FamilyStorystead respects the privacy of the families who use the app to preserve memories, stories, photographs, audio recordings, and other personal family history. This Privacy Policy explains how information is stored, used, exported, shared, and deleted when using FamilyStorystead.
1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy applies to your use of FamilyStorystead and describes the current local-first version of the app. It should be read together with the Terms of Service.
2. Information Stored in FamilyStorystead
You choose the information placed in a vault. Depending on the features you use, that information may include:
- Family-member profiles, names, preferred names, birth information, biographical details, and living or deceased status.
- Written memories, story titles, story text, dates, places, captions, descriptions, and memorial information.
- Authentic audio recordings, photographs, supported video references, and other user-created family-history content.
3. How Your Information Is Stored
FamilyStorystead is currently local-first. Vault data is stored in app-controlled storage on your device. No account is currently required, and FamilyStorystead does not currently provide automatic cloud synchronization or automatic cloud backup.
Local data may be lost if the app is removed, app data is cleared, or the device is lost, damaged, or reset. You are responsible for creating and maintaining external Complete Vault Backups. Content can leave the device when you choose to export, save, print, open, or share it.
4. Photos, Audio, Video, and Other Media
You choose which media to add. Selected photographs, audio recordings, supported videos, and thumbnails may be copied into app-controlled local storage and may appear in archives or other exports when selected.
Archive photo-positioning and cropping controls change only the presentation inside that archive; they do not modify the original source photograph. Current archive formats may show unsupported or MOV video content as a labeled static reference rather than converting it.
5. Device Permissions
Permissions are requested when you begin the related feature, not merely because you open the Permission Center.
- Microphone access is used to record authentic audio memories and sound for supported video recording.
- Photo-library access is used when you choose photographs for profiles, memories, or archives.
- Camera access is used when you start the supported video-recording feature.
- The system document picker provides access to files you select for an import or export workflow; it does not give the app unrestricted access to all files.
6. Backups and Restoring Your Vault
A Complete Vault Backup (`.fsvault`) is a user-created technical file that preserves an editable vault and available managed media for later restoration. You decide where to save or share it.
A valid backup may be restored, including as a new separate vault where that option is supported. FamilyStorystead cannot guarantee recovery without a valid external backup, and it cannot confirm that a file remains safely stored after another app or service receives it.
7. Sharing and Exporting Information
You may intentionally prepare, export, save, print, open, or share a Printable Family Archive (PDF), Family Memory Book (EPUB), Complete Vault Backup, Vault Update, Memory Invitation, or Memory Contribution.
After content is sent to Messages, Mail, AirDrop, Files, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, Google Drive, Apple Books, a printer, or another app or service, that recipient or service may handle it under its own privacy practices. Review the destination and intended recipient before sharing.
8. Memory Invitations, Contributions, and Vault Updates
These workflows exchange different kinds of user-controlled files.
Memory Invitation
A Memory Invitation (`.fsvinvite`) asks another person to create and return a new memory.
Memory Contribution
A Memory Contribution (`.fsvcontribution`) contains returned content from a memory request. The vault owner previews and approves supported content before it is added.
Vault Update
A Vault Update (`.fsvupdate`) transfers selected existing content between vaults. The recipient previews matches, duplicates, and conflicts before approving supported imports.
9. Third-Party Services
FamilyStorystead may use operating-system or user-selected services for sharing, file storage, email, Apple Books, printing, and document selection. FamilyStorystead does not control those external services, their availability, their recipients, or their privacy and retention practices.
10. Data Retention and Deletion
Local information generally remains until you delete individual content, delete a vault, choose Delete All Local App Data, clear app data, or remove the app, subject to platform behavior. Deleting one vault does not delete another vault.
Delete Profile, Keep Memories removes the profile and its connections while associated memories and media remain; preserved name snapshots may remain so those memories retain context. Delete All Local App Data removes app-controlled local records and managed files. It does not automatically remove copies previously saved or shared through Files, Messages, Mail, Apple Books, or another service.
11. Security
FamilyStorystead uses reasonable technical safeguards within the product, including validation and protected destructive actions. No storage or transmission method can guarantee absolute security. Exported files may not be encrypted. Protect your device, review sharing destinations, and maintain external backups.
12. Children’s Privacy
When information about a minor is preserved, the service is intended to be used and managed by a parent, guardian, or other responsible user who has authority to provide that information.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
This policy may be updated as the product or legal requirements change. Material required-version changes may require renewed acceptance. The current effective date and version appear at the beginning of this document.
14. Contact Us
Questions may be sent to familystorystead@gmail.com.