Getting set up on the mobile app
From a fresh install to a working setup: sign in or create an account, join from a teammate’s invite, pick the right company, and grant the permissions the app asks for.1. Download and open the app
Install the XBuild app and open it. The app is free — what you can do inside depends on your company’s plan and token balance.2. Sign in — or create your account in the app
If you already use XBuild on the web, sign in with the same email and password. A failed sign-in tells you why: incorrect email or password, too many attempts, or a connection problem. New to XBuild? Tap Create one under the sign-in button:- Create your account — company name, email, password.
- Tell us about your company — company address, primary trade (pick from the list, or Other and type your own), and optionally website and business phone. The trade helps XBuild build estimates that fit your work.
- Finish your profile — your name and phone number.
3. Joining from an invite
If a teammate invited you, don’t create a new account — that starts a separate company. Use the link in your invitation email to set your password, then sign in to the app with it. Signing up with an invited email stops you and points you back to the invitation. Have an account but no password — for example, you’ve only signed in through email links on the web? Tap Set up a password for your account on the sign-in screen, enter your email, and XBuild sends a link to set one.4. Pick your company and Location
Projects, photos, and estimates file under the selected company, and stay with the company they were created under. If you belong to more than one company or Location, tap the company selector at the bottom of the drawer to switch; the drawer always shows which is active. “No contractor selected” when starting a job means none is picked — open the drawer and choose one.5. Allow notifications
After sign-in, your phone asks for permission to send notifications — how @mentions, comment replies, and publish updates reach you when the app is closed; tapping one jumps to the right project or photo. Tune types per channel in Settings → Notifications. See Notifications and collaboration.6. Allow camera, microphone, and location
The first time you open the camera, the phone asks for camera and microphone access — camera for photos and video, microphone for voice notes and video sound. Decline by mistake and the camera shows Camera access needed with an Open Settings button. Location access is optional: it records where each photo was taken, powers the optional date and location stamp, and fills Nearby projects on Home. Photos capture fine without it. See Capturing photos and video.7. Run your first project
From Home, tap Start a new project or the + button. The New project sheet asks how to start:
You land on the project page. Tap Capture to photograph the site (Capturing photos and video), AI Estimator to describe the job (Estimating and publishing), or Add checklist under Files (Running a checklist). Create an estimate on Home uses the same sheet and opens the chat as soon as the project exists.
8. Troubleshooting common issues
- “An account with this email already exists.” Sign in instead. Forgotten the password? Use Set up a password for your account on the sign-in screen.
- “This email has a pending invite.” Use the link in your invitation email to finish setup, then sign in.
- I created an account but can’t see my team’s projects. You created a new company. Ask your admin to invite your email to the right one, and contact XBuild Support to remove the accidental company.
- Create project is greyed out. The address field has text that isn’t a picked suggestion. Choose one, tap Use what I typed, or clear the field — the address is optional.
- I’m not getting push notifications. Check notifications are allowed for XBuild in your phone’s settings and the type is enabled under Settings → Notifications.