The Wishlist Department
How it works
One link for the whole family’s wishlists. No spoilers, no doubled-up gifts.
Everyone adds what they’re wishing for. Family browse the lists and call dibs on what they’re buying, so nobody buys the same thing twice. It works for birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, baby showers, anniversaries or any date your family adds. It all runs in the browser on any phone, tablet or computer, so there’s nothing to download and no account to make.
Which link did you get?
The family link
Browsing and calling dibs
- Sign in
The first time you open the family link on a phone or computer, you’ll see a sign-in screen and nothing else, so a forwarded link never shows anyone’s list. Tap your name, then make up a code (at least 4 letters or numbers) and type it again to save it. That device remembers you from then on, and opens whichever link you tapped. On another phone or computer, tap your name and type the same code. Not on the list? Tap My name isn’t here and type your name, and the organizer sees it in the workshop. Opening your own My list link signs you in too.
- Tap a name
The family link opens on everyone’s lists. The two strips at the top count down to the next two occasions. Under them, Who still needs something shows how many of each person’s wishes are still up for grabs, and gives a heads-up when their birthday or anniversary is a week or less away. Tap Shop to open their list.
- Call dibs on what you’re buying
Tap a wish to see everything about it, then tap Call dibs. If you’ve told this device who you are, it already knows your name. If not, type it once. Everyone else in the family sees who called it, so nobody doubles up.
- Changed your mind?
Tap the wish again and tap Undo. It works on any device you’ve told who you are, or on the device you called dibs from.
- Nothing gets spoiled
The person whose list it is never sees whether anyone called dibs, split it or chipped in. If they open their own list from the family link, it takes them to their “My list” page, which looks exactly the same either way.
- Shop by budget
Wishes can have a rough price range. Tap Filter at the top of a list to see only what fits, like Under $25. On a list with wishes for more than one occasion, the chips next to it show one occasion at a time.
- Go in on a big gift together
Tap a wish, then Split it with someone, and tick who you’d like to ask. They get a “chip in” card at the top of the family page. Anyone can also tap Chip in on a group gift. Kids under 16 are never asked.
- Plan it in the group chat
Everyone chipping in gets a private chat for that gift, with “typing…” and new messages as they arrive. A card on the family page shows the newest message, so you don’t have to hunt for it. The person the gift is for never sees any of it. Tap I bought it once it’s sorted.
- Sign the guestbook
At the bottom of each list, tap Sign the guestbook, pick an emoji and leave a note, so they know you stopped by. You can take your own signature off any time.
- After the big day
Anything someone called dibs on moves to the Gifted shelf once the occasion it was for has passed. A birthday wish moves after that person’s own birthday, not anyone else’s. Wishes nobody bought stay on the list for next time.
💡 The line under each person’s name shows their next occasion, so you know what’s coming. Not on the list yet? Ask whoever set up the department to add you.
↑ Which link did you get?The family link
My Dibs: your gift list
- Tap My Dibs
It’s the My dibs tab along the bottom of the screen, next to Family and Dates. It shows everything you’ve called dibs on or are chipping in on, from every list, grouped by person.
- Buy it
Each wish has its occasion, price range and a Buy it ↗ link to the store, so you don’t have to go back through every list.
- Tick it off
Tap Mark bought once it’s sorted. The bar at the top shows how many you’ve bought and how many are left.
- Group gifts too
Gifts you’re chipping in on show who else is in, with a Group chat button for that gift. Tap I bought it in the chat once it’s sorted.
- On every device
Only you can see it. Once you’ve told a device who you are, your dibs follow you there, so you can call dibs on your phone and shop on your computer.
A “My list” link
Adding your wishes
- Tap ＋ Add a wish
Type what you’re wishing for and add a link from any store if you have one. Pick which occasion it’s for. It starts on your birthday, so only change it for something like Christmas. Then pick how much you want it, from Would be nice to Most wanted. Tap ＋ Notes, how many, price and what kind of thing for the extras, like size, color, “the exact one” or a rough price that helps people shop by budget.
- Getting around
Use the tabs along the bottom to get to the family page, Dates and My dibs. My list always brings you back here. If this device is set up as someone else, you’ll see Is this your list? Tap Yes to switch so you get your own invites and dibs. Parents adding to a little one’s list can tap No, just adding to it.
- Edit or remove any time
Tap any of your wishes to edit it or take it off your list. Once you remove something, family stop seeing it straight away.
- Decorate your list
Tap 🎨 at the top and pick a theme, like Beach day or Dino stomp. Everyone who opens your list sees it. Tap ✨ at the top of the sheet to go back to your usual look.
- No peeking
This page never shows whether anyone called dibs, split a gift or chipped in, so your surprises stay surprises.
- Your guestbook
When family sign your guestbook, their names and notes show up on this page. Tap Remove on any you’d rather not keep.
- Pick a code
If you don’t have one yet, a Pick a code card shows at the top. It keeps your name yours on the family link, and it’s how you get your list back on a new device.
- Keep it to yourself
This link is the key to your list, so don’t post it in the group chat. Send the family link there instead.
- Save it to your home screen
- iPhone: in Safari, tap the share button, then Add to Home Screen.
- Android: in Chrome, tap ⋮, then Add to Home screen.
🎅 Doing Secret Santa? Once names are drawn, your pick shows up on this page, and only you can see it.
↑ Which link did you get?Decorations
The 🎨 button
The department dresses up for whatever’s coming next, like snow for Christmas or balloons for a birthday. Tap 🎨 at the top of any page to pick something else. There are occasion themes plus just-for-fun ones: Under the sea, Outer space, Garden party, Dino stomp, Sweet shop, Beach day, Autumn leaves, Rainy day and Disco.
On your “My list” page
It decorates your own list, and everyone who opens your list sees your pick.
On the organizer’s device
It sets the look for the whole family. Anyone who picked their own look keeps it, and so does any list with its own decorations.
Anywhere else
It changes the look on your device only, on the family page and on your own list (unless you’ve decorated your list). Tap ✨ at the top of the sheet to go back.
A guest link
Bringing a gift
Guest links are for people outside the family, so they can go on a baby shower invite, a party invite or a message to friends. A guest link shows just one person’s list.
- Say who’s visiting
Type your name to see the list. The list stays hidden until you do. Your name never shows to other guests.
- Pick something from the list
Tap a wish to see its notes, like size or color, and tap See it at the shop to open the store link.
- Call dibs on it
Tap Call dibs on that wish. Other guests see it as unavailable, and the family sees your name, so nobody brings the same thing.
- Changed your mind?
Tap the wish again and tap Undo, from the same device you called dibs on.
- It stays a surprise
The person the list is for never sees who called dibs, and other guests only see that a gift is taken, not who’s bringing it.
