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 let Scaryfolio fetch fresh portfolio data in the background.
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
- Open Scaryfolio.
- Open Settings.
- Open Notifications.
- If prompted, choose Allow Notifications.
- Turn on the portfolio reports you want.
- 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.
A later time is usually better for end-of-day reports, especially if your market data, Ghostfolio server, or self-hosted setup needs time to update after markets close. However, an earlier time gives iOS a larger part of the day in which to wake Scaryfolio and deliver a delayed notification. Choose the earliest time at which you expect the report data to be ready.
How Delivery Timing Works
- On iPhone and iPad, Scaryfolio uses iOS Background App Refresh to fetch portfolio data near the selected time.
- On Mac, Scaryfolio uses its Background Helper login item to perform scheduled work when the main app is not open.
- 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 fetch fresh portfolio data when the background task runs, 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 iOS wake the main app more frequently. WidgetKit refreshes the widget extension separately using its own system-controlled budget.
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. The alert may show a probable cause, but iOS does not tell apps exactly why a particular background task did not run.
Improve Delivery Reliability on iPhone or iPad
- 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.
- 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 so it can refresh its state and submit its next background task.
- Avoid Low Power Mode around the scheduled time. iOS disables Background App Refresh while Low Power Mode is active.
- Open and use Scaryfolio regularly. iOS considers usage patterns along with battery, network, and other system conditions when allocating background runtime.
- 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.
- 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 the opportunity for delivery but cannot guarantee a particular wake or delivery time. iOS always makes the final background scheduling decision.
Do Widgets Make Notifications More Reliable?
No. A widget can receive its own WidgetKit timeline refreshes, especially when it is visible frequently, but those refreshes run the widget extension rather than waking the main Scaryfolio app. Scaryfolio widgets read cached portfolio data and do not execute the portfolio notification checks. 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
This usually means Scaryfolio found no disabled permission or power setting to explain the miss. The most likely explanation is that iOS did not grant a background wake during the remaining delivery window. 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.