Live Transcriber is local-first. Recordings and transcripts stay in the app's private storage on your device by default. We do not operate a backend that receives your recordings.

Data stored on your device

Recordings, transcripts, titles, summaries, tags, settings, and related metadata are stored in the app's private container on your device by default. This content remains there until you delete it or remove the app.

Microphone and speech recognition

Microphone access is used to record audio. Speech Recognition access is used to convert speech into text. The default live transcription workflow uses Apple's system Speech frameworks. Live Transcriber does not send live microphone audio to a developer-operated server.

Optional iCloud sync

If you enable iCloud sync, recordings and their index may be stored in the app-private iCloud container and CloudKit private database associated with your Apple Account. Apple provides and governs these services. You can disable iCloud sync in the app's Settings.

Optional local model downloads

You may choose to download supported transcription or summarization model files from third-party model hosting services. Downloaded models are stored on your device and can be deleted in Settings. When you select local processing, transcription and summarization run on your device.

Regional feature availability

Live Transcriber checks the current App Store storefront through StoreKit to determine whether region-restricted features may be offered. In the China Mainland storefront, third-party cloud AI and certain third-party model options are unavailable. If the storefront cannot be determined, those features remain unavailable. The storefront value is used only for feature availability and is not used for advertising, tracking, or profiling.

Optional Gemini Cloud outside China Mainland

Gemini Cloud is unavailable in the China Mainland storefront and disabled by default elsewhere. Outside China Mainland, if you enable it, enter your own Gemini API key, and explicitly confirm a Gemini Cloud action, the content needed for that action is sent directly from your device to Google's Gemini API. Depending on the action, this may include a selected saved recording, its transcript draft, a transcript, summary, question, or recent recording-chat context. Automatic mode remains local-only. Your API key is stored in the system Keychain. Google processes requests under its own terms and privacy policy. Do not enable this option for content you do not want to send to Google.

Location and Reminders

Location is used to attach your current location to a recording when the automatic recording-location setting is enabled or when you manually choose Add Location before saving. The automatic setting is on by default and can be turned off in Settings or for an individual recording before it is saved. Reminders access is used only when you choose to export an action item to Apple Reminders. We do not send this information to a developer-operated server.

Analytics, advertising, and tracking

Live Transcriber does not include third-party advertising or analytics SDKs and does not track you across apps or websites.

Retention and deletion

You can delete individual recordings and downloaded models in the app. Removing the app deletes its local private data. Content synchronized through iCloud is managed through your Apple Account and Apple's services. Data sent to an optional third-party service is subject to that service's retention policy.

Children's privacy

Live Transcriber is a general-purpose productivity tool and is not directed specifically to children. We do not knowingly collect children's personal information through a developer-operated service.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the app's features or data practices change. The effective date above identifies the latest version.

Contact

For privacy questions or support, open an issue in the Live Transcriber GitHub repository or contact @livetranscriber on Telegram.