Static Reader Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 13, 2026.

Static Reader is developed by Ryan McCool under Static Evolution. For privacy questions, contact ryan.mccool@gmail.com.

Static Reader lets you read and organize books, comics, audiobooks, manga, and feeds. The app stores your library, reading positions, bookmarks, notes, and settings on your device.

When iCloud metadata syncing is available, Static Reader uses your Apple account to synchronize library records and personal reading data, including notes, handwriting, reading progress, and related metadata, such as artwork, personal drawings and configured source/server information. This lane does not upload original book, comic, audiobook or manga chapter files, nor the main saved-article bodies/images. Media in your iCloud Drive Static Reader folder remains subject to iCloud Drive's storage and sharing settings. Feed-account synchronization is separate: an enabled Feeds iCloud account can exchange subscriptions, folders, article text/content and read/starred state through its own CloudKit container. Automatic sync uses the device's Apple account; local reading does not require a separate Static Reader account.

Static Reader connects to the services you choose, such as OPDS servers, feed accounts, manga sources, and publishing destinations. These services receive the requests and content needed for the features you use, including network addresses and request metadata. Book searches may contact Open Library, Google Books or Hardcover. Configured feed services can receive subscriptions, articles and read/starred changes. Compatible manga repositories/sources receive requests for source code, search results, series and chapters. Publishing sends the material you choose to the destination you configure. Each service has its own privacy practices. Credentials are used to authenticate to the service you configure. OPDS credentials require HTTPS with a certificate accepted by the operating system. Anonymous HTTP catalogs remain supported.

When no configured account already has feeds, Feeds can import the bundled starter subscriptions: Craig Hockenberry, Daring Fireball, inessential, Jason Kottke, Julia Evans, Manton Reece, Michael Tsai, NetNewsWire Blog, Scripting News and Six Colors. You can remove or change those feeds. The starter Scripting News subscription uses HTTP, which does not encrypt transport. Other user-configured HTTP sources can have the same limitation.

New OPDS passwords are saved in device-only Keychain storage and are not included in library metadata synchronization or ordinary curated library backups. If secure storage is unavailable, saving a new password fails without replacing your previous settings. Older app versions may have stored passwords in library data. The app preserves those older credentials locally while secure migration retries; retained historical cloud records, device backups, and optional raw recovery exports may still contain old credentials. Keep backups and recovery exports private.

Apple and Kokoro Read Aloud process narration on the device. Kokoro voice/model downloads require a network connection. If you choose OpenAI Read Aloud and supply an API key, the current text passage is sent to OpenAI to generate audio. OpenAI API use is separately billed by OpenAI. You can choose an on-device engine instead and remove your OpenAI API key in settings.

If you use Ask Siri, Static Reader supplies relevant known context, such as a title, author, reading position or selected content, to Apple's system features. Apple processes those requests according to its own policies and your device settings.

Importing and using local files does not require you to upload them to Static Evolution. Exports, backups, support reports, and publishing actions can contain private material. You choose whether and where to share them. Library backup ZIP files are not encrypted. Optional raw recovery evidence can contain account identifiers, stored credentials, and cloud tokens; keep those exports private. Operational diagnostics are kept on the device; sending a report to support or another recipient is your choice. Support email contains whatever information you send us. Do not include passwords, tokens, private reading content or original media unless specifically needed and agreed through a private support channel.

Local records and files remain until you remove them, the app's relevant controls remove them, or the operating system removes app storage. Cloud records can remain until deleted and that change propagates; connected services apply their own retention rules. Ordinary media Delete removes the recorded owning file in device storage or iCloud Drive and can retain reading/catalogue metadata. Settings' CloudKit Data controls address cloud records and legacy cloud-hosted attachments, not device files or files in the iCloud Drive Static Reader folder. Those are distinct operations. Use the corresponding controls and keep independent backups before deleting originals.

To stop an optional connection, remove its configuration or credentials in the relevant settings. Use Apple's iCloud settings to manage the app's access to iCloud. To request deletion of information you sent directly to Static Evolution through support, email the privacy contact above. We retain support correspondence as needed to handle the request and any applicable legal obligations; we do not control Apple's or another connected service's separate data stores.

Updates to this policy will be published on this page with a revised date. Contact: ryan.mccool@gmail.com.