aud-io
Privacy Policy
aud-io is a local-first music player for music you already own. It does not require an aud-io account or upload your imported audio files to a developer-operated cloud library. Some features use third-party online services and can send data directly from your device to those services, as explained below.
The short version: the core player works without an aud-io account, ads, or cross-app tracking. Your imported audio files stay on your device; selected library-derived information can be sent only as described below. Online Features are controlled in Settings. On a new iPhone or iPad installation, aud-io build 139 or later starts with them off by default; earlier builds may initially have them enabled. A separate, optional Google Gemini connection can send prompts and library-derived information directly to Google under a key you provide. Apple Music is also optional and uses Apple’s system authorization. See the sections below before enabling or using these connections.
What stays on your device
Your imported audio files, local artwork and lyric caches, playlists, favorites, play counts, and listening history are stored on your device. aud-io has no aud-io account system or cloud sync service for your library. That does not prevent the direct third-party requests described below: Online Features can send library-derived lookup information, and Gemini can send information used to personalize an AI request.
Online Features
aud-io's core playback works offline. Online Features are controlled in Settings ▸ Online Features. In the iPhone and iPad app, builds earlier than 139 may have them enabled when the app is first used. A new installation of build 139 or later starts with them off by default. Updating the app keeps your existing setting until you change it. When Online Features are enabled, the app can make direct internet requests while importing or enriching a library, playing a track, or using a relevant feature. These requests can include:
- Artwork, metadata, lyrics, artist information, related artists, and videos — library lookup terms such as title, artist, album, duration, and store region may be sent to third-party catalogs and search services.
- Track identification — when you ask aud-io to identify a song, it sends an acoustic fingerprint (a compact numeric summary derived from the audio, not the audio file itself) and duration to AcoustID.
Like other internet requests, these connections can disclose your IP address and ordinary network-request information to the provider. We do not describe the lookup information as anonymous: a provider may combine it with other information it holds. Turning Online Features off stops future Online Features requests; local playback and on-device analysis remain available.
Third-party services used for Online Features
When Online Features is on, aud-io may contact the following services. Each has its own privacy policy:
- MusicBrainz & Cover Art Archive — music metadata and cover art
- AcoustID — audio-fingerprint track identification
- Apple (iTunes Search) — cover art and metadata
- Deezer — artist images and related-artist data
- Wikimedia (Wikipedia) — artist biographies
- LRCLIB — synced lyrics
- Google / YouTube — artist-video search, thumbnails, and video links
Google Gemini features (separate opt-in)
Gemini-powered features — such as AI Mixes, AI Radio, the AI Librarian, artist news, and auto-filled credits — do not run until you choose to add your own Google Gemini API key. Some features also require aud-io Pro. This is not an aud-io account: Google AI Studio is used outside aud-io to create the key, and aud-io accepts only the resulting key. The key is stored in the device Keychain and is sent directly to Google with each Gemini request.
When Gemini is connected, aud-io can send the following directly from your device to Google:
- Prompts and recent AI conversation context — for example, a mix request or library question.
- Library-derived information needed to answer — such as track, album, and artist names; durations; credits; genres; release information; playlist names; favorites; play counts; and playback recency.
- Artist-news requests — once Gemini and the relevant feature are enabled, a daily briefing can send selected artist names from your library to request current artist information.
aud-io does not route Gemini requests through an aud-io app backend. Your actual audio files and local file paths are not sent to Gemini. Artist-news results can include Google Search-grounded links; opening a listed source connects directly to that publisher under its own privacy policy. Google's handling of Gemini information is governed by the Google Gemini API Terms and the Google Privacy Policy.
Google plan choice matters: Google's terms for unpaid Gemini services may allow Google to log and use submitted content to provide, improve, and develop its products. Terms and plan treatment can change, so review Google's current terms before connecting a key and do not submit information you would not want Google to process. You can disconnect at any time in Settings ▸ AI ▸ Disconnect, which removes the key from the device and stops new Gemini requests.
Apple Music (optional)
Apple Music is a separate, optional connection provided through Apple’s MusicKit system authorization. Apple handles the Apple Account and any Apple Music subscription required for catalog access; aud-io does not collect or store Apple Account credentials. Apple’s handling of Apple Music data is governed by Apple’s Privacy Policy.
Last.fm (not active in this release)
Last.fm scrobbling is shown as coming soon but is disabled in the current release. The current app cannot authenticate with Last.fm or send listening data to it. We will update this policy before enabling that connection.
Wi-Fi transfer stays on your network
The optional Wi-Fi transfer feature runs a small web server on your local network only so you can send music from a computer's browser. It never connects to the internet. While active, it advertises your device's name (for example, "Jane's iPhone") on your local network so the aud-io companion app can find it. It's off unless you start it.
Purchases
iPhone and iPad in-app purchases are handled entirely by Apple through the App Store. Direct aud-io for Mac purchases are handled by Lemon Squeezy. In either case, the checkout provider processes payment details; aud-io does not receive them. See Apple's Privacy Policy and Lemon Squeezy's Privacy Policy.
No ads or cross-app tracking
aud-io contains no advertising SDKs and does not track you across apps or websites. It does not use a third-party app analytics SDK. This does not override the third-party processing described above. The App Store privacy disclosure identifies the applicable data sent to third parties for app functionality.
Children
aud-io has no account registration and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children through the app. Third-party providers can process information if Online Features or Gemini are used, so parents and guardians should review those providers’ policies before enabling them for a child.
Your data, your control
You can disable Online Features to stop future lookup requests and disconnect Gemini to remove its API key from the device. These actions do not delete information a third party has already received; use that provider’s privacy tools or contact it directly. Deleting aud-io removes its local library and associated local data from the device, subject to your operating-system backup and file-storage choices.
Website and support
aud-io.app is hosted by Netlify. The website does not add advertising or analytics scripts, but a hosting provider can process ordinary technical request data. If you email support, we process the information you include so we can respond to your request.
Changes to this policy
If we change how aud-io handles information, we'll update this page and its "last updated" date. Material changes will be noted in the app's release notes.
Contact
Questions about privacy? Email support@digitalxdesign.studio.
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