Reference Board is under continuous, active development. This release history highlights what changed for people using the app, grouped into new features, improvements, and fixes.
Upcoming
Version 1.6.1
Easier collecting and editing, with adjustable masonry grids, more comfortable sticky notes, and steadier import and board actions.
New
Choose 2 to 8 images across in masonry Grid View. Pinch on iPhone and iPad, or use the plus and minus controls on Mac. Your choice is remembered.
Start typing directly into a new sticky note, with native text selection, undo, and bulleted or numbered lists.
Improvements
A quieter sidebar: tiles have no reorder handles, and list hints disappear after your first successful board move while dragging stays available.
Shared imports can continue with other items while a failed item waits to retry.
More careful iCloud recovery after temporary errors reduces repeated repair attempts.
More compact board exports and fewer duplicate media files, without recompressing your originals.
Fixes
Sharing an image or link with the automatic “Take a look! 📌” caption no longer adds an extra note. Personal notes and text shared on its own are preserved.
Long-press actions work in canvas and Grid View on iPhone and iPad, with menus appearing beside the pressed item and group actions keeping the selection together.
Similar Images thumbnails keep consistent sizing and spacing as previews load.
Video playback responds to autoplay setting changes, and canvas timelines stay aligned with rotated items.
Version 1.6.0
Made for iPhone Duo, with layouts that adapt as you open the display and smoother browsing across your visual library.
New
Use Reference Board in compact and expanded layouts on iPhone Duo.
Inspect a selected reference beside its details on the expanded display, with an animated focus on the image.
Improvements
Keep your board position and selection as the layout changes.
Smoother image loading, search, and media browsing on iPhone and iPad.
Reduced background work for animated images, previews, and widgets.
Fixes
The minimap stays out of the way while inspecting a reference, and close controls remain within reach.
Embedded thumbnails appear more reliably in Grid View and image previews.
Version 1.5.9
Clearer image actions, steadier touch gestures, and simpler video controls make arranging and inspecting references more comfortable.
Improvements
Tap the info button on a selected canvas image to open its actions, including the inspector.
Drag small selected images more easily when zoomed out.
Find image tools in simpler Grid View menus on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Play or pause videos with a single button. While paused, move the pointer from left to right across a video to browse its frames on the canvas or in Grid View.
Capture a video frame from the right-click or long-press context menu, with the timeline and capture buttons removed from the canvas controls.
Refined board navigation and widget presentation.
Fixes
Improved two-finger gesture handling to keep images steady when you finish pinching.
Version 1.5.8
Image tools are easier to reach in Grid View, with more control over your layout and smoother browsing on large boards.
New
Lock items to prevent accidental movement or resizing.
Adjust Grid View from 2 to 12 columns with + and − on Mac.
Improvements
Open image editing, Similar Images, and image generation directly from Grid View.
Browse large grids with smoother scrolling.
A refreshed app icon.
Fixes
Improved first-launch iCloud restoration so existing boards take priority over the example board.
Version 1.5.7
New creative tools help you turn saved references into new directions and rediscover material in your collection. Apple Intelligence features depend on your device, language, region, and system settings.
New
Explore image variations with Image Playground and add the result beside your original.
Lift an object from an image and add it to your board as a separate cutout.
Search in everyday language and turn selected results into a new board.
Use Siri to find references and work with their saved details on supported systems.
Improvements
Compare Similar Images in a larger grid, select several, and add them together.
Smart Regions use the content of related references to suggest more descriptive group names.
Version 1.5.6
Reference Pro is included with new App Store purchases, with one purchase covering iPhone, iPad, and Mac. No subscription.
Improvements
People who acquired Reference Board during the Free period keep their Free plan and can choose a one-time lifetime Pro upgrade.
Original paid-app customers and existing lifetime Pro purchasers retain permanent Pro access.
Continued performance and reliability improvements for images, imports, and syncing.
Version 1.5.5
This update improves board organization on iPhone and iPad, adds iPad trackpad navigation, and makes everyday media workflows more dependable.
Improvements
Use a dedicated drag handle to reorder boards in list and tile views on iPhone and iPad, with less interference from the context menu.
Pan the canvas with a trackpad or mouse scroll wheel on iPad.
Image loading, search, clipboard operations, and exports do more preparation in the background to keep the interface responsive.
Sync updates are grouped more efficiently, and widgets avoid refreshing unchanged content.
Fixes
Empty-board instructions are easier to read in light and dark appearance.
