Effective date: August 26, 2026
Voice Notes is designed as a local-first application. Recordings, transcripts, generated titles, descriptions, waveform data, folders, and settings are stored on the user's device by default.
- Audio recording occurs only after the user grants microphone permission and starts a recording.
- Transcription uses an on-device Whisper model or Apple Speech, depending on the user's selected setting and platform availability.
- The optional local title model is downloaded to and runs on the user's device.
- Voice Notes does not include advertising SDKs or third-party behavioral tracking.
The source includes an optional CloudKit backup path. It is disabled unless explicitly configured and enabled. When enabled, data is stored in the user's private iCloud database and is subject to Apple's iCloud terms and privacy policy.
Dependencies or models downloaded from upstream providers may involve direct network requests to those providers. Their respective privacy policies and license terms apply.
Voice Notes shares audio or transcript content only when the user chooses a system sharing action. Users can delete recordings in the app and control the Recently Deleted retention period.
The source code and issue tracker are available in this repository. Do not include private recordings, transcripts, or other sensitive information in public issues.
This policy may be updated as the application and its optional services evolve.