delivery Reliability on iPhone or iPad

  1. Open system Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Make sure Background App Refresh is enabled globally and for Scaryfolio. If you need updates away from Wi-Fi, allow Background App Refresh over mobile data as well.
  2. Do not swipe Scaryfolio away in the app switcher. If you force quit the app, restart the device, or install an app update, open Scaryfolio once.
  3. Avoid Low Power Mode around the scheduled time. iOS disables Background App Refresh while Low Power Mode is active.
  4. Open and use Scaryfolio regularly.
  5. Keep a suitable network connection available. For a self-hosted Ghostfolio instance, make sure any required VPN, local network, reverse proxy, HTTPS certificate, and custom headers also work while Scaryfolio is in the background.
  6. Choose the earliest scheduled time at which Ghostfolio is likely to have the report data. Scaryfolio can deliver later on the scheduled day, so an earlier time leaves a larger delivery window before the day ends.

These steps improve delivery reliability but cannot guarantee an exact delivery time. The operating system makes the final decision.

Do Widgets Make Notifications More Reliable?

No. Add a widget for convenient portfolio viewing, not as a notification workaround.

Notifications Are Blocked

  • Open Scaryfolio Settings > Notifications.
  • Choose Open Notification Settings.
  • Allow notifications for Scaryfolio in system settings.
  • Return to Scaryfolio and enable the portfolio reports you want.

A Notification Does Not Arrive at the Exact Time

This can be normal. Background delivery is controlled by the operating system, and the selected time is the earliest point at which that report is due. iOS may wake Scaryfolio later on the same day. Keep Background App Refresh enabled, keep the device connected to the network, avoid Low Power Mode, and do not force quit Scaryfolio.

No Notification Arrives on iPhone or iPad

  • Confirm the report is enabled in Scaryfolio Settings > Notifications.
  • Check that notifications are allowed for Scaryfolio in system settings.
  • Check Focus modes, Do Not Disturb, notification summary, and Lock Screen notification settings. These features can delay or hide an alert even when Scaryfolio delivered it.
  • On iPhone or iPad, confirm Background App Refresh is enabled for Scaryfolio.
  • Open Scaryfolio and confirm the Portfolio tab loads.
  • Confirm your Ghostfolio server is reachable at the scheduled time.

No Notification Arrives on Mac

  • Open Scaryfolio Settings > Troubleshooting and check the Background Helper status.
  • If prompted, choose Repair Helper or open Login Items settings and allow Scaryfolio's Background Helper.
  • Open Scaryfolio once after installing an update or changing notification settings so the helper receives the latest schedule.
  • Check that macOS notifications are allowed for Scaryfolio.
  • Confirm the Portfolio tab loads and your Ghostfolio server is reachable.

The Missed-Notification Alert Does Not Show a Cause

Check notification permissions, Background App Refresh, Low Power Mode, and network access. Follow the reliability steps above and consider choosing an earlier scheduled time.

The Report Uses Old or Missing Data

  • Open Scaryfolio and refresh portfolio data.
  • Check whether Ghostfolio has updated portfolio performance for the selected period.
  • For self-hosted Ghostfolio, verify VPN, network, reverse proxy, HTTPS, and custom header requirements.
  • Choose a later scheduled time if your portfolio data updates after market close.

Absolute Gain Is Missing

Ghostfolio Zen Mode can hide absolute values. Disable Zen Mode in Ghostfolio User Settings if you want notifications to include gain or loss amounts. Percentage returns may still be available while Zen Mode is enabled.

Privacy Note

Portfolio notifications can display financial information on the Lock Screen, in Notification Center, on Apple Watch, or in other visible places. If you share your device or want to keep amounts private, adjust notification preview settings for Scaryfolio in system settings.