The short version: HoldFocus does not collect, store, or transmit any of your personal data. Everything stays on your Mac.
Overview
HoldFocus is designed with privacy as a core principle. The app operates entirely on your Mac without requiring an internet connection, user accounts, or cloud services.
Data Collection
We do not collect any data.
HoldFocus does not collect, transmit, or store any personal information on external servers. Specifically:
No personal information is collected
No usage analytics or tracking
No advertising identifiers
No third-party analytics services
No cloud storage or synchronization
No telemetry of any kind
Data Storage
HoldFocus stores the following data locally on your Mac:
Settings: Your preferences (whitelist, notification settings, timing thresholds) are stored in UserDefaults.
Blocked events log: A record of focus theft events is stored in ~/Library/Application Support/HoldFocus/. This log includes only app names, timestamps, and keystroke counts — never the content of your keystrokes.
License key: Stored securely in the macOS Keychain.
This data never leaves your Mac unless you explicitly export the blocked events log.
Accessibility and Input Monitoring
HoldFocus requires Accessibility and Input Monitoring permissions to function. These permissions are used exclusively to:
Detect when an app programmatically steals keyboard focus
Distinguish your intentional app switches from unauthorized focus theft
Buffer and replay keystrokes to the correct application
HoldFocus does not log, record, or transmit the content of your keystrokes. Buffered keystrokes exist only in memory for the brief moment during a focus theft event and are immediately replayed or discarded.
Network Access
HoldFocus makes two types of network requests:
License validation: When you activate a license key, HoldFocus contacts the LemonSqueezy API to validate it. Only the license key is sent — no other data.
Update checks: HoldFocus periodically checks for updates via Sparkle by downloading a small XML file from apps.fallingdata.zone. No personal data is sent.
Children's Privacy
HoldFocus does not collect data from anyone, including children under 13.
Changes to This Policy
If we make changes to this privacy policy, we will update the "Last updated" date above.
Contact
If you have questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at: