Photo Patterns Privacy Policy

Photo Patterns is provided by Guangzhou Mingqi Technology Co., Ltd. This policy explains how the Photo Patterns iPhone app handles information when it builds a private timeline, map, EXIF statistics, on-device subject labels, search index, and share cards from the photos you authorize.

1. Privacy at a glance

• Photo Patterns has no account and does not upload your original photos to a Photo Patterns server.
• EXIF indexing, subject classification, search, and statistics run on your iPhone.
• We do not sell personal information, track you across apps or websites, or use advertising SDKs.
• You choose whether to grant Full Access or Limited Access to Apple Photos and may change that choice in iOS Settings.

2. Information processed on your device

For photos you authorize through Apple Photos, the app may process the PhotoKit asset identifier, capture date and time, embedded coordinates, camera and lens names, focal length, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, flash state, dimensions, orientation, favorite status, screenshot or Live Photo status, and other available public EXIF or IPTC fields. It may also process a display preview to create an on-device subject label or preview histogram.

This information is used only to provide the app's timeline, map, statistics, explainable patterns, structured search, data-coverage views, exports, and share previews. Photo Patterns does not perform face identification, infer sensitive personal traits, edit originals, or delete items from Apple Photos.

3. Local storage

Photo Patterns stores a derived index, analysis progress, search history, saved searches, preferences, and a rounded place-name cache in the app's private container on your iPhone. Original photos remain managed by Apple Photos. You can clear the derived index, caches, search history, and saved searches in the app without deleting any original photo.

Data normally remains until you clear it or uninstall the app. iOS may also remove temporary caches according to system storage policy. A statistics export is created only after you request it and remains under your control through the system Share Sheet.

4. Apple-managed services

Apple Photos and iCloud Photos

Apple Photos may download an iCloud-only asset when the app needs its original metadata or when you request a larger preview. You can configure Photo Patterns to allow these downloads only on Wi-Fi. These transfers are managed by Apple; Photo Patterns does not create its own cloud copy.

MapKit and system geocoding

The app does not request your current or background location. Its map uses only coordinates already embedded in authorized photos. Apple MapKit may load map content, and Apple's system geocoding service may receive a photo coordinate to return a readable city or place name. Photo Patterns stores any returned name in a rounded local cache that you can clear. We do not send photo coordinates to our own server or to a third-party geocoding provider.

5. Sharing

Pattern and year cards are generated on your device. They contain no photo and no location by default. You may deliberately add up to three photos and may optionally show a city name; the app does not offer precise-coordinate sharing. The iOS Share Sheet sends the items only to the destination you choose. Photo Patterns does not operate a public sharing feed or searchable photo page.

6. Information sent to us

The current version has no account, custom backend, analytics SDK, advertising SDK, external AI service, or automatic crash-reporting service. If you email support, we receive the email address and content you voluntarily send and use it to answer your request. Please do not attach private photos or precise location information unless it is necessary and you choose to do so.

7. Permissions and your choices

• Use Limited Photos Access to authorize only selected photos.
• Change or revoke access at any time in iOS Settings.
• Turn subject analysis, screenshots, and background analysis on or off, and choose whether iCloud downloads are limited to Wi-Fi.
• Clear the place-name cache, search history, saved searches, or all Photo Patterns derived data. Copies you previously saved or shared to another destination remain under your control there.

After photo access is revoked, Photo Patterns stops reading the library, preserves the last local index, and blocks photo navigation until access is restored.

8. Children

Photo Patterns is a general photography utility and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect children's personal information through an account or server because the app provides neither.

9. Security

We minimize the information handled by the app, use the iOS app sandbox and system permission controls, and avoid retaining original photo files outside Apple Photos. No method of storage is guaranteed to be perfectly secure, so keep your device passcode and Apple Account protected.

10. Policy changes

We may update this policy when the app, law, or platform requirements change. The updated policy will show a new effective date. If a future version adds an account, backend, analytics, advertising, external AI, or other materially different data handling, this policy and the app's disclosures will be updated before that feature is released.

11. Contact us

For privacy questions or requests, contact:
Guangzhou Mingqi Technology Co., Ltd.
Email: mingqi_tech@163.com
Address: Room 866, No. 4 Building, 388 East Hanxi Avenue, Nancun Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou, China