HighnotePrivacy Policy
Highnote is made by Highnote Labs LLC. It plays music from media servers you run or have access to (Plex, Jellyfin, Navidrome and other Subsonic-compatible servers). This policy explains what happens to your information when you use Highnote on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch and CarPlay.
The short version
- We don't collect your data. Highnote Labs has no servers that receive your information. There are no accounts with us, no analytics, no advertising and no tracking.
- Your library stays between you and your server. Highnote talks to the servers you add, directly.
- What syncs goes through your own iCloud account, so your devices share settings and progress. We can't see it.
Information on your devices and in your iCloud account
Highnote keeps these on your device, and syncs them between your devices through your own iCloud account (iCloud Keychain, iCloud key-value storage and your private iCloud database):
- The servers you add, and the sign-in for each (stored in the Keychain; a copy is kept in your iCloud key-value storage for devices that can't use iCloud Keychain, such as Apple TV)
- The addresses you add for a server (at home and away), and which of its libraries you've switched off
- Your settings
- Profiles for the people who listen on your devices: each person's name and which server user they listen as (their sign-ins are kept in the Keychain, like your own), and any Plex Home members you've removed
- What you've played and where you left off (Continue Listening, play history and listening patterns used for Radio Mixes and Insights)
- Track analysis made on your devices (tempo, key, energy and similar), and radio station logos found for your stations
- Downloaded and cached music and artwork, which stay on the device that downloaded them
Some things stay on each device and never sync: which person is listening on that device, each person's permissions on a server, and whether a Plex Home PIN has been entered.
This information is stored and protected by Apple under your iCloud account. Highnote Labs has no access to it. You can delete it by removing Highnote's data in iCloud settings, and by deleting the app.
Your media servers
Highnote sends requests, including your sign-in, only to the servers you add, to browse your library, play and download music, add the people who use it (an administrator can list the server's users), and report what you've played (for example, scrobbles and play counts on your server). What your server does with that information is governed by whoever runs the server.
If you sign in with a Plex account, Highnote signs in through Plex (plex.tv) to find your servers and, for a Plex Home, its members; a member's PIN is checked by Plex. That's covered by Plex's privacy policy.
Services Highnote uses for some features
To show extra information, Highnote asks these services directly from your device. It sends only what each lookup needs, and nothing that identifies you:
- Lyrics: LRCLIB (lrclib.net) is sent the song's title, artist, album and length.
- Artist pictures: TheAudioDB (theaudiodb.com) is sent the artist's name.
- Radio song covers: Apple's iTunes Search is sent the artist and title of the song a station is playing.
- Radio stations: Highnote connects to each station's stream to play it and read what's on, and to the station's website to find its logo.
These services see your device's internet address, as any website you visit does. Their own privacy policies apply.
Keeping and deleting your information
Highnote keeps this information only on your devices and in your iCloud account, until you remove it. Highnote Labs holds none of it, so there is nothing for us to keep or delete.
- Removing a server, or a person, from Highnote deletes their sign-in from your devices.
- Deleting Highnote removes what it stored on that device, including downloads.
- To remove Highnote's data from iCloud, open Settings › your name › iCloud › Manage Storage (on a Mac, System Settings › your name › iCloud), choose Highnote and delete its data.
Anything your media server keeps, such as play counts, is managed on that server.
Your local network
Highnote asks for permission to use your local network, so it can reach servers at home and find Google Cast speakers and displays. When you cast, the device you cast to is told what to play and fetches it from your server.
Siri, Shortcuts and Apple Intelligence
If you use Siri or Shortcuts with Highnote, your requests are handled by Apple under Apple's privacy policy. Apple Intelligence features, when used, run on your device or through Apple's Private Cloud Compute.
Children
Highnote is not directed at children and collects no personal information from anyone.
Changes
If this policy changes, the new version will be posted here with a new effective date.
Contact
Questions about privacy: info@highnotelabs.io
Highnote Labs LLC