LocalWhisper Privacy Notice

This notice covers information handled by the LocalWhisper app for macOS. The general SideQuest Privacy Policy covers the SideQuest website, purchase records, transactional email, and support.

LocalWhisper stores its transcript library, edits, revisions, preferences, workflow records, and managed media on your Mac. Files you import or export also remain in locations you select. SideQuest does not operate a LocalWhisper transcript-sync or hosted-library service.

Audio, video, transcript text, generated text, questions, selected text, clipboard context, file paths, and app-specific dictation settings can be sensitive. LocalWhisper uses them only for the workflow you request and the local history or library options you enable.

The engine you select determines where processing happens. Built-in Whisper runs through Core ML on your Mac. Apple Speech can use the modern on-device path for supported locales. Legacy Apple recognition follows Apple's Speech Recognition permission and service behavior, which can differ. Services such as whisper.cpp, Parakeet Helper, Ollama, or LM Studio use the host you configure.

LocalWhisper also supports optional user-configured OpenAI-compatible endpoints. An endpoint can be local, on your network, or remote. When you choose one, LocalWhisper sends the audio, transcript, prompt, selected context, or question needed to complete that specific request. The endpoint operator's privacy and retention practices apply. SideQuest does not provide a hosted inference endpoint or silently select one for you.

A network request can occur when you choose to download a model or a language asset. Built-in Whisper models are obtained through WhisperKit from its curated model source. macOS can obtain required Apple speech assets from Apple. A managed whisper.cpp model uses the source shown by LocalWhisper before installation.

Those sources receive ordinary request information, such as an IP address and request metadata. Downloaded models and assets are stored on your Mac until you remove them through the relevant app or system controls.

A signed direct-release build can contact a SideQuest-hosted software-update feed when you choose a manual update check or enable automatic checks. The request includes ordinary network metadata, such as an IP address and request headers. The app compares its current version with the signed release metadata it receives.

Update checks do not include your recordings, transcripts, license key, or app-library contents. Development builds omit the feed and update public key, so their updater remains disabled.

Credentials entered in the app are stored in the macOS Keychain. Do not include a credential in a support request.

Provider URLs, selected models, and provider settings are stored on your Mac. They are not used as analytics or advertising data.

Dictation can request Microphone, Speech Recognition, and Accessibility access. System-audio meeting capture can request Screen and System Audio Recording access. Import, export, and folder workflows use files or folders you select. macOS controls these permissions, and you can review or revoke them in System Settings.

LocalWhisper uses generic notification text so transcript names and imported filenames do not appear on the lock screen. Its diagnostics are designed to report configuration and readiness without including transcript bodies, private file paths, endpoint URLs, credentials, or provider payloads.

The app does not include advertising or SideQuest product-usage telemetry. A provider you configure can keep its own request logs under its terms.

You control transcript deletion and exports from the app. LocalWhisper does not provide a cloud backup that SideQuest can restore for you. Keep separate backups of important work. Files already copied into your own backups or exported locations remain under your control.

Stripe hosts checkout and processes payment details under its own terms and privacy policy. SideQuest receives the purchase email, transaction identifiers, product, payment status, amount, currency, and applicable tax details needed to fulfill and support the order. SideQuest does not receive your full card number.

LocalWhisper fulfillment stores the purchase email, order and payment identifiers, signed license, included-update date, delivery state, and any refund or dispute state in its product-specific order store. Resend receives the purchase email, signed license, and transactional message needed to deliver or recover the license. These purchase systems do not receive your recordings or transcript library.

License activation is checked on your Mac. LocalWhisper does not send the activated key, a device identifier, or an activation record to SideQuest.

Use the SideQuest support page for a privacy question or request. Do not send a transcript, recording, API key, private endpoint, or license key unless SideQuest specifically asks for the minimum information needed to investigate.