Privacy policy

Last updated 23 August 2026

What we collect

Nothing. We do not operate a server, we have no account system, and the app makes no network requests. We cannot see your recordings, your transcripts, your summaries, or how you use the app, because none of it is ever sent anywhere.

This includes analytics. Steno contains no analytics SDK, no crash reporting service, no advertising identifier, and no third-party code of any kind.

What stays on your device

Everything the app creates is written to your iPhone's storage only:

• Audio recordings, saved in the app's private storage area.
• Transcripts, summaries, action items, and suggested next steps, saved in the app's local database.
• Your settings, such as your chosen transcription language.

This data is covered by your device's own protections, and is removed along with the app if you delete it. Deleting a note within the app removes both its audio and its text; there is no copy held anywhere else.

Steno does not sync to iCloud. If you use an encrypted iPhone backup, your notes are included in that backup, which is governed by Apple's privacy policy rather than this one.

How transcription and summaries work

Speech is converted to text using the speech recognition built into iOS, running on your device with models iOS has already downloaded. Summaries, action items, and suggested next steps are produced by Apple's on-device foundation model, part of Apple Intelligence.

Both run locally. Steno sends your audio and text to neither us nor any third party.

Permissions we ask for

• Microphone: required to record. Recording only happens while you have a recording open in the app.
• Speech recognition: required to turn your recordings into text on the device.
• Calendar (add events only): requested the first time you accept a suggested calendar event. Steno can add events you confirm; it cannot read your existing calendar.

Each permission is requested when the feature is first used, and the app keeps working without the optional ones. You can change any of them in iOS Settings at any time.

When information leaves the app

Only when you deliberately send it, and only where you send it:

• Sharing a note as text or PDF hands it to whichever app you pick in the iOS share sheet.
• Acting on a suggested next step opens your Mail, Calendar, or Reminders app with the details filled in, so you can review and send it yourself. Steno never sends anything on your behalf.

Once information reaches another app, that app's own privacy policy applies. Steno checks which mail apps you have installed only so it can offer them as a choice; that check stays on the device.

This website

Everything above describes the app. This site is worth a separate sentence, since you are reading it here.

It is a handful of static pages with no scripts, no cookies, no web fonts, and no analytics. Nothing on it loads from anywhere else, and there is no form to submit. It is served by Cloudflare, who as any host does keep short-lived request logs; we do not add tracking on top of that, and we do not look at who visited.

Children

Steno is suitable for all ages and collects no data from anyone, including children.

Changes to this policy

If this policy ever changes, the updated version will be posted on this page with a new date. Because the app collects nothing, we do not expect material changes; any that would affect what leaves your device would arrive with an app update you choose to install.

Contact

Questions about this policy can go to privacy@keyinword.com.