Privacy Policy
Thank you for using PhotoSway (相册咔咔). Photos can contain private moments, family and friends, and shooting locations. This policy explains how information is processed for photo organization and how you can manage permissions and data.
Sorting and similarity analysis happen on your device. We do not upload your photos, videos or library content to developer servers. Some Apple system services may use the internet, as explained below. We use the relevant authorization flow when permission or separate consent is required.
On this page
App, operator and scope
- App: PhotoSway (相册咔咔), by Mona Studio.
- Developer and operator: Beijing Time Quadrant Technology Co., Ltd. (北京时光象限科技有限公司), referred to as “we”.
- Scope: the PhotoSway iPhone and iPad app and the data practices of this official website.
- Purpose: individual sorting, photo-wall selection, similarity comparison, date and place browsing, album management and sorting history. No developer account is required.
Photos and on-device data
Within the photo access you grant, we use public Apple system capabilities, including PhotoKit, to process information required by the features. The current app has no third-party advertising, analytics, behavioral tracking or cloud AI recognition SDKs.
Media and related information
To display, filter and organize your library, the app reads authorized photos, Live Photos, videos and thumbnails, and uses media identifiers, edit versions, dates, media types, dimensions, durations, favorite status, album membership and available file sizes. Opening details can read filenames, camera settings and existing photo coordinates and altitude.
Images and their contents, faces and shooting locations may contain sensitive personal information. We use them for the library features you choose, not advertising profiles, and do not upload them to the developer or third-party AI services. Choose the access scope appropriate for you.
Similarity and size caches
Similarity analysis uses locally available previews and candidate images with on-device algorithms and Apple Vision. Analysis results and resource versions are stored for later comparisons. Analysis itself does not download iCloud images, so unavailable or unprocessed items may be absent from results.
File sizes use public metadata and local resource information where available. Bulk size reading does not download iCloud originals. Viewing content or explicitly confirming a single-original request may load content through Apple.
Sorting records and preferences
- Keep, skip and pending-deletion decisions, relevant media identifiers, queues and browsing positions are stored locally to resume sorting and avoid repeated work.
- Daily batches, completion dates, actual counts, cleanup batches and known file sizes are stored for progress, history and daily free allowances. Cleanup history does not retain copies of deleted media.
- Manual album order, recently used albums, automatic keep rules, gestures, appearance, icons, language and reminder preferences are stored on the device.
- Undo history retains recent eligible operations only during the current app process. The resulting state after a successful undo is still saved.
Photo permission and library changes
Photo permission enables browsing and organizing your system library. You can grant full, limited or no access. Features that need library access cannot work without it. Limited access processes only authorized items; album features requiring full access explain that requirement and do not expand access automatically.
- Manage access in Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos → PhotoSway, or use the app’s photo-access controls to manage selected photos. System paths may vary.
- Adding an item to the deletion list records a local decision. It does not immediately delete the system photo. The app submits deletion only after you review and confirm; the actual result depends on the system.
- Adding to albums or Favorites, creating albums and deleting albums changes the real system library. Deleting an album removes the collection, not its member photos or videos.
- The current app does not request device location, camera, microphone, contacts, system calendar, health or motion permissions. Reading existing photo coordinates is different from accessing the device’s current location.
iCloud, maps and Apple services
iCloud Photos
If you use iCloud Photos, the system may load content when displaying thumbnails, preloading nearby static images, opening a larger view or playing videos or Live Photos. Apple provides these connections; they do not pass through developer servers. Requests for a single cloud original’s size or camera metadata follow the app’s confirmation flow.
PhotoSway does not provide an independent cloud photo backup or use CloudKit to sync sorting progress. System photo sync, device backups and storage regions depend on your Apple settings and service rules.
With iCloud Photos enabled, deletions and other system library changes may sync to devices using the same Apple account.
Photo locations and address lookup
Place browsing groups existing photo coordinates locally without requesting device location. Displaying Apple maps may send the visible map area and necessary service request information to Apple.
Opening details for a photo with location information may send that photo’s coordinates to Apple’s geocoding service to look up an address. This may require a network connection. We do not look up the entire library in bulk; returned addresses are reused temporarily within the current details view and are not written to disk or location logs. You can choose not to open these maps or details.
Local reminders
Daily sorting reminders are off by default. If you enable them, the app requests notification permission and schedules reminders locally using the system. There is no developer-operated remote push service. Refusing or disabling notifications does not affect sorting. Manage reminders in the app or system notification settings.
