Settings¶
Complete reference for all Mycel settings and configuration options.
Accessing Settings¶
- Open Mycel
- Tap the Settings tab (gear icon)
- Browse settings sections
Profile¶
Your public identity settings.
Display Name¶
The name others see when you message them.
- Tap to edit
- Changes propagate to nearby contacts
- Keep it recognizable to your friends
Full Name (Optional)¶
An additional name field.
- Optional - can leave blank
- Shown in detailed profile views
- Max 48 characters
Your Identity¶
View your cryptographic identity:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| QR Code | Scannable code containing your identity |
| Device UID | Unique identifier (short and full) |
| Public Key | Your Ed25519 public key |
| Fingerprint | 12-character SHA-256 hash |
| Nostr ID | Your Nostr public key (if enabled) |
Actions¶
- Copy UID - Copy to clipboard
- Copy Key - Copy public key
- Share - Share via other apps
- Scan - Scan another person's QR code
Appearance¶
Customize how the app looks.
Theme Mode¶
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Light | Light background, dark text |
| Dark | Dark background, light text |
| System | Follow device setting (default) |
Interface Density¶
Controls spacing and sizing:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Compact | Smaller elements, more on screen |
| Standard | Balanced layout (default) |
| Large | Bigger elements, easier to tap |
Dynamic Color¶
- On - Uses Android 12+ Material You colors from your wallpaper
- Off - Uses default Mycel colors
Android 12+ only
Dynamic color requires Android 12 or newer. On older versions, this option has no effect.
Notifications¶
Control how Mycel alerts you.
Popup Notifications¶
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable popups | Show floating notification previews |
| Auto-dismiss | Popups disappear automatically |
| Repeat alerts | Re-alert for missed notifications |
Sound & Vibration¶
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Sound | Play notification sound |
| Vibration | Vibrate on notification |
Mesh Group Notifications¶
Separate toggle for Mesh Broadcast alerts:
- On - Get notified of Mesh Group messages
- Off - Messages arrive silently
Default Mute Duration¶
When you mute a conversation, how long:
| Option | Duration |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | Short break |
| 8 hours | Workday/sleep |
| 1 day | Full day |
| Forever | Until manually unmuted |
Account¶
Quick access to account-related screens.
Contacts¶
Opens the Contacts screen for managing your contact list.
Diagnostics & Admin¶
Advanced features for troubleshooting and monitoring.
Network Details¶
Opens the Network Screen showing:
- Device identity
- H3 geo-tag
- Neighbor count
- Connection status
Bundle Queue¶
Opens the Queue Screen showing:
- Pending messages
- Delivery status
- Failed/expired messages
System Logs¶
Opens the Logs Screen for:
- Real-time event logs
- Filter by severity
- Debugging issues
Network Screen¶
Detailed view of your mesh network status.
Device Identity¶
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Device ID | Your unique mesh identifier |
| H3 Geo-Tag | Geographic cell for routing |
| Neighbor Count | Currently connected peers |
Location¶
- Permission status - Whether location is granted
- Refresh - Update geo-tag manually
Capabilities¶
Shows detected device features:
- Nearby Connections support
- Nostr transport
- BLE support
Queue Screen¶
Monitor your message queue.
Outbox Tab¶
Messages you've sent, grouped by status:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| NEW | Just created |
| FWD | Being forwarded |
| RECEIVED | Peer acknowledged |
| DELIVERED | Fully delivered |
| ERROR | Failed |
| EXPIRED | TTL exceeded |
| CANCELLED | User cancelled |
Inbox Tab¶
Messages you've received.
Actions¶
- Tap a message to view details
- Delete - Remove from queue
- Retry - Re-attempt delivery
Logs Screen¶
Real-time system logs for troubleshooting.
Log Levels¶
Filter by severity:
| Level | Color | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Debug | Gray | Detailed technical info |
| Info | Blue | Normal operations |
| Warning | Yellow | Potential issues |
| Error | Red | Problems |
Log Entry Format¶
Each entry shows:
- Timestamp
- Level
- Tag (component)
- Message
Using Logs¶
Logs help diagnose:
- Connection issues
- Message delivery problems
- App crashes
- Unexpected behavior
Mesh Lab¶
The Mesh Lab tab (separate from Settings) provides detailed network diagnostics.
Nearby Tab¶
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi mesh status:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Neighbors | List of connected peers |
| Sessions | Active connection sessions |
| Discovery | Recent device discoveries |
| Errors | Connection problems |
Queue Tab¶
Same as Diagnostics > Bundle Queue.
Nostr Tab¶
Internet relay status:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Connected relays | Active Nostr connections |
| Relay health | Connection status per relay |
| Sync progress | Message synchronization |
Logs Tab¶
Same as Diagnostics > System Logs.
Battery & Background¶
Critical for mesh operation.
Why Background Matters¶
Mycel needs to run in the background to:
- Discover nearby devices
- Relay messages for others
- Receive incoming messages
- Maintain mesh connectivity
Battery Optimization Warning¶
If battery optimization is enabled for Mycel:
- The app may be killed in background
- Mesh connectivity suffers
- Message delivery is delayed
Fixing Battery Issues¶
- Check status - Look for warning in Settings
- Open battery settings - Tap the warning
- Exclude Mycel - Set to "Don't optimize" or "Unrestricted"
OEM-Specific Issues¶
Some manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, etc.) have aggressive battery management:
| Severity | Manufacturers |
|---|---|
| High | Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, Xiaomi |
| Medium | Huawei, Honor |
| Low | Google Pixel, stock Android |
The app detects your device and provides specific instructions.
More details: Battery & Background
Recommended Settings¶
For Best Connectivity¶
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Battery optimization | Disabled for Mycel |
| Location permission | Always allow |
| Bluetooth | On |
| Wi-Fi | On |
| Background activity | Unrestricted |
For Battery Saving¶
If battery is a concern:
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Mesh Group notifications | Off |
| Popup notifications | Off |
| Interface density | Compact |
Note: Some battery saving measures reduce mesh effectiveness.
For Privacy¶
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Display name | Use a nickname |
| Full name | Leave blank |
Data Storage¶
All settings are stored locally on your device.
Settings Files¶
| File | Contents |
|---|---|
settings_prefs.json |
Theme, density, colors |
identity_prefs.json |
Name, profile |
notification_prefs.json |
Notification settings |
chat_prefs.json |
Pins, archives |
No Cloud Sync¶
- Settings don't sync to any server
- Reinstalling = fresh start
- Each device has independent settings
Troubleshooting Settings¶
"Settings don't save"¶
- Ensure the app has storage permission
- Try restarting the app
- Check available storage space
"Theme doesn't change"¶
- On some devices, requires app restart
- Check if system theme override is active
"Notifications don't work"¶
- Check Mycel notification permission in Android settings
- Check notification channel settings
- Verify Mycel isn't in "Do Not Disturb" block list
- Check battery optimization isn't killing the app
"Can't access Mesh Lab"¶
- Mesh Lab is a separate tab, not in Settings
- Look for it in the bottom navigation bar
- May be labeled differently on some versions
Next: Messaging | Contacts | Battery & Background