ZBubble — User Guide

Everything you need to use bubbles, maps, AR, chats, challenges, and the store.

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Overview

ZBubble is a location-based social app where you create bubbles at real places, discover them on the map or in AR, and connect through private and group chats. Earn points and credits, collect surprise items, track stats and leaderboards, and stay safe with privacy tools.

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Getting Started

  • Install from Google Play. iOS App Store release is coming soon.
  • Allow location and camera to discover bubbles, use AR, and build your Memory Map.
  • Allow notifications for bubble activity, chats, and reward alerts.
  • Sign in with email, choose a nickname, add an avatar, and finish your profile.
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Account & Email Login

  • Sign in or create an account with your email and password.
  • You can also use a passwordless email link if enabled.
  • After sign-up, complete your profile basics (name, avatar, bio).
  • If login fails, check your inbox or reset your password.
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Bubbles: Create, Discover, Pop

  • Create: Add a title, description, mood, and media; choose type, range, and duration.
  • Discover: Use the map, filters, hashtags, and Memory Map, or switch to AR to find nearby bubbles.
  • Open/Pop: When in range, open bubbles to view details and interact with the creator.
  • Location integrity: Bubble locations are fixed; opened bubbles appear in your history.
  • Bubble Types: Public, Private, SOS, Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Surprise. Premium types use credits and longer ranges.
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Surprise Bubbles

  • What are Surprise Bubbles? Special bubbles that contain collectible items. When someone opens one, they receive the item you placed inside.
  • Creating Surprise Bubbles: Buy items from the Item Shop with points, then select an item when creating a surprise bubble. Items are one-time use.
  • Opening Surprise Bubbles: Surprise bubbles are free to open. Opening adds the item to your collection.
  • AR Support: You can create surprise bubbles directly from AR mode with item selection.
  • Important: You can’t collect items from your own surprise bubbles—only from bubbles created by others.
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Item Shop

  • Buying Items: Visit the Item Shop to purchase collectibles with points. Items come in Common, Rare, and Unique rarities.
  • Using Items: Items are consumed when used to create a surprise bubble.
  • Item Inventory: Your owned items appear during creation, with counts for each item.
  • Access: Open the Item Shop from the home screen, collection, or when you don’t have items during creation.
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Collection System

  • What is a Collection? A display of items you’ve received from other users’ surprise bubbles.
  • Collecting Items: Open surprise bubbles from others to add items to your collection.
  • Display Only: Collection items can’t be reused to create new bubbles.
  • Viewing Your Collection: Open the collection screen to see everything you’ve earned.
  • Note: You can’t collect items from your own surprise bubbles.
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Notifications

  • Bubble activity: Alerts for nearby bubbles, opens, and private updates.
  • Chats: Get notified about private and group messages; manage preferences in Settings.
  • Control: Delete single notifications or clear all from the toolbar.
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Profile

  • Update your name, avatar, and bio from the profile screen.
  • View badges, opened bubbles, and collection highlights.
  • Profile updates sync across chats, bubbles, and leaderboards.
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Friends, Followers & Following

  • Follow or unfollow users and view follower/following lists.
  • Find friends from contacts; avatars show when available.
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Chats & Group Challenges

  • Private & group chats: Message friends or create group chats from the chat tab.
  • Manage groups: Admins add/remove members, assign roles, and set group icons.
  • Group challenges: Set goals like creating, discovering, or opening bubbles.
  • Progress tracking: See member progress and top contributors.
  • Controls: Mute, leave, or cancel challenges when needed.
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Achievements & Rewards

  • Achievements & daily challenges: Earn points for completing tasks.
  • Badges: Show milestones and activity on your profile.
  • Leaderboards: Compete locally and globally to see your rank.
  • Claim rewards: Track progress and claim rewards once.
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Analytics & Stats

  • Likes received: This counter only increases over time.
  • Messages sent: Track real chat activity across the app.
  • Bubble activity: See created, discovered, opened totals and leaderboard stats.
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Store & Purchases

  • Buy credits: Choose a package and confirm the purchase.
  • Cancel: If a purchase hangs, tap Cancel in-app to stop loading.
  • Buy again: You can purchase the same package multiple times.
  • If a purchase seems stuck, use Cancel and try again.
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Credits & Points

  • Credits: Premium currency for Silver, Golden, and Diamond bubbles plus special effects.
  • Points: Earn by creating/opening bubbles, streaks, and challenges; spend on the Item Shop.
  • Earning: Creation, opening, discoveries, streaks, and challenges can award points.
  • Convert: Exchange credits to points from the collection screen.
  • Balances sync from the cloud to stay accurate across devices.
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Privacy & Safety

  • Read our Privacy Policy to learn how we handle data.
  • Review Safety Guidelines, report or block users, and control who can contact you.
  • Manage permissions and notification preferences from Settings.
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Troubleshooting

  • Login issues? Reset your password or use the email link option.
  • No bubbles nearby? Check location permissions, filters, and GPS.
  • AR not working? Enable camera permissions and try again.
  • Purchases or notifications stuck? Use Cancel and check system permissions.

FAQ

  • Can I move a bubble after creating it? No—locations are fixed.
  • Do I need OTP to sign in? No, use email and password (or email link if enabled).
  • Can I buy the same package more than once? Yes.
  • Does the app work without location? Limited—discovery needs location.
  • Can I reuse items from my collection? No, they’re display-only.
  • Can I collect items from my own surprise bubbles? No, only from others.
  • How do I get more points? Create/open bubbles, complete challenges, or convert credits.
  • Are surprise bubbles free to open? Yes, they’re free when in range.
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Need Help?

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