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.
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 up to 3 private boards and collect up to 100 items with the Free tier.
Try every Reference Pro feature for 14 days with no payment details, charge, or automatic renewal.
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, trial access, 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 trial ends or 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, trial, 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.
