Our Privacy-First Commitment

The Short Version

The Otlet app runs entirely on your Mac. It doesn't collect, transmit, or store any of your data. Period.

This website is a separate thing, and it does use analytics. We explain exactly what, below.

What Otlet Accesses

Otlet needs to read your files and folders to do its job. Here's exactly what it accesses and where that data stays:

• Folder names and structure - to build your folder map and detect issues. Stored in a local SQLite database on your Mac.
• File names and metadata - to suggest where files should go. Stored in a local SQLite database on your Mac.
• File contents (text, images) - to categorise files using machine learning. Processed in memory, never stored raw.
• Folder access bookmarks - to remember which folders you've authorised. Stored in the local SQLite database and in Otlet's preferences file on your Mac.
• Operation history - so you can undo any action. File moves are stored in a separate history file on your Mac; folder tidy-ups and merges are stored in the local SQLite database.

What Otlet Does NOT Do

• No cloud uploads - all machine-learning analysis happens on-device using Apple's ML framework
• No accounts - no sign-up, no login, no user profiles
• No telemetry - no usage tracking, no analytics, no crash reporting to external services
• No network calls - Otlet makes zero network requests for file analysis (downloading a file from your own iCloud is done by macOS, at your request; nothing is ever sent to us or anyone else)
• No data sharing - your files, folders, and organisation patterns are never shared with anyone

Machine Learning Processing

Otlet uses six machine learning models, all running on your Mac: three of Apple’s, and three we trained ourselves.

• Models are bundled with the app (not downloaded)
• File analysis happens in memory and is not persisted in raw form
• Only classification results (category, confidence score) are stored locally
• Machine learning models never see your data in aggregate - each file is analysed independently

macOS Security

Otlet follows Apple's security model:

• Sandboxed - the app can only access folders you explicitly authorise
• Security-scoped bookmarks - folder access persists across app restarts without re-prompting
• No Full Disk Access - Otlet only sees what you give it permission to see

Your Data, Your Control

• Undo anything - every operation Otlet performs can be reversed
• Revoke access - remove any folder from Otlet's access in Manage Folder Access
• Delete everything - uninstalling never touches your own files. To remove Otlet's own data as well, drag the app to the Trash and then delete the folder ~/Library/Containers/me.otlet.mac/, which holds the database, bookmarks, preferences and history. Anything Otlet has archived stays in the archive folder you chose, so you can keep it or remove it yourself.

Data Storage Location

All Otlet data is stored in your app sandbox:

~/Library/Containers/me.otlet.mac/Data/

macOS does not remove this folder when you delete an app, so if you want Otlet's data gone as well, delete the folder yourself.

This Website

Everything above is about the Otlet app on your Mac. This website is separate, and it is not as private.

otlet.me uses Vercel Web Analytics. When you open a page here, it records:

• which page you looked at
• the site you arrived from, if any
• your approximate country
• your browser, operating system and device type

It does not use cookies. It does not store an identifier on your device, and it cannot follow you to other websites. It cannot tell us who you are, and it never sees anything from the Otlet app on your Mac.

We use it to know whether anyone is reading. That is genuinely all it is for. If you would rather not be counted, a content blocker will stop it and nothing on this site will break.

This site also remembers whether you prefer light or dark mode. That is stored in your own browser and never sent anywhere.

Mac App Store

Otlet uses standard Mac App Store licensing for purchase verification, which is handled directly by Apple and not by us. We have no access to your Apple ID or payment information.

Children's Usage

Otlet is safe for users of all ages. Since all data remains locally on your device and we have no means to collect or access it, there are no special privacy concerns related to children's usage.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date.

Contact

Questions about privacy? Email privacy@otlet.me

Email us