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Getting Started

First-run onboarding

Requirements

  • An Android phone (Android 8.0 / API 26 or newer).
  • The bank or e-wallet apps you want to track installed and signed in (Maybank2u, MAE, Touch 'n Go eWallet, Grab, Boost, BigPay, CIMB, Public Bank, RHB, ShopeePay, Wise, Google Wallet — or any app you add rules for later).

First run: onboarding

The first launch walks you through four steps.

AutoBudget reads the text of payment notifications from the bank and wallet apps you choose (for example "RM 25.40 charged to GrabFood"). That text is stored encrypted on this device only — never uploaded, shared, or transmitted. Tick the consent box, then tap Continue.

2. Notification access

AutoBudget needs the system's notification access permission to see bank alerts.

  1. Tap Open notification access settings.
  2. Find AutoBudget in the list and switch it on.
  3. Come back — the app checks the toggle automatically (the status flips to "Notification access: enabled ✓" within a few seconds, and Continue unlocks). This step can't be skipped: capture needs the permission.

Only notification access is requested. AutoBudget does not use SMS, storage, or contacts.

3. Location (optional)

Optionally record the device location when a payment notification arrives, so you can see where you spent money — even while AutoBudget is closed. Toggle Record device location for new transactions on and grant the location permission; when Android opens the app's settings page, set Location to “Allow all the time” so capture also works in the background. The location is stored encrypted on this device only and never transmitted. You can change this later in Settings.

4. Choose your bank apps

Tick the apps you want to track. Apps not installed on your device are marked Not installed. Use Show all supported apps if a bank is missing from the list.

Tap Finish when at least one app is selected. On Android 13+ you'll also be asked for the "send notifications" permission — this powers the silent "transaction captured" notification. You can skip it; capture still works, you just won't get the tray entry. You can always grant it later in Settings.

After onboarding

Notifications from your chosen apps are now captured automatically. Each payment alert becomes a transaction within seconds:

  • Parseable alerts (amount + merchant recognized) appear in the Transactions list immediately.
  • Unparseable or masked (hidden by the bank/OS) alerts land in the review queue — see Review queue.

Tip: keep notification access on

If you turn notification access off (or the system revokes it), AutoBudget can't capture anything. A warning banner appears on Home when access is off — switch AutoBudget back on in the system notification-access settings, then tap Fix on the banner to re-check the status.

Next steps