# PhotoKifu

> PhotoKifu is an Android app that turns a photo of a real Go (baduk, weiqi, igo) board into an SGF file. Recognition runs on the phone. Nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline. iOS is planned.

Category: Go / baduk / weiqi board recognition app (photo → SGF position), Android. Price: Free.

Key facts:

- What it does: you point the camera at a Go board and the app outlines it. After the photo, a neural network on the phone finds the black and white stones. You check the result, tap any point to fix it, choose who plays next and save the position to a library. Positions can be shared as SGF (FF[4], setup stones AB/AW, SZ, PL) or opened in other Go apps with Android's Share button.
- Scope: one position per photo (where the stones are). It does not record the moves of a whole game.
- Board sizes: 9×9, 13×13, 19×19.
- Platform: Android phones. iOS planned, not yet available.
- Price: Free. No account or sign-up.
- Privacy: photos never leave the phone. The app does not request the Android Internet permission. No analytics, no ads, no tracking.
- Works with any program that reads SGF, for example OGS (online-go.com), Sabaki, KaTrain, Lizzie, AI Sensei, CGoban, GoGui and q5Go. PhotoKifu is not affiliated with these projects.
- Limitations: works best with the whole board in the photo, a moderate angle and little glare. Strong reflections, steep angles or stones far off their points can cause errors. The user fixes them on the review screen.
- Languages: English, French, Japanese (日本語), Korean (한국어), Simplified Chinese (简体中文), Traditional Chinese (繁體中文).
- History: PhotoKifu first came out as an iPhone app in 2013 and was rewritten in 2026, starting with Android.
- Compared with other apps (Kifu Snap, Baduk Cap, Kifubara, Kifu Cam, VideoKifu): see https://photokifu.com/alternatives/. In short, PhotoKifu reads single positions with no internet permission and no account. Kifu Snap and VideoKifu can also rebuild moves from video, and several of these apps are on iOS today.

## How it works

1. Frame the board: Point your camera at the board. The app finds the grid and outlines it, even at an angle.
2. Capture: Take the photo. PhotoKifu straightens the board and finds the black and white stones. This happens on your phone.
3. Review and fix: Compare the result with the photo. Tap a point to switch between empty, black and white. Choose who plays next.
4. Save and share: The position is saved in your library. Share it as SGF or open it in another Go app.

## Pages

- [Home](https://photokifu.com/): overview, how it works, SGF example, FAQ
- [What is SGF?](https://photokifu.com/sgf/): the SGF format, setup properties, how to open a file in OGS / Sabaki / KaTrain
- [Go board scanner apps compared](https://photokifu.com/alternatives/): comparison, checked October 2026
- [Help and FAQ](https://photokifu.com/support/): recognition tips, exporting, all questions
- [About](https://photokifu.com/about/): project history and how it works
- [Privacy policy](https://photokifu.com/privacy/): on-device processing, no internet permission
- [Press kit](https://photokifu.com/press/): fact sheet, descriptions, assets
- Google Play listing: coming soon (not yet published).

## Other languages

- [Français](https://photokifu.com/fr/)
- [日本語](https://photokifu.com/ja/)
- [한국어](https://photokifu.com/ko/)
- [简体中文](https://photokifu.com/zh-hans/)
- [繁體中文](https://photokifu.com/zh-hant/)

## Optional

- [Full text for LLMs](https://photokifu.com/llms-full.txt): every page's content in one file, with summaries in all six languages
- [Sitemap](https://photokifu.com/sitemap-index.xml)
- Contact: hello@photokifu.com