Backward Privacy Policy

Effective date: September 23, 2026

Backward (the App) is developed and maintained by Andrew Mastracchio (the Developer). This policy describes the information used to show your memories, play music, save daily notes, and provide related features, along with your controls over that information.

Privacy at a glance

Your notes, streak information, preferences, and app data are stored on your device.
iCloud sync is enabled by default when available. You can turn it off during onboarding or in Settings. It synchronizes notes and streak information through your private iCloud database.
Photo and music access require your permission. Photo locations may be sent to Apple to display maps and place names.
The App has no Developer-operated account system, content server, advertising, or third-party analytics SDKs. Your personal library and notes are not automatically sent to the Developer.
You choose whether and where to share memories, export backups, or send local diagnostic reports.
Apple may separately share app diagnostics and usage information with the Developer according to your settings and its App Store or TestFlight practices.

1. Information stored on your device

The App saves daily notes and their dates, creation and modification times, streak statistics, and preferences. Streak information includes opening dates, current and longest streaks, and the total number of days opened. Preferences include appearance, playback, reminders, and identifiers for photos you hide or albums you exclude from memories.

The App processes photo and music metadata to find items associated with a calendar date. It also creates caches and technical records needed to display content and troubleshoot problems.

Backward and its bundled widget share local storage through an Apple App Group. This storage can include a photo thumbnail, a note excerpt, memory counts, dates, and streak information. Widgets may display personal content wherever you place them, including your Home Screen. Removing a widget does not itself erase the App’s stored data.

If you enable reminders, the App schedules notifications on your device using your chosen times. These reminders use general prompts to view memories or write a note; their text does not include your journal entries.

2. iCloud synchronization

Sync with iCloud is enabled by default. When your Apple account and iCloud services are available, the App uses Apple’s CloudKit service to synchronize notes and streak records between your devices through your private database. The Developer does not receive access to that private content through the App.

You can disable synchronization during onboarding or through Settings → iCloud → Sync with iCloud. Notes remain on your device when you turn sync off. Turning it on again allows local changes to synchronize. If iCloud is unavailable, the App can store notes locally.

Turning sync off does not erase previously synchronized data. Deletions made while sync is active can propagate to other devices; deleting local information while sync is off does not necessarily remove its iCloud copy. You can manage iCloud app storage using Apple’s account and device controls.

Backward’s note and streak synchronization does not upload your photo or music library. Apple’s iCloud Photos, music services, and device backups operate separately and may store information according to your Apple settings.

3. Photo library, location, and Apple Music access

Photos and videos

With your permission, the App reads accessible photos, videos, Live Photos, album information, and associated metadata to show memories from previous years. Metadata can include capture dates, file names, dimensions, camera details, and locations embedded in your photos. Limited photo access restricts the App to the items you allow.

Apple’s Photos services may download an item from iCloud when needed for viewing or playback. Backward does not send your photo library to a Developer-operated server. Hiding a photo or excluding an album in Backward changes what the App displays; it does not delete the original from Photos.

When you open Photo Info for an item with location metadata, the App requests a place name from Apple and displays an Apple map. The stored coordinates and map requests are processed by Apple for those features. This uses the location recorded with the photo; the App does not request or monitor your device’s current location. Choosing Copy Coordinates places those coordinates on the system clipboard.

Music

With your permission, the App reads your music library and indexes release dates on your device to find albums and songs released on the selected calendar day. It uses information such as song and album names, artists, artwork, identifiers, track counts, and durations. Playback and links to Apple Music may use Apple’s services and your existing music account. Backward does not upload your library to the Developer or modify your playlists.

You can change or revoke photo and music permissions in your device’s settings. Features that depend on that access will then be limited or unavailable.

4. Diagnostic logs and support

Backward keeps local diagnostic logs containing technical events such as app versions, timestamps, launch identifiers, permission status, content counts, selected calendar dates, reminder times, synchronization activity, operation durations, and errors. Error descriptions may include contextual technical details. Logs are also written to Apple’s system logging facility.

Apple’s MetricKit framework can deliver performance and diagnostic reports to the App, including crash and hang information, call stacks, resource usage, and app or device technical information. Backward stores these reports in their original JSON form. They are separate from its event logs.

