After importing transactions from an OFX, QFX, or CSV file, or recording transactions using Siri, the transactions do not go directly to the Transactions page.
Instead, they first appear on the , where they must be reviewed and approved.
In the mobile app, transactions cannot be imported. However, you can review and approve transactions imported in the web app, as well as transactions recorded using Siri. To do this, tap the menu icon in the top-left corner, then tap .
When you import transactions from your bank for the first time, or record transactions using Siri, Pixel Budget does not yet know:
- Which vendor or payer names you want to use
- Which categories should be assigned
This is why transactions must be reviewed.
After you:
- Set the vendor/payer
- Assign the correct category
Pixel Budget remembers your choices.
The next time you import transactions or record new ones using Siri, vendor or payer names and categories will be filled in automatically—similar to how autocomplete works when adding a transaction manually.
The more transactions you review and approve, the more Pixel Budget learns and the more accurate the automatic suggestions become.
At the top of the page, your account names are displayed as tabs. In the mobile app, only the currently selected account name is displayed.
- In the , click a tab to switch between accounts. In the , tap the current account name, then select another account from the list.
- A red badge next to each account name shows how many transactions are waiting for review.
- A red badge next to the menu item (or the menu item in the mobile app) shows the total number of transactions waiting for approval across all accounts.
- Transactions waiting for approval are grouped by date, whether they were imported or recorded using Siri.
- Five days are shown per page.
- Use the paginator at the bottom to navigate between pages.
Each pending transaction appears as a transaction card with a light green background.
Each transaction card contains the transaction details.
In the , each transaction card contains . In the , each transaction card contains to better fit the smaller screen.
Row 1: Date | Amount | Transaction Type dropdown | Description or Memo
Row 2: Vendor or Payer | From → To Fields (accounts and categories) | Notes
Row 1: Date | Transaction Type dropdown | Amount
Row 2: Description or Memo
Row 3: Vendor or Payer
Row 4: From → To Fields (accounts and categories)
Row 5: Notes
The transaction date. It cannot be changed.
The transaction amount. It cannot be changed.
The type is automatically set to:
- (usually a negative amount)
- (usually a positive amount)
In bank terminology, a “debit” typically means money leaving your account, and a “credit” means money entering your account.
You can change the type to if the transaction represents money moved between two of your own accounts.
For imported transactions, the field comes directly from the bank export. For transactions recorded using Siri, it contains the vendor or payer name you spoke. This field cannot be changed.
Pixel Budget uses this field to recognize transaction patterns and suggest vendors, payers, and categories.
This field is used only during the review process and is not saved with the transaction after it is approved.
Bank descriptions are often abbreviated or contain additional codes. For example:
POS 0321 WALMART SUPERCENTER #1234ACH WEB PAYPAL INST XFERVENMO PAYMENT 2394823
You can enter a cleaner vendor or payer name (see the Vendor / Payer field below), such as:
Pixel Budget will remember your choice and use it for future imports.
If no vendor/payer is set yet, the field displays:
- “Add Vendor” (for expenses)
- “Add Payer” (for income)
Click the field to enter a name.
After typing two characters, autocomplete appears (if the vendor was previously used).Selecting a suggestion automatically fills in:
- Vendor/Payer name
- Category
This works the same way as when adding a transaction manually.
If you enter a new vendor or payer name and no suggestions are shown, click to create it.
These fields behave differently depending on the transaction type.
- = selected account (cannot be changed)
- = expense category
If Expense Category is not recognized, it will display:“Select Expense category”
Click it to choose the correct:
You can change it anytime.
- = income category
- = selected account (cannot be changed)
If Income Category is not recognized, it will display:“Select Income category”
Click it to choose the correct:
You can change it anytime.
If you change the type to , both From and To must be accounts.
One side will always be the account you are importing into (and cannot be changed).
If the amount is negative:
- = importing account (fixed)
- Select the account
If the amount is positive:
- = importing account (fixed)
- Select the account
If you are importing into your Checking account and you see a $500 transfer to Savings:
- From = Checking
- To = Savings
If you are paying your credit card bill from your checking account, set the transaction type to , not Expense.
This prevents double counting.
The expense already occurred when you used the credit card. The payment is simply moving money between your accounts.
You can optionally add personal notes:
This works the same way as the Notes field when adding a transaction manually.
On the right side of each transaction card, you will find the button.
If you see:
- “Action Required”
- Orange triangle warning icons
It means required fields are missing (vendor, category, or account).
Once all required fields are set and no warnings remain, the Approve button becomes active.
When you click :
- The transaction is added to the Transactions page.
- It disappears from the page.
- Pixel Budget scans the remaining pending transactions.
- Matching transactions are automatically filled with the same vendor or payer and category when their Description / Memo field matches.
This makes reviewing and approving large numbers of transactions significantly faster.
If Pixel Budget automatically fills fields, you will see under the Approve button.
Clicking it opens a panel showing all possible suggestions based on previous transactions.
If multiple suggestions exist:
- Pixel Budget selects the most likely one.
- You can choose another suggestion from the list.
- Click the trash icon.
- Confirm by clicking .
- Scroll to the top of the page.
- Click .
- Confirm by clicking .
If you choose to import transactions instead of adding them manually, it is recommended to import regularly — at least once per week.
If you use credit cards frequently, importing once or twice per week is recommended to keep reviewing simple and manageable.
The longer the time between imports, the more difficult it becomes to review and categorize transactions accurately.
Once approved, transactions:
- Appear on the Transactions page
- Affect your balances
- Affect your budgeting
The page displays only transactions that are waiting for review and approval.