Simple Mode and Onboarding

DeepGrooves can be calm and simple, or it can show the deeper collector tools when you need them. Simple Mode and onboarding are how the app meets you where you are.

Simple Mode is not a different collection. It does not delete data, hide records from storage, or make permanent decisions about how serious a collector you are. It only changes how much detail DeepGrooves puts in front of you during everyday use.

First-run welcome screen with Simple Mode choice

When To Use Simple Mode

Turn on Simple Mode when you want DeepGrooves to feel more like a clean home library:

You mostly want to know what records you own.
You want quick search, wishlist, and add flows without extra collector panels.
You are setting up a new account and want to learn the basics first.
You are helping someone else use the app and want fewer choices on screen.

Keep Simple Mode off, or temporarily reveal advanced details, when you are working with exact pressings, matrix/runout text, value review, insurance readiness, upgrade targets, or detailed collection cleanup.

What Simple Mode Changes

Simple Mode hides advanced surfaces where they are not needed for everyday use. Depending on the page and current feature state, this can include:

Area	What Usually Changes
Album detail	Advanced collector panels are quieter or collapsed.
Album edit	Deeper pressing, value, storage, and collector metadata may be less prominent.
Collection tools	Everyday actions stay visible while specialist cleanup controls are reduced.
Value and insurance	Advanced valuation and insurance context may be hidden until revealed.
Wishlist and Store Mode	Core buying decisions remain available; deeper target and alert details may be simplified.

The important part: Simple Mode should never remove your records, delete notes, clear values, disconnect Discogs, or turn off alerts by itself.

Settings screen showing Simple Mode toggle

Turning Simple Mode On Or Off

Open Settings.
Find the Simple Mode or display preference area.
Turn Simple Mode on or off.
Return to Collection or album detail to see the change.

If the page you are on does not immediately change, reload the route or move to another page and back. Some panels only read display preferences when the page opens.

Temporarily Revealing Advanced Details

Some pages may offer a way to reveal advanced information for the current session or current record. Use this when you usually prefer Simple Mode but need one deeper detail right now.

Good examples:

You want to check a matrix/runout before buying.
You need to enter a manual value for insurance.
You want to confirm storage location or condition grading.
You are reviewing why Health says a record is incomplete.

Revealing advanced details is temporary. It applies to the album or panel you are looking at, then clears when you move to another record, close the detail panel, or change Simple Mode in Settings.

Album detail page with temporary advanced details reveal control

First-Run Onboarding

New accounts may see a first-run welcome flow. It is there to help you choose a comfortable starting point before the collection fills up.

Onboarding may introduce:

choosing Simple Mode,
adding a first record,
connecting Discogs,
importing a collection or wantlist,
scanning a barcode,
adding something to Wishlist,
logging a spin,
sharing a small slice of the collection.

You do not have to finish everything at once. If you skip a step, you can still do the work later from the main app.

First-run onboarding step explaining the first collection actions

The Onboarding Checklist

The checklist is a progress guide, not a test. It helps you learn the major workflows by doing a small version of each one.

Checklist Item	What It Teaches
Add or import	How records enter DeepGrooves.
Scan	How to use barcode lookup when supported by your browser and device.
Wishlist	How to track records you want.
Spin	How listening history starts.
Share	How to create a public view without exposing private controls.

Use the Open action beside a checklist item when you want DeepGrooves to take you to the matching workflow. For example, Scan opens the barcode scanner, Wishlist opens the Wishlist view, Share opens the share dialog, and Import opens the Discogs import path.

If a checklist item does not update immediately, try refreshing after the action completes. If it still does not update, the underlying data is usually still safe; the checklist event may simply not have been recorded.

Onboarding checklist with several completed actions

Restarting Onboarding

If Settings offers a restart option, you can use it to see the welcome flow or checklist again.

Restarting onboarding should not:

delete records,
remove wishlist items,
reset folders or vault locations,
erase play history,
change subscription or Discogs connection data.

It should only reset the guidance experience.

Settings control for restarting onboarding or tour

If You Do Not See Onboarding

You may not see the first-run flow if:

the account was already used before,
onboarding was completed or dismissed,
the workspace was seeded for testing,
the feature is disabled for the current environment,
you are using an older route or cached session.

Open Settings and look for an onboarding, tour, or restart option. If you are testing, use a fresh empty account when you need to confirm first-run behavior.

Troubleshooting

I turned on Simple Mode, but I still see advanced fields.
Some advanced information remains visible when it is necessary for the page to make sense. For example, an album edit screen may still show condition or value fields because those are core record data.

I revealed advanced details and now I want them hidden again.
Move to another record, close the detail panel, or use the same reveal control to hide them again. The reveal should not permanently change your Simple Mode setting.

The checklist did not mark an item complete.
Make sure the action fully saved. For example, adding a wishlist item or logging a spin has to finish successfully before the checklist can count it.

Restarting onboarding sounds scary.
It should only restart the tour/checklist experience. It should not reset your collection.

I am not sure which mode to choose.
Start with Simple Mode. You can always reveal more detail later.