# Get started with PhantomCal

> Understand the calendar experience and the difference between standalone PhantomCal and PhantomVault's opening mode.

Document ID: phantom-help:phantomcal/get-started
Product: PhantomCal
Platforms: macOS and iOS
Updated: 2026-11-02
Availability: Standalone PhantomCal is in preparation; these instructions describe the shared calendar experience in current preview builds.
Tested app version: Not recorded
Tested build: Not recorded
Tested OS version: Not recorded

Source: https://llms.phantomsecure.app/phantomcal/get-started.md
Human guide: https://phantomsecure.app/help/phantomcal/get-started/
Agent guide: https://llms.phantomsecure.app/phantomcal/get-started/
Documentation index: https://phantomsecure.app/llms.txt
Full handbook: https://phantomsecure.app/llms-full.txt

## Availability of these instructions

Standalone PhantomCal is in preparation. This page documents the calendar experience shared with current PhantomVault preview builds; it is not an announcement of a released standalone Mac or iOS app. Standalone-specific installation, purchase and account instructions will be added when those flows are available.

## Two different uses of the calendar

**Standalone PhantomCal** is the calendar-only product. It does not have vaults, a private Vault interface, or a secret date-field route to PhantomVault.

**PhantomVault's PhantomCal opening mode** is an optional calendar screen in PhantomVault. It adds a separate opening secret for returning to the private interface. Instructions for configuring that mode belong in [the PhantomVault guide](https://phantomsecure.app/help/phantomvault/phantomcal-opening.md).

## Start using the calendar

1. Open the calendar and choose **Allow Calendar Access** if you want to view or edit your calendar events.
2. Select which available calendars to display.
3. Select a day in the month to see its agenda.
4. Move between months or choose **Today**.
5. Use **Go to Date** to jump to a specific date.

You can browse dates without granting calendar access. To see events, your calendar account must be configured on the device and permission must be allowed.

## Read the right guide

[Calendar accounts and permissions](https://phantomsecure.app/help/shared/calendar-accounts.md) explains where events come from. [Dates, agendas and events](https://phantomsecure.app/help/shared/calendar-events.md) covers navigation, creation and editing.

The current iPhone and iPad calendar experience also has [Scan Schedule](https://phantomsecure.app/help/phantomcal/scan-schedule-ios.md), which turns selected images or entered text into events you review before adding. That guide describes the existing iOS preview feature; it does not promise a Mac scanning feature or a released standalone iOS app.

## Calendar-only help

The shared standalone calendar interface has neutral **Calendar Help**. It explains calendar controls without teaching a Vault return route. PhantomVault instead keeps its private replay controls under **Settings → Help & Tutorials**.