Diagnostics, support and this website
Local diagnostics and voluntary sharing
The app stores recent scan and startup diagnostics locally to help troubleshoot access or performance issues. Exported reports contain timings, counts and processing paths, not photos, media identifiers, filenames or shooting locations. Reports are not automatically uploaded to us. They are sent only when you explicitly share them with a selected recipient through the system share flow.
Feedback sent through TestFlight or Apple’s diagnostic sharing settings is also subject to Apple’s settings and policies.
Support
If you email monaphotosway@gmail.com, we receive your email address, description and voluntary attachments to reply, investigate or handle privacy requests. Do not send account passwords or unnecessary private photos.
Website visits
This website sets no advertising or analytics cookies and loads no third-party analytics scripts. Language is determined by the page URL; appearance preferences are stored in URL parameters. Fonts, brand images and page assets are served by this website.
We count requests to the App Store download link by day and page using existing website access logs. These aggregate counts may include bots or repeat requests and are not visitor or installation counts. We do not create visitor identifiers or combine these counts with app usage.
The hosting service may process IP addresses, request times, browser information and basic access logs to deliver pages and maintain security. Email services and external links, including Apple pages, are governed by their own privacy rules.
Membership and purchases
Membership purchases, restoration and code redemption are handled through Apple’s App Store and StoreKit. Apple provides account, payment and transaction services under its privacy policy and service rules. We do not read or store your Apple account password, card number or payment password.
On your device, the app reads and verifies necessary transaction information provided by Apple, including product identifiers, purchase dates, current entitlements and revocation status, to activate, restore and update membership. Membership status and relevant purchase dates are cached locally for startup display; valid purchase records supplied by Apple determine your entitlements.
We do not operate a payment server or use a third-party membership SDK. The app does not upload transactions, sorting records or photos to the developer. Free allowances are calculated from locally saved cleanup records and daily task history, without uploading usage counts. If you contact support, share only what is needed to investigate the issue.
Storage, security and retention
Sorting state, preferences and analysis caches are stored in the local app container, protected by iOS/iPadOS sandbox and device security. Caches may be updated as resources change or are cleared; local history persists as you use the app. We do not claim that all system backups or cloud services are end-to-end encrypted.
Revoking photo access does not automatically erase existing local records. Deleting the app and its data through system controls removes local app data; offloading the app while retaining documents and data is different. Backup retention depends on your device settings.
Deleting the app does not delete your system library, iCloud Photos or device backups. Manage them through the appropriate Apple controls. We cannot remotely read or erase your device library or sorting history.
Support information is retained only as needed to resolve issues, comply with legal duties or handle disputes. You may ask us to delete information we actually hold.
Sharing, disclosure and regions
We do not sell or rent personal information or proactively publish your photos or sorting records. Apple services, email support and website hosting process necessary information under their respective policies.
Local processing happens on your device. Apple services, system backups, hosting and email may store or process data in other countries depending on their arrangements. We do not separately upload your library to overseas developer servers.
If disclosure of information we actually hold is legally required, or a merger or acquisition changes the responsible entity, we follow applicable notice, protection and authorization requirements.
Your rights and choices
- Access and adjustment: view your authorized library, sorting state and history, and change gestures, reminders and preferences.
- Permissions: change photo access or disable notifications in system settings. Withdrawal does not affect prior lawful processing or undo completed library changes.
- Deletion and recovery: use the relevant app and system controls. After actual photo deletion, use system recovery options such as Recently Deleted while available. App undo is not restoration of deleted files.
- Privacy requests: contact us to request access, correction, copies or deletion of information we actually hold through support or other interactions. We verify and respond under applicable law and explain if a request cannot be fulfilled.
- No developer account to close: PhotoSway has no online account system. Apple manages Apple accounts and iCloud data.
Children and minors
Minors should read this policy and use the app with guardian guidance, and ensure they have authority before granting access to or deleting family photos. Children under 14 should obtain guardian consent.
If we learn that children’s personal information was received without required guardian consent, we take appropriate legal steps, including deletion where necessary. Guardians can contact us at the email below.
Updates and contact
When features or data practices change, we update this policy and its date. We provide legally required notice of material changes and seek renewed consent before processing where required.
For privacy questions or rights requests, email monaphotosway@gmail.com and include “PhotoSway privacy”.
A little note for us?
A question, an idea for the app, or something about your privacy. We would love to hear from you.
monaphotosway@gmail.com