Our Privacy Promise
Hvtch organizes files on your Mac without uploading your file contents to our servers. We designed the product so scans, rule matching, and rule execution can happen locally on your device.
We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your files to train AI models. We do not inspect the contents of your documents, images, PDFs, code files, or folders as part of the core scanning engine.
What Hvtch Reads From Your Files
When scanning a folder, Hvtch reads basic file system metadata needed to match the rules you create. This may include:
- Filename
- File extension
- File size in bytes
- Creation date
- Last modified date
- Whether the item is a file or folder
- Whether the item is hidden
For folders, Hvtch may also check the names of top-level items inside a directory to detect project types such as Xcode, Node.js, or Python projects. It does not open and parse the contents of those files to do that detection.
Hvtch does not read, open, parse, index, or analyze the contents of your files during scanning. It uses file system metadata, not document contents.
What Stays Local
All scanning runs on your Mac. Rule matching and execution are local processes with no cloud dependency, which means your metadata and folder structure do not need to leave your computer for Hvtch to work.
If you lose internet access, your existing rules can still run. Hvtch is designed so core organization features continue to work offline.
What the AI Sees
If you use the Rule Assistant, the only data sent to an AI provider is the text you type into the prompt field, such as a plain-English description of the rule you want to create.
The AI provider does not receive your filenames, file paths, folder names, folder contents, file sizes, dates, folder structure, or other file system metadata from your Mac unless you manually type that information into the prompt yourself.
Bring Your Own Key
Hvtch uses a BYOK model for AI features. You provide your own API key from a supported AI provider, such as OpenAI or Anthropic. Your API key is stored on your device using macOS system facilities and is sent directly to the provider you select.
Hvtch does not proxy your AI requests through our servers, and we do not take custody of your API relationship with that provider.
Permissions and Access
Hvtch accesses only the folders you explicitly choose. It uses macOS permission mechanisms, including security-scoped bookmarks where applicable, to retain access to those selected locations.
Hvtch does not require full disk access to provide its core functionality. You can revoke access by removing a watched folder from the app or changing the relevant macOS permissions.
Contact and Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy as the product evolves. When we do, we will update the effective date on this page.
If you have privacy questions, contact support@hvtch.app.