Share Sheet imports use durable background processing, and thumbnail preparation can resume after missing media or a temporary save failure.
Web publishing and media cleanup handle interrupted work more reliably.
Version 1.5.4
A new example board makes it easier to explore Reference Board when you first open the app.
New
Start an empty library with a curated example board containing visual references and useful item details.
Explore the canvas, image previews, and metadata immediately, then delete the example board like any other board.
Fixes
First-launch setup waits for the initial iCloud import so existing synced boards take priority over the example board.
Bundled thumbnail previews make the example content available without downloading its images.
Version 1.5.3
Clearer upgrade guidance helps you move from Free to Pro when you need more boards, references, or publishing features.
Improvements
See clearer Pro benefits when reaching a Free limit or opening Similar Images.
Existing boards and items stay available when a limit is reached.
Publish to Web has clearer controls and more dependable handling of publication updates.
Version 1.5.2
Web publishing gains clearer progress and stronger recovery, building on the sharing and image tools introduced in 1.5.1.
Improvements
Follow publishing progress directly on a board in the sidebar.
Publish or update a board and copy its public link from the same menu.
Clearer Pro guidance explains access to web publishing.
Fixes
Publishing retries temporary iCloud throttling and recovers more gracefully from sync interruptions.
Improved duplicate-board detection and iCloud sync recovery.
Version 1.5.1
Reference Board can now publish boards as view-only webpages, alongside reversible image editing, a smoother loupe, and more refined canvas interactions.
New
Publish a public, view-only webpage from any board with Reference Pro, then share it with anyone using a link.
Crop and reframe images, or flip them horizontally or vertically, without changing the original.
Improvements
Update a published webpage as the board evolves, or unpublish it at any time.
Move, resize, and magnify the loupe with steadier controls across images and video.
Frame-by-frame video navigation makes it easier to capture the exact still you need.
Selection is more precise, canvas transitions are smoother, and sidebar state restores more dependably.
Version 1.5.0
Reference Board now has a Free tier and an optional Reference Pro upgrade, making it easier to start a visual library while keeping every existing board and item safe.
New
Create 1 private board and collect up to 20 items with the Free tier.
Unlock unlimited boards and items, AI metadata and visual discovery, new collaboration, PDF export, and MCP automation with one lifetime purchase.
Customers who previously downloaded the paid app receive Reference Pro automatically.
Improvements
Free and Pro status, limits, purchasing, and restore options are now collected in one clear settings screen.
Family Sharing support lets an eligible lifetime Reference Pro purchase be shared through Apple’s purchase system.
When a Free limit is reached, existing boards and items remain available and are never deleted.
Fixes
Legacy paid customers are recognized from Apple’s verified purchase history so their Reference Pro access carries across supported devices.
Purchase and restore states recover more reliably after relaunching or switching devices.
Version 1.4.2
Reference Board is faster and more organized than ever, with smoother performance, folders for related boards, and one-step background removal.
New
Create, rename, and organize folders for related boards, then drag boards between folders or move them from a board's context menu.
Remove the background from an image directly from its context menu to add a clean, transparent cutout to the board.
Improvements
Opening boards, browsing the library, and moving around the canvas now feels faster and smoother.
The iPhone and iPad sidebar has been rebuilt with clearer folder groups and more natural drag-and-drop organization.
The iOS minimap adapts more cleanly to different screen sizes and stays out of the way of canvas controls.
Similar-image results load more efficiently, especially when browsing image-heavy boards.
Background removal handles originals stored in iCloud more gracefully and shows clearer progress while media downloads.
Fixes
Transparent PNGs created by background removal now preserve their transparency correctly.
Canvas items are deduplicated more carefully, preventing the same reference from appearing twice.
Background removal is more reliable when an original needs to sync, a board changes during processing, or a result is added back to the canvas.
Dragging boards into, out of, and between folders on iPhone and iPad now lands in the intended position more consistently.
Folder rows, drop indicators, and minimap placement no longer overlap or leave awkward gaps in compact layouts.
Version 1.4.0
Videos became more useful as references, with frame capture and playback controls, alongside new ways to inspect and arrange the canvas.
New
Play, pause, and scrub videos directly on the canvas, then capture any moment as a new full-resolution image reference.
Move selected items forward or backward, or send them straight to the front or back of the canvas.
On iPhone and iPad, tap the canvas with four fingers to open a movable, resizable loupe for inspecting details—including live video.