The App does not automatically upload these local logs or MetricKit files. You can export them through View Logs and choose a destination using the system share interface. Review exported information before sharing it.

Apple may independently provide the Developer with diagnostics and app analytics under your Apple sharing choices. TestFlight automatically provides crash and usage information to the Developer and can include feedback you submit; these practices are described in TestFlight & Privacy.

If you contact support, the Developer receives the contact details, message, attachments, and diagnostic information you provide. Information received from you or Apple is used to respond to support requests, investigate problems, improve reliability, and meet applicable legal obligations.

5. Analytics, tracking, advertising, and sharing

Backward does not include advertising or third-party tracking SDKs, track you across apps or websites, or sell or rent personal information. Local streak calculations and diagnostic records support app features and troubleshooting; they are not automatically transmitted to a Developer analytics service.

When you share a memory, the App prepares an image and can add a visible date or years-ago badge. You choose the recipient or destination. Content sent to another app or service is then subject to that recipient’s handling and privacy practices.

You can export notes as JSON or CSV. A full Backward backup contains notes, note timestamps, streak information, selected playback and content settings, and an export date. It does not contain your photo or music library. Importing merges notes into the current store, skips matching duplicates, and can restore streak information and supported settings. Imported notes may synchronize if iCloud sync is enabled.

Saving a file to iCloud Drive or another provider may upload it independently of Backward’s sync setting. The Developer receives exported files only if you choose to send them. Support information may be handled by service providers needed to receive and respond to your request, or disclosed when legally required; Apple-provided information remains subject to Apple’s restrictions.

6. Retention, deletion, and your choices

Notes and local app data: Notes remain until you delete them or remove the App and its data. Device backups, synchronized copies, and exported files may remain separately. Offloading the App can preserve its data.
iCloud: Turn off Sync with iCloud to stop future synchronization from that device. Manage existing cloud copies through Apple’s controls. Previously stored information may return when synchronization resumes.
Original photos and music: Manage or delete these in Photos or your music library. Removing Backward does not delete those originals.
Exports: Delete backups, note exports, shared images, and diagnostic exports from the locations where you saved them. Later changes in Backward do not update or erase those files or recipients’ copies.
Local diagnostic logs: The App retains up to 1,000 entries, replacing older entries as new ones arrive. You can delete individual or selected log sessions in View Logs.
MetricKit reports: The App retains up to 60 reports, removing older reports when that limit is exceeded. Deleting log sessions does not delete these separate reports. Removing the App and its data removes its local reports, subject to device backups.
Permissions and visibility: Manage Photos, music, notifications, and notification previews in device settings. Remove widgets to stop displaying their content on your screens.
Apple reporting: Apple’s analytics controls and TestFlight practices govern its separate reporting. Deleting Backward’s local logs does not erase information already provided by Apple or shared by you.
Support information: The Developer retains information received for support or diagnostics only as long as reasonably needed for the purposes above and applicable recordkeeping obligations. Contact the Developer to request access, correction, or deletion of information the Developer holds. Private device and iCloud content must be managed through your own controls.

7. Children’s privacy

Backward does not create user accounts or advertising profiles. The Developer does not knowingly collect children’s personal information. If you believe a child has sent personal information to the Developer through support or feedback, contact the Developer using the details below.

8. Security

Backward relies on Apple’s app sandbox, permissions, App Group storage, and iCloud security features to protect app data. No method of storage or transmission provides an absolute security guarantee.

The App does not add password protection or encryption to exported JSON, CSV, or diagnostic files. Store exports privately and review their contents before sharing. A destination provider’s security settings also affect the protection of exported information.

9. Apple services

The App uses Apple frameworks and services for Photos, music playback, maps and place names, iCloud, widgets, notifications, diagnostics, and system file sharing. Apple’s handling of information is governed by its own terms and privacy practices. External websites opened from the App are also governed by their own policies.

For more information, see Apple’s Privacy Policy, Apple Maps & Privacy, and TestFlight & Privacy.

10. Changes to this policy

This policy may change as Backward’s features or privacy practices evolve. Updated versions will show a revised effective date, and material changes will be described in the policy.

11. Contact

For privacy questions or requests about information provided to the Developer, visit Backward Support or email support@andrewmastracchio.com.