Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 16, 2026

DockApp is a Dock replacement for macOS. This policy explains what data the app touches and what, if anything, ever leaves your Mac. The short version: DockApp keeps your data on your Mac. It has no accounts, no analytics, no advertising, and no third-party trackers.

Data that stays on your Mac

DockApp stores your settings and dock arrangement locally, in your user Library's Application Support folder (~/Library/Application Support/DockApp/). This includes your dock items, recent apps, saved window layouts, the shelf's contents, custom icons, and snapping preferences. These files never leave your Mac and are not sent to us or anyone else.

To do its job, DockApp uses three macOS permissions. Everything they enable is processed on your device only - nothing captured through them is transmitted, uploaded, or stored off your Mac:

• Screen Recording - used to render live window and app previews and to blend the Mission Control cover into your wallpaper. The captured images are shown on screen and then discarded; they are never saved off-device or sent anywhere.
• Accessibility - used to read window and Dock information (titles, positions, notification badge counts) and to move, resize, and switch windows for snapping and the window switcher.
• Calendar - read-only, used solely to show your upcoming events in the optional calendar widget. Event data is read on demand and displayed locally; it is never transmitted.

You can grant or revoke each of these at any time in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

When DockApp connects to the internet

DockApp makes network connections only in the situations below. Each request goes directly from your Mac to the named service and, like loading any web page, exposes your device's IP address to that service.

1. Checking for updates. DockApp uses the open-source Sparkle framework to check whether a newer version is available by requesting an update feed from dl.dockapp.app. Like loading any web page, this reveals your device's IP address and the version being checked to the server hosting the feed. DockApp does not enable Sparkle's optional system-profile reporting, and it shows a consent prompt on first run before checking automatically. You can turn automatic checks off at any time in Settings → About → Software Update.
2. Optional dock widgets. These run only if you turn the specific widget on and, where relevant, enter a location or key. Each talks to one service, and only for that widget. We do not receive, log or store the contents of these lookups.
   • Weather sends the coordinates of the city you choose to MET Norway (api.met.no) to fetch a forecast.
   • Crypto requests a spot price for the coin and currency you choose from Coinbase Exchange (api.exchange.coinbase.com).
   • Stocks uses your own Finnhub API key (finnhub.io) that you enter in Settings. With no key set, DockApp makes no stock request at all. Each request carries the symbol you are watching and your key.
   • Now Playing lyrics sends the current track's artist, title and duration to LRCLIB (lrclib.net) to fetch matching synced lyrics.
   • Website icons (for shelf and dock items that point to a site) are fetched from that site's own domain, the same way your browser loads its icon.
3. Validating your license. When you enter a license key, and each time DockApp opens, it contacts our license server (api.dockapp.app) to verify your purchase and the activation on your Mac (this is how the three-device limit is enforced). This sends your license key and an activation code for your Mac: a one-way hash of your Mac's hardware ID. The hardware ID itself never leaves your Mac and cannot be recovered from the code; the code only lets the server recognize the same Mac again, for example after a reinstall. Your computer name and user name are not sent. When the server confirms your license, DockApp saves its signed answer on your Mac, so it stays unlocked without the internet for up to 30 days after the last check. Your license key itself is stored in your Mac's Keychain on the device where you entered it and is never written to logs. Your purchase and license records are handled by a third-party payment provider that acts as our Merchant of Record, under that provider's privacy policy. We do not receive or store your payment-card details.

DockApp does not use analytics SDKs, advertising, tracking cookies, or crash-reporting services, and it does not require you to create an account.

Bug reports

If you use Report a Bug from the About screen, DockApp pre-fills an email to us that includes your app version, macOS version, device architecture, and whether Screen Recording and Accessibility are granted - nothing else. The email is composed in your own mail app, and nothing is sent until you choose to send it.

Data retention and deletion

Because your data lives only on your Mac, you can remove it by deleting DockApp and its ~/Library/Application Support/DockApp/ folder. We do not hold a copy to delete on your behalf.

Children

DockApp is a productivity tool not directed to children and does not knowingly collect information from anyone, including children under 13.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the app evolves. Material changes will be reflected here with a new effective date.

Contact

Questions about privacy? Email support@dockapp.app.