On Mac, install the Reference Board screen saver and let recently added inspiration drift across your display.
Improvements
Video playback controls remain available while using the loupe or viewing an item up close.
Video playback, zooming, and frame capture feel smoother across the canvas.
Fixes
Fixed issues found while preparing the new video, loupe, and canvas controls for release.
Version 1.3.9
A small follow-up release focused on reliability after the previous update.
Fixes
Fixed a bug from the previous release.
Version 1.3.8
Reference Board is more connected and flexible, with MCP, mobile multi-select, stronger social imports, and Show on Top controls on Mac.
New
Connect Codex, Claude, and other compatible AI clients through MCP, then authorize them to search, create, organize, import, and export board content.
On iPhone and iPad, long-press an empty area and drag to select multiple items at once.
Create a new board from selected items, or arrange the selection into a grid.
Share public images from X and Pinterest directly to Reference Board, alongside improved Instagram support.
Improvements
Choose an MCP access level and approve sensitive actions while keeping the pairing token protected in Settings.
Instagram, X, Pinterest, direct image links, and other shared content are resolved and imported more reliably.
Multi-image Instagram posts can bring all of their available images onto a board in one import.
On Mac, Show on Top is easier to find from the View menu or by right-clicking a board.
New boards made from a selection keep the references' content, captions, tags, source links, and Pencil annotations.
Fixes
Mixed-size and rotated selections are spaced more consistently when arranged into a grid.
Social post links included inside shared text are recognized more reliably.
Shared social content falls back more gracefully when a direct image is not available.
Version 1.3.7
Reference Board can now connect to Codex, Claude, and other compatible AI clients on Mac through the Model Context Protocol.
New
Connect approved local AI clients to Reference Board on Mac with MCP.
Ask approved clients to search boards, inspect items, add and arrange content, run visual analysis, and manage saved regions.
Import Reference archives, export boards as PNGs, PDFs, or Reference archives, inspect sync and sharing, and manage share links.
Copy a guided setup prompt from Settings to connect Codex, Claude, or another compatible MCP client.
Use built-in prompts to find references, analyze a board's visual language, propose an organization, curate a collection, or prepare a board review.
Improvements
MCP connections are local-first, off by default, and protected by a pairing token that you can view, copy, or rotate.
Choose read-only, read-and-add, or full-control access, with explicit approval required for sensitive actions.
Review recent MCP activity in Settings and keep original media behind a separate permission and approval.
Version 1.3.6
Create and annotate with confidence, with smoother canvas navigation, improved Pencil support, smarter backups, and greater stability.
New
Stronger automatic backup cleanup and recovery safeguards.
Improved Pencil annotation support in both light and dark appearances.
Improvements
Smoother canvas navigation and annotation editing.
More consistent masonry grid layouts and item counts.
Refined settings and content importing.
Improved overall stability and performance.
Fixes
Canvas controls no longer occasionally remain visible after leaving annotation mode.
Annotations no longer affect masonry grid layouts.
Fixed visual issues with annotations in light mode.
Version 1.3.5
Looking closer is easier, with a handy new detail tool and visual polish across the app.
New
Press L when you want a closer look at details on a board.
Improvements
Polished visual details throughout the app.
Fixes
Fixed several visual issues.
Version 1.3.3
Boards now have a grid view, giving visual research both an open canvas and a clearer overview.
New
Switch a board into grid view when you want to scan every visual reference without zooming around the canvas.
Grid view arranges images in a masonry-style overview, so different image sizes sit naturally together.
Open images from the grid in full screen and move through the rest of the board when details matter.
Improvements
Image-heavy boards are easier to review after the first collecting and arranging pass.
Large boards with clusters and side paths are quicker to read from a clean overview.
Moving between canvas and grid gives boards a better rhythm for both exploring ideas and reviewing what you collected.
Version 1.3.2
Shared boards are more dependable, especially when inviting people or opening a board from another device.
New
Sharing now prepares a board before the invite sheet appears, so it is clearer when a board is ready to share.
Selected boards use your theme color more consistently, making it easier to see where you are in the project list.
Improvements
Shared boards better understand whether you own a board or joined someone else's, so the right sharing options appear.
Private boards recover more carefully if sync needs repair, helping protect local work.
Sync repair runs less aggressively, so the app spends less time repeating background work.
Fixes
Sharing actions no longer get stuck showing owner controls for participant boards, or the other way around.
Private boards are less likely to get stuck waiting to sync after an interrupted share or export.
