The Setup Wizard and Getting Started Checklist
How the setup wizard walks a new account through accounts, imports, a budget and a goal, and how the Getting started card on your dashboard tracks what is left.
Overview
When you create a new account, Forbidden Finance opens a short setup wizard called Get set up. It asks how you want to add your accounts, offers to bring in data from another app or a file, and helps you pick a budget and set a first goal. Every step can be skipped, and nothing you choose here is permanent.
Once you finish the wizard (or leave it early), the Getting started card on your dashboard keeps track of whatever is still open. Each unfinished item on the card takes you straight to the right screen.
The wizard is for new accounts. If you had an account before it existed, you only see the Getting started card.
The Wizard Step by Step
The steps you see depend on the path you pick on the second screen.
Welcome
A quick introduction. Tap Get started.
Choose how to add your accounts
Pick Connect my banks automatically for bank sync on a paid plan, or the I'll track manually card to stay on Free with up to 10 manual accounts. Tapping Skip here puts you on the manual path.
Choose a plan (bank sync path only)
The connect path shows Choose a plan for bank sync with Starter, Pro and Premium. All paid plans include a daily sync plus updates when your bank reports changes. Tap Decide later if you aren't ready to buy.
Transaction analysis (bank sync path only)
On a paid plan you can tap Enable transaction analysis, which powers budget suggestions and recurring payment detection, or tap Not now. If you haven't bought a plan yet, this step just explains what you'd get, with See plans and Continue.
Import from another service
If you're coming from YNAB, Monarch, Actual or Mint, tap Migrate from another app to bring your accounts, history and budget across. This step carries an Experimental badge. See Data Import Hub.
Add your accounts
On a paid plan this step is Connect your accounts and the button is Add a connection. On Free it's Add your first accounts and the button is Add an account.
Import from a file
Have a CSV or JSON export? Tap Import a CSV or JSON file to load it into one of the accounts you just added. This step comes after accounts because a file import needs an account to land in.
Pick a budgeting method
Tap Set up a budget to choose a method. If you already have one, the button reads Adjust your budget.
Set a goal
Tap Create a goal to save toward something. Once you have one, the button changes to Add another goal.
Done
A summary shows which of Accounts connected, Budget set up and Goal created you finished, and which are On your checklist. Tap Go to dashboard.
The manual path skips the plan and analysis steps, so you're never shown a paid upsell right after choosing to stay free.
Skip, Leave and Come Back
- Skip one step: most steps have a Skip button (on the plan step it's Decide later). You move on and the step stays open on your checklist.
- Go back: tap Back to revisit an earlier step.
- Leave the wizard: tap the close button at the top and confirm Finish later. You land on your dashboard, and the wizard won't open again by itself. Pick up anything you skipped from the Getting started card.
- Close the app mid-wizard: next time you open Forbidden Finance, the wizard reopens at the first step you haven't finished.
The Getting Started Card
The card sits at the top of your dashboard and shows how far you've got, for example "2 of 4 done", with a progress bar.
| Your plan | Checklist items |
|---|---|
| Free | Add your accounts, Create a budget, Set a goal |
| Starter, Pro, Premium | Connect a bank, Enable transaction analysis, Create a budget, Set a goal |
- Tap an unfinished item to jump to that screen.
- Enable transaction analysis has a switch right on the card, so you can turn it on without leaving the dashboard.
- Items tick themselves off as you complete them anywhere in the app.
- If the wizard is still due, a Resume setup button takes you back into it.
When every item is done, the card changes to Setup complete with "You're all set. Your dashboard is ready." It stays for about a day, then disappears for good.
How to Dismiss the Card
Tap the close button
Tap the close button in the card's top corner.
Confirm
Choose Dismiss in the Dismiss getting started? dialog, or Keep it to change your mind.
Dismissing removes the checklist for good. Everything on it can still be done from Settings, Budget and Goals.
Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the path I picked?
Yes. The path step itself says nothing there is permanent. You can add manual accounts or upgrade and connect a bank at any time from Settings > Accounts & Connections and Settings > Subscription.
I tapped Finish later by mistake. How do I get the wizard back?
The wizard doesn't reopen after Finish later, but every step it covers is on the Getting started card. Tap any unfinished item there to do it.
Why doesn't my checklist show transaction analysis?
Transaction analysis is a paid feature, so the Free checklist leaves it out. After you upgrade, the item appears with its own switch.
I dismissed the card. Can I bring it back?
No. Dismissing is permanent. You can still do each task directly: add accounts in Settings, choose a method in Budget, and create a goal from the Goals tab.
Related Articles
Create an Account
Sign up before the wizard starts.Explore the Dashboard
Where the Getting started card lives.Choosing a Budget Method
Help picking a method in the budget step.Create a Goal
What the goal step sets up.Need more help? Email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you.