Legal

Privacy Policy

Effective 16 October 2026 · Questions: support@fileoctopus.com

The short version

FileOctopus is a file manager. Your files, folder names, search text and file contents stay on your Mac. FileOctopus never sends them anywhere. The app sends something only when you agree to usage statistics, when it checks for updates, and when you activate or check a PRO license. This page explains each case. The privacy guide covers the settings in detail.

Who is responsible

FileOctopus is made and sold by Max Luong, an individual developer based in Vietnam (“we”, “us”). We are responsible for the personal data described here. Contact us at support@fileoctopus.com about anything on this page.

The FileOctopus app

Your files stay local

Browsing, file operations, the search index, text extracted from documents and images (OCR), saved searches, workspaces and the file-operation history are all stored on your Mac, mostly in ~/Library/Application Support/FileOctopus. FileOctopus has no account, no cloud sync and no external AI service. Search reads only the folders you approve, and content search is a separate opt-in for each folder.

Usage statistics (only if you agree)

On first launch, FileOctopus asks whether to share anonymous usage statistics. Nothing is sent unless you say yes, and you can change your answer at any time in FileOctopus ▸ Settings ▸ Privacy. Statistics are counts and timings: which commands and views you use, how fast search is, and whether file operations fail. They also include the app version, the macOS major version, the Mac’s chip type and the app’s language. They go to PostHog (hosted in the United States) under a random ID that is not linked to you. Your IP address is not stored, and statistics never include file or folder names, paths, search text, file contents, or your name or account. Settings ▸ Privacy ▸ Show What’s Sent… lists every event.

Update checks

FileOctopus uses the Sparkle framework to check for updates, and it asks before turning on automatic checks. A check downloads the update feed from www.fileoctopus.com (hosted by Netlify). Installing an update downloads it from GitHub. Like any web request, these reveal your IP address and the app version to the hosts.

PRO license activation

Activating a PRO license sends your license key and a device label to the Lemon Squeezy License API. The label is “Mac” followed by the first characters of a random installation ID. While you are online, the app checks the license again about once a day. Lemon Squeezy uses this to enforce the two-Mac limit and to tell the app whether a key is still valid. The 14-day trial runs entirely on your Mac and sends nothing.

Purchases

PRO is sold through Lemon Squeezy, which acts as the merchant of record: it takes the payment, handles sales tax and VAT, and issues the receipt. Your card details go to Lemon Squeezy and its payment processors, never to us. Lemon Squeezy shares your name, email address, country, order details and license key with us so we can provide the license, refunds and support. Lemon Squeezy processes your data under its own privacy policy.

This website

www.fileoctopus.com is hosted by Netlify, which keeps standard server logs (such as IP address, browser and the page requested) for security and operations. The site uses Google Analytics 4 to count visits and to learn which pages and demos help. Advertising features and Google signals are off. If your device’s time zone is European, UTC or unknown, Google Analytics loads only after you click Accept. You can change your choice at any time with the Cookie settings link in the footer. Google Analytics keeps event data for 14 months. See the privacy guide for exactly what is measured.

Email

When you email us, we receive your email address and whatever you write, including any files you attach. We use it only to answer you, and we keep the conversation for up to two years after your last message unless the law requires longer.

How long data is kept

Usage statistics are kept only as long as they help us decide what to improve. Because they are tied to a random ID rather than to you, we cannot pick out your statistics on request; turning statistics off stops further sending. Website analytics events are kept for 14 months. Purchase and license records are kept for as long as your license is active and for as long as tax and accounting rules require. Support emails are kept as described above.

Service providers and transfers

We rely on these providers. Some of them process data in the United States or other countries outside yours, under safeguards such as standard contractual clauses:

We do not sell personal data, and we do not use it for advertising.

Your rights

Depending on where you live, including under the EU and UK GDPR and Vietnam’s Decree 13/2023/ND-CP on personal data protection, you can ask to access, correct or delete your personal data, to restrict or object to its use, to receive a copy of it, and to withdraw consent. Email support@fileoctopus.com and we will answer within 30 days. We may need to confirm that a request comes from you, for example through the email address used for a purchase. You can also complain to your local data protection authority.

Children

FileOctopus is not directed at children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect their personal data.

Changes to this policy

If we change this policy, we will update the effective date above and, for significant changes, say so on this website or in the app’s release notes before the change applies.