Plaud Hardware
Aila pairs directly with Plaud recorders (Plaud Note, NotePin) over Bluetooth. Recordings sync from the device into Aila and process automatically — no Plaud app and no Plaud subscription required.
The Capture tab's How to use Aila section includes two screenshot walkthroughs for this: How to connect Plaud hardware and Switching from the Plaud app.
Pairing
- On the Capture tab, tap Pair.
- Aila scans for nearby Plaud devices. Don't see yours? Press the button on top of the Plaud — its LED flashes white, and it appears in the list.
- Tap your device. Pairing takes a few seconds.
- Ready. The device card shows the serial number, battery level, and storage.
A Plaud only talks to one app at a time. Once paired with Aila, it stays bound to Aila until you unpair it.
Auto-reconnect
You only pair once. The next time you open the app with your Plaud nearby, Aila reconnects to it automatically — no taps. If the device has been idle a while, one press of its button wakes it up.
Syncing recordings
- Sync (the purple button) pulls every recording off the device: each file downloads, uploads to Aila, and starts processing. A progress bar shows per-file progress and how many remain.
- Files lists what's on the device so you can sync recordings individually.
- Auto-sync: if the Plaud is connected when you stop a recording on it, Aila notices and syncs it immediately — you'll see "Recording finished. Syncing it to Aila..." with zero taps.
Where recordings go, and device storage
Synced recordings become calls on the Calls tab, like any other capture. After Aila's server confirms it has the file, the recording is deleted from the Plaud automatically — so the device never fills up from normal use. A row marked Synced is a receipt; tap it to jump to the call it became.
To delete a recording from the device without syncing it (a test clip, a pocket recording), touch and hold the row and choose Delete from device. Aila asks for confirmation, because an unsynced recording is gone for good.
If an upload fails (bad connection, offline), the recording stays safely on the device and the panel offers Retry sync.
While the device is recording
A Plaud can't transfer files while it's recording. If you try to sync mid-recording, Aila shows a "Can't sync right now" note; stop the recording on the device and sync again — or just let auto-sync handle it when you stop.
Battery, storage, and unpair
- The device card on Capture shows live battery (with a charging indicator) and a storage bar.
- To unpair, go to Settings → Plaud device → Unpair. Unpairing never deletes recordings on the device. After unpairing, the Plaud can be paired with the Plaud app or with Aila again.
Switching from the Plaud app
If your Plaud was ever set up with the Plaud app, it must be released there before Aila can pair with it. The release only works while the device is connected to the Plaud app — removing it while disconnected detaches it from your Plaud account, but the device itself stays claimed and invisible to Aila. This is the most common pairing problem.
The correct sequence, in the Plaud app:
- With the Plaud connected, tap the device icon in the top left, then tap your Plaud.
- On the device page, scroll all the way down and tap Disconnect or remove device.
- Tap Erase & remove, then Remove device. (Sync anything you want to keep first — recordings not yet synced to the Plaud app are erased.)
- You'll see Device removed, and the Plaud's LED blinks white. It's free.
- Fully close the Plaud app (swipe it away), then pair in Aila: Capture → Pair.
After the switch you don't need the Plaud app or a Plaud subscription anymore.
If it still won't pair
The field-proven failsafe: reconnect the Plaud to the Plaud app one more time, go back to Disconnect or remove device, and this time tap Reset settings first (a factory reset clears anything still claiming the device), then Erase & remove, then Remove device. Then pair in Aila.
Troubleshooting
- Device doesn't appear when scanning — press the button on top of the Plaud (LED flashes white), make sure it's charged and nearby, and fully close the Plaud app if it's installed. A Plaud connected to another phone or app doesn't broadcast at all.
- A nearby device shows "Paired to another app" — that Plaud is claimed by another app (usually the Plaud app). Follow Switching from the Plaud app.
- Pairing starts but never finishes — same cause. Aila times out after 10 seconds and explains the fix.
- Sync stalls — Aila aborts a stalled transfer after 60 seconds with a retry option. Move the Plaud closer to your phone and retry.