Privacy policy

The short version

Synced transfers data only between devices you have paired with each other. That data does not pass through, and is not stored on, any server operated by us or by a third party. We do not have an account system, so we hold no user records.

What we collect

Nothing. We operate no backend service that receives your data. Your messages, call log, contacts, notifications, clipboard contents and files are read on your phone, encrypted, and sent directly to your own Mac over your local network.

The Mac app stores some of that data locally so it can show it to you — notification history for seven days, and the current contacts, call log and message threads. It lives in the app's Application Support folder on your Mac and is removed when you unpair or delete the app.

Android permissions and why each is needed

Every permission the Android app declares is listed below. Each is used solely to send the corresponding data to your own paired Mac.

READ_SMS · SEND_SMS

Reads your message threads so they can be shown on your Mac, and sends messages you compose there. Message content is never uploaded — it goes only to your paired device.

READ_CALL_LOG · READ_PHONE_STATE

Syncs your call history to the Mac and detects an incoming call so the Mac can show who is ringing.

ANSWER_PHONE_CALLS · CALL_PHONE

Lets you accept, decline and redial from the Mac. Call audio is not captured or transmitted.

READ_CONTACTS

Resolves phone numbers to names for calls and messages. Contacts are read-only; Synced never modifies them.

Notification access (NotificationListenerService)

Mirrors notifications to your Mac, including their actions so you can reply. Notifications the app detects as sensitive are excluded from the on-device summary feature.

Accessibility access (optional, off by default)

Used only by the enhanced clipboard feature to detect that you copied something, so it can be sent to your Mac. It is opt-in, does nothing else, and the app works fully without it.

ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK · NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES · ACCESS_WIFI_STATE · ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE · CHANGE_WIFI_MULTICAST_STATE · INTERNET

Finds your Mac on the local network and maintains the encrypted connection to it. NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES is declared with neverForLocation: Synced does not use network signals to derive your location, and requests no location permission at all.

MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

Powers the file browser that lets you pull files from your phone to your Mac. Files are read only when you request them. Where this permission is unavailable, the app falls back to Android's folder picker.

FOREGROUND_SERVICE · FOREGROUND_SERVICE_CONNECTED_DEVICE · POST_NOTIFICATIONS

Keeps the connection to your Mac alive in the background and shows the persistent status notification Android requires for it.

SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW

Required by the optional clipboard feature to read the clipboard from the background. Not used to display advertising or overlays.

REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS

Asks you to exempt Synced from battery optimisation so the connection survives while your phone is idle. Declining it does not disable the app.

macOS permissions

• Local Network — required to reach your phone. Without it, the app cannot open any connection at all.
• Notifications — to display mirrored notifications.

Third parties

The apps contain no advertising SDKs, no analytics SDKs and no crash reporters that transmit your content. Downloads are hosted on GitHub, which will see your IP address when you download a file, per GitHub's privacy statement. This website is hosted on Vercel.

Children

Synced is not directed at children under 13 and we knowingly collect no data from anyone, of any age.

Changes

If this policy changes materially, the updated date at the top of this page will change and the revision will be noted in the release notes.

Contact

Questions about this policy: support@synced.app.