Privacy Policy — Dear Self

Last updated: 15 June 2026

Dear Self is a private journaling app. It is built local-first and account-free: everything you write is kept on your own device. We collect no personal data.

The short version

• No account, no sign-in, no email. Dear Self has no server that knows who you are.
• Your pages, letters, habits, reminders, and settings live only on your device.
• We show no ads, use no third-party analytics, and have nothing to sell.

What we collect

Nothing. Dear Self has no backend that receives your data. There is no sign-up, so we never ask for or store an email, a name, or any identifier.

Your writing stays on your device

Your pages, letters, and any content you write are stored locally on your device. They are never uploaded to us.

Backup is to your cloud, not ours

If you choose to back up (it is optional and off by default), Dear Self encrypts your content into a single file and hands it to your device's share sheet, so you can save it to your own cloud — iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, or anywhere you like. The file is encrypted with a passphrase only you hold. We never receive it, never see it, and could not read it if we did. Restoring works the same way in reverse, on your device.

What we do NOT collect

• Your journal pages, letters, or any content you write.
• Your name, email, location, contacts, photos, or microphone audio.
• Advertising identifiers. We serve no ads and run no analytics.

Notifications

Reminders you set are scheduled locally on your device. They are not sent from, or tracked by, any server.

App updates

The app checks our update service (Expo) for new versions. This exchange includes only the technical details needed to deliver the right update (app version, platform) — never your personal data or your pages.

Children

Dear Self is not directed to children under 13. Since we collect no data, we collect none from them either.

Changes

If this policy changes, we will update the date above and, for material changes, note it in the app.

Contact

Questions about your privacy: abdullashai9@gmail.com