Privacy Policy
Backnote is built to keep lecture recordings, transcripts, notes, photos, study material, and provider API keys under your control. This policy explains what the app stores locally, what can sync through Apple iCloud, and what limited information may leave your device.
Information Stored By The App
Backnote stores your recordings, transcripts, notes, courses, note photos, bookmarks, flashcards, assignments, vocabulary entries, generated study material, app settings, and diagnostics logs on your device. Provider API keys you enter are stored in the device Keychain and are not synced by Backnote.
iCloud Sync
If you turn on iCloud sync, Backnote uses Apple CloudKit to sync your library between your signed-in devices. Text records and metadata can sync through CloudKit. Audio copy-to-iCloud behavior is controlled by the app's iCloud audio setting. Apple processes iCloud data under Apple's terms and privacy policy.
Transcription And Study Providers
Backnote's built-in transcription is designed to run on device. Study generation uses the provider you choose in Settings. Apple's on-device model does not send transcript text to Backnote servers. If you configure an online or local-network model provider, Backnote sends the transcript or prompt text needed for that study request to the provider endpoint you selected. Those providers process data under their own terms.
Diagnostics And Feedback
Backnote uses Firebase Crashlytics for crash diagnostics when diagnostics are enabled. Crash reports can include device identifiers, app version, operating system and device metadata, stack traces, logs, and crash context. Backnote does not intentionally include recordings, transcripts, notes, provider API keys, or study material in crash diagnostics.
If you send feedback in the app, Backnote stores your submitted message, feedback type, optional contact email, app/platform metadata, and any diagnostics excerpt you choose to include in Firebase Firestore. Feedback is used to investigate bugs, answer support requests, and improve the app.
You can attach up to three screenshots to a feedback report. Screenshots are optional, are chosen by you from your own photo library or files, and are stored with that feedback report in Firebase Firestore. A screenshot shows whatever was on your screen when you took it, which can include transcript, note, or study material text; Backnote cannot detect what a screenshot contains, so please check a screenshot before attaching it. Backnote does not read your photo library and receives only the images you pick.
You can also attach one short clip of one of your own recordings to a feedback report. A clip is optional and is never included unless you choose it: you pick the recording, you pick the moment, and you can play the clip before you send it. It is at most 30 seconds long, is shortened and compressed for sending, and is stored with that feedback report in Firebase Firestore. This is the only circumstance in which Backnote sends any of your recorded audio off your device. A clip contains whatever is audible at that moment, which can include other people speaking, so please listen to it before you attach it. Backnote does not otherwise read your recordings and receives only the clip you pick.
Audio clips are kept only while they are useful for diagnosing the problem they were sent about, and in any case are removed within 90 days of the report being sent. The rest of the report is kept. We remove the audio and not the report because a clip can contain people other than the person who sent it — anyone who was speaking in the room — and they have no way to ask us for it.
Advertising
Backnote's free iOS and iPadOS app can show Google AdMob banner ads. AdMob may receive ad request information such as device and operating system metadata, IP-derived coarse location, advertising or device identifiers where available, and ad interaction signals. Backnote requests non-personalized ads by default and does not ask for App Tracking Transparency permission for personalized tracking.
Purchases
Backnote offers in-app purchases through Apple App Store In-App Purchase. Apple handles payment information and purchase processing. Backnote reads StoreKit entitlement status on device to unlock purchased features and does not receive your payment card details.
Support Email
If you email support, your email address and message contents are processed by the email providers involved so we can respond.
Children
Backnote is intended for students and general educational use. It is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
Your Choices
You can turn diagnostics off in Settings. You can choose whether to use iCloud sync, whether to copy audio to iCloud, and which study provider to use. You can delete app data from your device by deleting the app and, where applicable, deleting synced data from iCloud.
Contact
For privacy or support requests, email support@backnote.uk.
Revisions
This policy changes when what Backnote collects changes, and each change is listed here so you can see what was added and when.
September 12, 2026 — Added: a feedback report can carry one clip of up to 30 seconds from one of your own recordings, if you choose to attach it. This is the first time any of your recorded audio can leave your device. See “Diagnostics And Feedback” above.
September 2, 2026 — Added: a feedback report can carry up to three screenshots you attach. This was published at the time without the effective date being changed; it is recorded here so the history is complete.
August 11, 2026 — First published.