Your documents. Still yours.

Overview

OwlScan is a document scanner for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Scanning, OCR, search, and supported AI features run on your device. This policy explains what the app stores, what it sends off your device, and why.

Documents and Scans

Your scanned documents, images, extracted text, tags, folders, and warranty records are stored on your device using Core Data. We do not have a server that stores your document contents, and nothing about a scan is sent to us unless you use a feature described below.

On-Device Recognition and AI

Text recognition (OCR) and barcode detection run entirely on-device using Apple's Vision framework. On supported iPhones running iOS 26 or later, AI document summaries and smart titles run on-device through Apple Intelligence (Apple's Foundation Models framework). No document text or image is sent to OwlScan or to Apple to generate a summary or a title.

iCloud Sync

Optional iCloud sync, included with OwlScan Pro, uses Apple's CloudKit to store your documents in your own iCloud account, so they can appear in OwlScan on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac signed in to the same Apple Account. This data passes through Apple's iCloud infrastructure, not OwlScan's servers, and is governed by Apple's iCloud terms and privacy practices. On iPhone and iPad, you can enable sync in OwlScan Settings. On Mac, OwlScan enables sync when iCloud is available. A previously enabled sync choice may be restored when you reinstall on a device signed in to the same Apple Account.

Apple Wallet Passes

Adding a warranty or a scanned boarding pass, ticket, or barcode to Apple Wallet requires an internet connection. The barcode and the pass details you choose to add are sent to OwlScan's pass-signing server so it can generate a signed Apple Wallet pass; the request is verified with Apple's App Check so only the real OwlScan app can reach it. The server signs the pass and returns it; it does not log the barcode value or store the pass afterward.

Contacts

When you tap "Add to Contacts" after scanning a business card, OwlScan writes the recognized name, phone, email, company, and address to your device's Contacts app using Apple's Contacts framework. This only happens when you tap that button, and only that card's details are written. You can also export the same details as a vCard file to share.

App Lock

App Lock uses Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode through Apple's LocalAuthentication framework. Biometric data is managed entirely by iOS; OwlScan never receives or stores it.

Crash Reporting and Diagnostics

OwlScan uses Firebase Crashlytics to receive crash and error reports, tagged with a randomly generated, non-PII identifier so repeated crashes from the same install can be grouped. These reports include device model, OS version, and the app state at the time of the crash. They do not include your scanned document contents, extracted text, or file names.

Purchases

OwlScan Pro subscriptions, renewals, cancellations, and restoration are handled entirely by Apple through StoreKit and the App Store. OwlScan never sees your payment card details; Apple shares only the subscription status needed to unlock Pro features.

Support

If you contact support, we receive whatever you choose to send us, such as your email address, device details, screenshots, and a description of the issue. Please avoid sending sensitive scanned documents unless support specifically asks for them.

Data Retention and Deletion

Documents stay on your device, and in your iCloud account if sync is on, until you delete them. Deleted documents move to the in-app Recycle Bin for 30 days before permanent removal, after which we cannot recover them. Crash reports are retained by Firebase Crashlytics under its own retention schedule. Deleting the App removes its local data from your device but does not delete anything already synced to your iCloud account; you can remove synced data from iCloud in your device's iCloud settings.

Security

We rely on Apple's platform security (on-device encryption, Face ID/Touch ID, sandboxing) and Apple's iCloud infrastructure to protect your data, and on Firebase App Check to verify requests to our pass-signing service. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Choices and Rights

You control your data primarily through the App itself: delete a document, disable iCloud sync, or turn off App Lock at any time in Settings. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights over personal information we receive directly (such as support emails), including the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of that information; contact us using the details below to make such a request.

International Users

OwlScan is used by people in many countries. Your data may be processed and stored using infrastructure operated by Apple and Google (Firebase) in countries other than your own. By using the App, you understand that your information may be processed outside your country of residence, in accordance with this policy.

Compliance with Law and Safety

We may access, preserve, or disclose information we hold if we reasonably believe it is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, protect the rights, property, or safety of OwlScan, our users, or the public, investigate fraud or misuse of the App, or enforce our Terms & Conditions.

Business Transfers

If OwlScan is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, information we hold directly (such as support correspondence) may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

Children

OwlScan is not intended to knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through support, contact us so we can remove it.

Changes

We may update this policy as OwlScan changes. The effective date above is updated whenever we make a material change, and material changes will be reflected in the App or on this page before they take effect.

Contact

Questions about privacy, or requests regarding your information, can be sent to hello@theowlscan.com.