Frequently Asked Questions & Troubleshooting
Independent, unofficial companion app for compatible Ember mugs.
Try these steps in order. A nearby mug can still be unavailable if another phone is connected or it is not advertising for setup.
For background features, check your Premium/trial access and monitoring settings. Android's system wake-up setup is not an iOS setting; see the morning Live Activities answer below for the iPhone behavior.
The official Ember app does not need to run alongside Mug Monitor for everyday use. You may still need it for initial authorization on some mugs or firmware updates. If connections conflict, close the official app before reconnecting with Mug Monitor.
Some mugs need initial authorization through the official Ember app before third-party controls work. Connect successfully in the official app, then close it and reconnect in Mug Monitor. If controls are still unavailable, contact app support with your mug model and the exact message; do not keep factory-resetting the mug.
Pairing and resetting are different. Release the button as soon as the pairing indicator appears.
A ceramic mug's factory reset uses a longer hold (about 15 seconds) and a red indicator. It clears the pairing state and requires re-pairing. Use Ember's reset instructions only when simpler troubleshooting has failed. Do not apply ceramic-mug reset timing to a Travel Mug.
A red light alone is not enough to diagnose a battery fault. If the mug will not power on, charge, or enter pairing mode, see Hardware Support below.
Live Activities are a Premium feature, also available during an active trial. Update Mug Monitor and iOS to versions supported by your device, then:
The iPhone's system permission overrides settings inside Mug Monitor. You normally do not need to reinstall the app.
If the setting is missing or this does not help, update the app and iOS first. Include screenshots of both the iPhone permission page and app Settings when contacting support. Missing activities can also be caused by a connection problem or an app issue, not just permissions.
Mug Monitor's Apple Watch experience uses the iPhone's Live Activity in the Smart Stack, rather than a separate watch app that you install and launch. This differs from the Android Wear OS companion app.
With watchOS 11 or later, first connect Mug Monitor on your iPhone and verify that its Live Activity is visible on the phone. Then turn the Digital Crown upward or swipe up from the watch face to view the Smart Stack. Keep the watch connected to the iPhone.
A Live Activity is temporary, not a permanently pinned watch-face complication. If it ends on the phone, reopen Mug Monitor to start a new monitoring session.
Watch Settings: If the widget still isn't showing, check your Apple Watch directly. Press the Digital Crown to open apps, go to Settings > Smart Stack > Live Activities, and verify that "Allow Live Activities" is toggled on.
On macOS Tahoe 26 or later, a supported Mac can display your iPhone's Live Activities in the menu bar after iPhone Mirroring is set up. Check System Settings > Notifications > Allow notifications from iPhone and enable Allow Live Activities from iPhone. An active mirroring window is not required for every update. Device, account, and regional requirements apply; see Apple's setup and troubleshooting guide.
The Wake Up Notification prompts you to open Mug Monitor so it can start fresh live updates for the day. Tap it, or open Mug Monitor yourself and check the connection. Allow notifications if you want to receive the reminder, and avoid force-quitting the app when you want background monitoring.
A Live Activity can be active for up to eight hours, then may remain on the Lock Screen for up to four additional hours without live updates. A visible old card does not prove the mug is still connected. These are Apple's Live Activity limits, not a promise that every activity will last that long.
Ready to Drink gives you an earlier cooling alert without changing the mug's heater target. It is off by default. In Mug Monitor Settings, enable the Ready to Drink/ready-above-target option and choose your offset. Premium or an active trial is required.
The default is 5°F above target, adjustable up to 20°F above target and capped at the app's mug maximum. For a 132°F target and +5°F offset, the ready range is above 132°F through 137°F.
The one-minute confirmation begins when the cooling drink enters that range at 137°F. It must stay in the qualifying range for the minute; leaving the range cancels the pending alert. This helps avoid brief readings while filling. The alert does not guarantee a drink is safe to sip.
You can optionally keep the normal Perfect notification enabled as well, for another alert when the drink reaches the target.
Check that Ready to Drink is enabled, Premium/trial access is active, background monitoring is enabled, and the app is receiving current temperatures. Allow Mug Monitor notifications in iPhone Settings and check Focus or notification-silencing settings.
A brief temperature reading in the range is not enough: the cooling drink must remain there for one minute. Repeat alerts are limited to avoid notifications every time the temperature drifts. At the maximum target, there is no higher advance-alert range.
The target stored on the mug is separate from a Ready to Drink alert threshold. If it changes while Mug Monitor is not connected, that alone does not establish an app fault; check the mug's own controls and any other phone or app that may be setting it.
In the latest iOS version, Settings includes an optional behavior to restore your preferred target when the mug wakes. Enable that option if you want Mug Monitor to reapply your preference instead of just using the target reported by the mug. It needs a working connection to change the mug; it cannot alter a disconnected mug.
If you do not see the option, update Mug Monitor. If the target still changes unexpectedly, send support the mug model, app version, desired target, reported target, and when the change happens. Do not assume a firmware fault without further testing.
Core foreground mug monitoring and controls remain free. Advanced background features, Live Activities/Apple Watch integration, LED pulsing, and Ready to Drink require Premium or an active 7-day trial.
When trial access ends without Premium, those features stop; the free core app remains available. Updating does not restart an expired trial. iOS Premium is a small annual subscription. See current pricing in the app.
Use the same Apple Account used for the purchase and the app's Restore Purchases option in its Premium/purchase screen. If access is still missing, update and reopen the app while online, then contact support with the app version and purchase details. Do not send passwords or payment-card information.
iOS Premium renews yearly unless canceled. Manage or cancel it in your Apple Account subscriptions.
For an eligible purchase, follow Apple's refund instructions. Apple determines eligibility; approval is not guaranteed.
Mug Monitor is an independent third-party app, not Ember's hardware support team. It cannot repair a battery, charging coaster, or a mug that cannot power on or communicate over Bluetooth.
For charging problems, unusual lights, replacement parts, or warranty questions, use official Ember support and your model's instructions. For app controls, alerts, or Live Activities, contact Mug Monitor below.
The app includes a built-in timer with two specialized options depending on your beverage:
If you've tried the steps above and are still having trouble, I'm here to help.
Please include your mug model, iPhone model, iOS version, Mug Monitor version, exact error, and whether another phone is connected. For watch issues, include the watch model and watchOS version. Tell us what you tried; remove personal information from screenshots.
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