VoiceOver no longer announces the visual drop ripple when you add something to a board.
Version 1.2.11
Sharing and board controls feel more direct, with small visual polish across the app.
New
iPhone now has a grid toggle, so you can switch between a compact overview and a roomier board view.
Boards can be shared directly from their context menu, saving a trip through extra controls.
Improvements
Share sheets open from the board you are working with, making invitations feel more predictable.
The sidebar, Settings, and What's New screens have cleaner spacing and clearer emphasis.
Toolbar icons better match your theme and stay calmer in fullscreen.
Fixes
Exporting and sharing boards from iPhone and iPad is more reliable.
Theme colors in Settings now update more consistently.
Media imports are less likely to show the wrong result when several imports finish close together.
Version 1.2.9
Boards became easier to share, search, and fill with links, maps, videos, and color-based references.
New
Export boards as PDFs when you want to send, review, print, or archive a layout.
Add website links as preview cards so sources and inspiration stay together.
Paste Tweets and Maps links onto a board as visual cards.
Open a board in an always-on-top window while working in other apps.
Videos loop by default, making motion references easier to compare.
Improvements
Color search now has a dedicated picker and understands exact color values more naturally.
Face naming on Mac is smoother when organizing people across references.
Sharing actions are grouped in board menus so they are easier to find.
Inspector overlays follow the canvas more smoothly while you edit a board.
Fixes
Collaboration presence updates are lighter, reducing unnecessary activity while you work.
Dropping files onto the app opens the active board before placing new items.
Manual color searches return more accurate matches.
Version 1.2.6
Apple Pencil notes, regions, and the side panel became more comfortable for larger boards.
New
Annotate boards directly with Apple Pencil on iPad.
Handwritten notes stay pinned to the canvas and move with the rest of your board.
Use a two-finger tap to undo the last Pencil stroke while annotating.
Improvements
Sharing lives in the side panel, leaving the canvas toolbar focused on board actions.
Region controls open closer to where you are working, so jumping between saved areas is quicker.
iPad sidebars have better spacing on iPad mini and narrow layouts.
Text search and Pencil annotations feel steadier during everyday use.
Fixes
Region picker placement and previous/next navigation are more predictable.
The canvas toolbar is less crowded.
The refined toolbar is easier to navigate with assistive technologies.
Version 1.2
Search and organization became much richer with custom tags, face names, visible text, and better canvas interactions.
New
Add custom tags that Reference Board learns as suggestions while you organize.
Name faces with clear face boxes, including manual placement when detection misses one.
Read What's New inside the app when a release adds something useful.
Improvements
Search finds items by tags, face names, colors, descriptions, and visible text.
Sync status messages are clearer and less distracting.
More app text is translated across supported languages.
Fixes
The inspector waits during active canvas gestures, keeping navigation responsive.
Context menus are less likely to interrupt you while arranging a board.
Pinching and selecting on the canvas feels more reliable.
Version 1.1.2
Moving, scaling, and browsing items became faster and more playful across boards.
New
Pinch to scale selected board items.
Board items respond with subtle tilt while you drag them.
Improvements
Dragging feels more natural when you let go of an item.
The command palette image grid is easier to scan.
Switching board views and opening previews on iPhone feels smoother.
Fixes
Similar image tiles display more consistently.
iPhone and iPad board navigation keeps selection state more reliably.
Version 1.1
The app became easier to navigate and share, with a better inspector, widgets, and more accessible board controls.
New
Drag the inspector where it fits your workspace.
Browse similar image thumbnails from the inspector.
Use widgets and extensions to get back to boards faster.
Pull to refresh shared board lists.
Improvements
Accessibility is better across common board and inspector workflows.
Zooming, photo import, and board export feel more dependable.
Sorting, minimap swipes, and sharing on iPhone and iPad are smoother.
Fixes
Shared boards behave more consistently when joining, leaving, or stopping sharing.
Imports are less likely to fail during busy board workflows.
Zoom stays stable after sharing changes.
Version 1.0
The first App Store release brought private visual boards to iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
New
Create private visual boards on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Collect images, media, and inspiration in a spatial canvas.
Pan and zoom around large boards.
Use the sidebar and inspector to browse board content quickly.
Filter and organize boards when your reference library grows.
Use the minimap to stay oriented on larger boards.
Play media directly on boards.
Open boards faster from widgets and quick actions.
Work in supported languages with localized app text.
