Privacy Policy
Effective date: November 11, 2026
This policy applies to the Thread Memo Android app (com.ardi.threadmemo). Thread Memo keeps your notes on your device by default.
Data we store and where
- Your threads, comments, folders, favorites, images, audio recordings, and settings are stored only in the app's private storage on your device.
- There is no account and no sign-in. We do not operate a server that receives your notes, and the app has no cloud sync. The app sends usage statistics that never include your notes, as described under "Usage statistics" below.
- Search, calendar views, and related-thread suggestions are built on the device from your notes.
- By default, speech recognition, image text recognition, and embeddings run on the device with models bundled in the app.
Permissions and why they are used
| Permission | Purpose |
|---|---|
RECORD_AUDIO | Recording audio into a thread and dictating text. Requested when you start recording or dictation. |
FOREGROUND_SERVICE and FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MICROPHONE | Keeping a recording or dictation running while you leave the screen, with a visible notification. |
POST_NOTIFICATIONS | Showing the notification that is required while recording or dictating, with a Stop action. |
INTERNET | Loading and showing ads, sending usage statistics unless you turn them off, showing a map for a photo's location when you ask for it, and, only if you turn on GPT-only mode, contacting OpenAI. |
ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE | Checking whether a network connection is available before making those requests. |
The advertising component may add its own permissions to the installed app, such as an advertising ID permission. These are used for ads and usage statistics, as described below.
Advertising
Thread Memo shows ads through Google AdMob. Google and its partners may collect and use device and usage information, such as your advertising ID, IP address, and ad interactions, to serve and measure ads. The ad component does not receive or read your notes.
On first launch, where required, the app shows a consent form from Google's User Messaging Platform. The ad SDK is not initialized until consent allows ad requests.
To change or withdraw your choice, open Settings > Privacy > Ad privacy choices ("Manage the privacy choices applied to advertising"). This entry appears when privacy options are required for your region. You can also reset or limit your advertising ID in your Android system settings.
Usage statistics (Google Analytics for Firebase)
Thread Memo uses Google Analytics for Firebase, a Google service, to understand how the app is used, to improve it, and to measure ads. It is on by default.
- What is sent: app usage events, such as creating a thread, adding a follow-up, linking threads, completing a search, the screens you open, and when an ad could be shown, with fixed values such as whether a record has a photo or audio, how many results a search found (as a range), and the search type. Firebase also collects app lifecycle events (first open, sessions, updates), device and app information (model, OS version, app version, language), an app instance ID, your advertising ID, and an approximate location derived from your IP address.
- What is never sent: your notes, titles, comments, search terms, folder names, links, file names, images, or audio.
- Who receives it: Google, as the provider of Firebase and Google Analytics. Data is encrypted in transit. See Google's Privacy Policy and how Google uses information from apps that use its services.
- Consent: where Google's EU user consent policy applies, the consent choices you make in the consent form also control how Google Analytics may use data for advertising.
- How to opt out: turn off Settings > Privacy > Send usage statistics to stop sending usage statistics. You can also change your ad choices in Settings > Privacy > Ad privacy choices where it is shown, and reset or delete your advertising ID in your Android system settings.
Optional GPT-only mode (OpenAI)
Off by default. If you turn on Settings > AI models > Use GPT only, you enter your own OpenAI API key, the app verifies it with OpenAI, and you must confirm a consent dialog. While the mode is on, the thread text, saved transcripts, images, and audio needed for embeddings, speech recognition, and image text recognition may be sent to OpenAI. Data sent is handled under OpenAI's own terms and privacy policy, and your API usage is billed by OpenAI to your account.
In this mode the app does not fall back to local models if a request fails. Turn the mode off to return to on-device processing. Dictation in the editor requires this mode to be on.
Photo location and maps
If a photo you added contains location data, the app can show it. When you choose to show the map in the app or open it in Google Maps, the coordinates are sent to Google to display the map.
Backup, export, and deletion
- Android's automatic cloud backup is turned off for this app.
- To keep a copy, use Settings > Backup and transfer > Export backup. You choose "Content only" or "Content and app settings", and the file is saved where you choose. Import backup adds threads from such a file without replacing existing ones.
- To delete a thread or comment, move it to Trash, then use Permanently delete. If you turn off Settings > Trash > Use trash, deleted items are removed immediately. You can also set the trash retention period there.
- Uninstalling the app removes its data from the device. Backup files you exported are not removed automatically.
Security
Your OpenAI API key is stored only on your device, encrypted with the Android Keystore, and excluded from backups. Network connections do not allow cleartext traffic.
Children
Thread Memo is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, we will update this page and its effective date.
Contact
For privacy questions, use the developer contact listed on the Thread Memo page in Google Play. The contact email is shared there.