Need to use the Dictionary or Thesaurus in our app, but don't have consistent access to wifi or a strong cell/mobile network data connection? Our Offline Dictionary is here to help!
While most of our app features do require a network connection to function, we do have an Offline Dictionary available (as an in-app purchase in our Free app, or it comes automatically with a your purchase of our Pro/Premium app). Our Offline Dictionary file contains our *house* Dictionary and Thesaurus entries to allow you to look up words and synonyms even when you are off the grid.
- Note that when offline only the Definitions and Thesaurus tabs are available. The Learners Dictionary and all other tabs/offerings (Encyclopedia, Grammar, Idioms, Rhymes, or Science Dictionaries) are not supported when offline or using the offline dictionary. To use those features, please ensure you have a network connection and have the offline dictionary switched off.
Free App: Buy the Offline Dictionary via an In-App Purchase/Upgrade
OR
Pro/Premium App:Offline Included In Your Original Purchase of The App
Pro/Premium App: The Offline Dictionary came included in your purchase of the app. You can move down do the download section!
Free App: To use the Offline Dictionary offering, you'll need buy* either the stand-alone "Offline Dictionary" upgrade, OR the "Power Pack" Bundle (which gives one access to all the IAPs at one price). You can find both these listed on the "Upgrades" tab in the app, or under the "Upgrades" icon under the Main menu.
* purchases take place solely through your App or Play Store account.
1. Download the Offline Dictionary File
Before you get started downloading the Offline Dictionary, we highly recommend you:
- Establish a wi-fi connection to ensure it is able to download successfully.
- It is also a large file (800MB file saved onto your device), so please ensure you have sufficient space on your device.
- You'll need to also ensure that you've given the app permission to access your device's Storage, so the app can save the Offline Dictionary file to your device. Without Storage permission, the app cant save the file and you won't be able to use the Offline Dictionary.
Then, to download:
- Open the app and tap on the “Menu” (three horizontal lines, located in the top, left-hand corner).
- Tap on the 'Settings' tab
- If you've not already purchased, you'll see the “Offline Dictionary." Tap the "Buy Now" button
- If applicable; if you've already purchased it as an IAP, or if you are in the Premium Android app you won't need to purchase- move on to step 5.
- You’ll be prompted to complete your purchase, through the Google Play Store.
- You may also be prompted to login to your Play Store account first (depending on your Play Store purchase settings).
- Once you’ve successfully completed the purchase, via the Google Play Store. You should see a prompt to start your download of the offline dictionary file.
- Alternately, you may need to navigate to your app's "Settings" and toggle the 'Download Offline Dictionary.' You'll see the dictionary begin the download.
- Again, we highly recommend you ensure you have a strong wi-fi connection before you begin the download.
- And please wait with the app open until the download has fully completed. Closing your app mid-download may cause the download to fail.
- Once the download is complete, to use the Dictionary and Thesaurus while offline, toggle the "Always Use Offline Dictionary" to the ON position. This will let you use the offline dictionary when not connected to a network.
- You can also toggle 'Always Use Offline Dictionary' if you prefer to use this source, rather than the online version. ( But note that you will only see the 'Definitions' and 'Thesaurus' tabs when in offline mode- other tabs are not available when "always use offline dictionary" is on.)
2. To Use the Offline Dictionary:
Once the file is successfully downloaded, you'll need to navigate to your Settings menu. There, slide the 'Always Use Offline Dictionary' toggle to the ON position. This will give you search results as found in the offline dictionary file.
- If the "Always Use Offline Dictionary" toggle is not switched on when your device doesn't have a network connection, you will not be able to arrive at dictionary or thesaurus results pages.
- You will need to come back here and turn the "Always Use Offline Dictionary" toggle back to the OFF position, when you next want to use the app and get online search results.
3. How Can I Tell When I Am Using The Offline Dictionary?
When the Offline Dictionary is being used, on a given word entry you'll see only the 'Definitions' and 'Thesaurus' Tabs. We also display an "Offline Mode" banner. Here's an example of the entry for "Light" when offline, note the tabs in the white banner and the "Offline Mode" note:
The Learners tab, and any additional upgrades you purchased are not available when you are in offline mode or using the offline dictionary. To access these, switch your offline dictionary off (via Menu> Settings> Toggle OFF 'Always Use Offline Dictionary') and ensure you have a strong cell/network or wifi connection. Then try the search again.
When the Offline Dictionary is not being used, depending on what content is available for that term, you'll see more tabs including 'Definitions', 'Thesaurus', 'Learners', 'Upgrades', and any additional upgrades/in-app purchases you've made (such as 'Grammar', 'Idioms', etc.). Here's an example— note the additional tabs now display in the white banner/ribbon (on words where such content is available):
Notes to Keep in Mind
- If you are in our Free App and need to restore a previous purchase of the offline dictionary, we have instructions here: How do I restore my In-App-Purchases, in the Android app?
- The offline dictionary, though quite robust, is a smaller version than what is available with an internet or cell network connection.
- The 'Learners' dictionary is not available offline. Additionally, the pronunciation feature will not function without a network connection. All other purchased Upgrades (ex: example sentences, grammar, idioms, encyclopedia, science dictionary, and rhymes), are not available in the Offline Dictionary. These require a cell/mobile network or wifi connection and for your Offline Dictionary to be switched off.
- We take our user's privacy very seriously, and only collect permissions we require to offer our services. Should you wish to download the Offline Dictionary, our App will require permission to access your device files. This is to ensure it can save the Offline Dictionary to your device; without this permission, the app cannot save the file to your device and you cannot use the Offline Dictionary.