Privacy Policy

01Scope and developer

This policy covers the ClipHamster macOS app and this privacy policy website. “We” refers to the app developer. For privacy questions or data requests, contact the email address below.

02Data handled by the app

While running with recording active, the app reads the system clipboard to provide history, search, previews, grouping and paste features. It saves copied text, rich text, links, images, file paths and metadata on your Mac, together with source app names, identifiers and icons, copy times, groups and pinned status. Clipboard content can include personal or sensitive information; pause recording or exclude apps as needed.

Settings, shortcuts, preferences, free trial usage records and purchase unlock status support app operation and licensing. Imported custom sounds and web preview caches are stored locally. The app has no advertising, behavioral analytics or cross-app tracking SDKs. It does not send clipboard content to a developer-operated content collection server or use it to train AI models.

03Optional iCloud sync

iCloud sync is off by default. When enabled, Apple CloudKit syncs history content, source information, groups, images, recognized text and eligible file attachments to the private database associated with your Apple Account, and downloads them to other Macs with sync enabled. Each entry supports up to 20 files totaling no more than 20 MB; unsupported or unreadable attachments may sync only their records and metadata.

This uses your iCloud storage. Apple provides the cloud service under its policies. Turning sync off stops future syncing but does not automatically delete data already in iCloud. No separate ClipHamster account is required.

04Text recognition, link previews and networking

Manual image text extraction uses Apple Vision on your device; images do not need to be sent to an external AI service. Saved recognition results sync with their original entry if iCloud sync is enabled.

When displaying web cards, the app may use Apple Link Presentation to request the copied URL and related preview resources. The destination website and resource providers may receive the URL, including its parameters, your IP address and ordinary request information, even if you have not opened the link. Avoid copying or previewing links containing sensitive tokens.

The App Store edition checks for updates through Apple. Manual update checks in non-store editions may contact the developer’s version information service. These features make network requests; the app does not upload advertising or behavioral analytics.

05Purchases, support and third parties

Apple StoreKit / the App Store processes purchases and purchase restoration. The app reads Apple-verified transaction and entitlement information to determine access. We do not collect payment card details or Apple Account passwords through the app. Apple’s payment, account and cloud services are subject to Apple’s Privacy Policy.

If you email support, our email service receives the email address, description and attachments you provide. We use them to handle inquiries, faults and privacy requests, retaining them as necessary for that purpose or as required by applicable law. Do not send unnecessary passwords, complete clipboard histories or sensitive attachments.

06Retention and deletion

Local history is trimmed according to your chosen history count limit; pinned entries are exempt. You can delete individual entries or delete history in Settings. The app’s confirmation dialog explains whether pinned entries are retained.

With sync enabled, deletions propagate to iCloud and other devices after successful sync. Offline devices or sync errors can delay this. Sync may retain deletion markers and metadata needed to propagate deletions. To remove cloud copies, delete the entries while sync is enabled and working, and allow it to finish. You can also check whether macOS iCloud storage management offers an option to remove this app’s data.

Local data, caches, database snapshots made before first sync, and system or manually created backups may remain separately. Uninstalling or disabling sync does not delete these copies. Use “Show Local Data” in Settings to locate app data and clean up applicable caches, snapshots and backups as needed. Confirm the scope first: deleting original files or backups may be irreversible.

07Your controls and data security

You can pause recording, exclude source apps, limit history, disable sync or delete entries. By default, the app skips clipboard content explicitly marked confidential or transient by its source app. This depends on those markings and cannot identify every password or sensitive item.

Automatic pasting into other apps may require macOS Accessibility permission. File operations may require selecting a file or destination. Manage permissions in System Settings. The app relies on local storage, operating system permissions and Apple’s sync mechanisms. It does not claim additional app-level encryption of the local database or absolute security of storage or transmission.

The app is not specifically directed to children. We do not actively collect children’s details through separate registration or marketing forms. Contact us if support information you sent contains children’s data that should be deleted.

08This website and policy changes

This static policy page includes no advertising, externally hosted fonts, third-party analytics scripts or login. It does not actively read your clipboard or store a language preference in cookies. Language selection is reflected in the URL. Website servers or network services may process IP addresses, access times and request information to deliver pages, maintain security and troubleshoot; this is separate from the app’s clipboard processing.

We will update this page and its date when features or data practices change. Translations are intended to convey the same information. Contact the email below to clarify any translation ambiguity.