Privacy Policy

Who is responsible for the app

Joys & Woes is developed and published by Vladislav Morgun (“the developer”). Questions about this policy can be sent to [email protected].

Short version

The current version of Joys & Woes:

• does not require an account;
• does not include advertising, tracking or third-party analytics SDKs;
• does not send your journal entries or attachments to a server operated by the developer;
• stores journal data locally on your iPhone;
• when iCloud is available, synchronizes journal data through your private CloudKit database tied to your Apple Account;
• lets you export data only when you start an export and choose a destination.

On this basis, the developer does not collect data from the current version of the app as Apple defines collection for App Privacy disclosures.

Information stored on your device

Depending on how you use the app, local data can include:

• joy and woe text, optional lessons, tags and dates;
• photos, videos and audio recordings that you attach;
• reminder, appearance, privacy-lock and other app settings;
• generated memory history and other information required for the app to work.

This information is stored locally first. When iCloud is available, the app also synchronizes journal entries, attachments and supported settings through the private CloudKit database belonging to your Apple Account. Devices signed in to the same Apple Account can receive that synchronized data. The developer does not operate this service and cannot read your private CloudKit database.

Device permissions and Apple services

Joys & Woes asks for a permission only when a related feature needs it:

• Photos and camera: to choose or capture an attachment for an entry. The app receives only the media you select or create for it.
• Microphone: for on-device dictation and for audio attachments you explicitly record. Dictation audio is not retained by the app; an audio attachment is saved locally because you chose to attach it.
• Speech recognition: to turn speech into text on the device. The app requires on-device recognition for the supported system versions and does not send dictation to a developer server.
• Notifications: to schedule reminders locally on your device. Reminder notifications do not include the text of your journal entries.
• Face ID or device passcode: to unlock the app when App Lock is enabled. Authentication is handled by iOS; the app does not receive or store your biometric data.

Apple processes private CloudKit synchronization, device backups, downloads and other platform activity under Apple’s own terms and privacy policy. The developer does not control those Apple services or receive access to your private CloudKit records.

Exports and sharing

You can create a JSON export of journal data or a ZIP archive of media. An export is created only after you request it and is sent to a location or app you select through the iOS share interface. After that, the copy is governed by the privacy and security practices of the chosen destination. The app does not automatically upload exports.

Retention and deletion

Journal data remains locally and, when synchronized, in your private iCloud database until it is deleted. Deleting an entry or burning a woe permanently removes it and its attachments from the app; when iCloud is available, that deletion is synchronized to your other devices. Exported copies remain wherever you saved them and must be deleted there separately.

Removing the app deletes its local data from that device, but synchronized data may remain in your private iCloud database and can return after reinstallation. To remove synchronized journal content, delete it in the app while iCloud is available and allow synchronization to finish; Apple may also provide controls for app data in iCloud settings. Because the developer does not receive your journal data and the app has no developer account, the developer cannot retrieve or delete a copy on your behalf.

Your choices

You can:

• deny or revoke camera, microphone, speech, photo and notification permissions in iOS Settings;
• turn App Lock and reminders on or off inside the app;
• delete individual entries or burn woes inside the app;
• export your journal before deleting the app.

Some features will not work when their required permission is disabled.

Children’s privacy

Joys & Woes is a general-audience personal journal and is not specifically directed to children. The developer does not knowingly collect personal data through the current version of the app.

Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated if the app’s features or data practices change. The updated version and effective date will be published on this page. A future version that introduces analytics, a developer-operated account or server, or another materially different data flow will require an updated policy and App Store privacy disclosure before release.

Contact

For privacy questions, contact Vladislav Morgun at [email protected].