Privacy Policy

Effective 25 October 2026 · Applies to RiffDex 1.0 and 1.1 on iPhone, iPad and Android

Who we are

RiffDex is published by Ashton Nik McKeown (“we”, “us”). For privacy questions or requests, email ashtonnik@me.com.

Information stored on your device

RiffDex keeps your repertoire on the device you use it on. This includes your songs and song sections, tunings and capo settings, instrument profiles, saved custom tunings, notes, learning links, favourites, practice history, your tab (one you made in RiffDex, pasted or opened, with a copy of the file if you opened one), songs you deleted in the last 30 days (kept in Recently deleted so you can restore them) and your app settings. Tab files you open are read on your device; they are not uploaded anywhere.

We do not operate a server that stores this information, and we cannot see it. Your operating system may include app data in device backups (for example iCloud or Google backups) according to your own device settings.

Microphone and tuner

The tuner asks for microphone access the first time you tap Start. While it is listening, RiffDex analyses short pieces of sound in your device’s memory to work out the pitch of the note you play. Audio is never saved, never added to backups and never sent anywhere.

Listening stops when you tap Stop, close the tuner or leave the app, and it does not restart by itself. You can turn microphone access off at any time in your device settings; the rest of RiffDex keeps working without it. The metronome makes its own sound and does not use the microphone.

Song suggestions from Apple

When Song suggestions is switched on (it is on by default), typing a song title in the song editor or during first-time setup sends the words you typed to Apple’s public iTunes Search service over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection, after a short pause. The results help fill in the artist name.

Only the search words are sent. Your library, notes and practice history are never included. You do not need an Apple account. Like any website, Apple receives ordinary connection information such as your IP address, and handles it under Apple’s Privacy Policy. We do not receive or store these searches.

To stop this, turn off Settings › Privacy & help › Song suggestions. Nothing is sent while it is off, and you can still type songs in yourself.

Websites you choose to open

Some parts of RiffDex link to other websites, such as the source of each example song for a tuning, learning links you save on a song, and the option to search for tabs or lessons for a song. When you open one of these, your browser connects directly to that website, and a search sends the song title and artist to the search engine or site you picked. Those websites have their own privacy policies. RiffDex does not host lyrics, tabs or recordings.

Haptics, metronome and screen

Haptic feedback uses your device’s vibration motor, and the metronome, the tuner’s string sounds and the tab maker play sound generated on your device. The optional “Keep screen awake” setting only stops the display sleeping during practice. None of these send or store any information. Haptics can be turned off in Settings.

Backups, exports and deleting your data

• Export creates a readable (unencrypted) JSON file containing your library, notes, practice history and settings. Your tab is not included, whether you made, pasted or opened it, and neither are songs in Recently deleted. You choose where the file is saved or shared, so only share it with people you trust.
• Import replaces the library on your device with the one in the backup file, after you confirm.
• Reset RiffDex in Settings permanently deletes your library, settings, your tab and the songs in Recently deleted from the app (a few display preferences, such as the tuner’s headstock layout, may remain). Deleting the app removes everything it stored. Neither can remove exported files, device backups made by your operating system, or copies you have shared.

Because your information stays on your device, we cannot access, recover or delete it for you. You are always in control of it through the options above.

Purchases and advertising

RiffDex 1.0 and 1.1 have no in-app purchases, subscriptions or advertising, and it contains no advertising or analytics services. If we add an optional upgrade in a future version, we will update this policy before it becomes available, including which payment and verification services are involved.

Children

RiffDex is a general-audience music app and is not directed at children under 13. The app does not collect personal information from anyone, including children. If you believe a child has sent us personal information by email, contact us and we will delete it.

Support emails and bug reports

If you email us or share a bug report, we receive what you choose to send, such as your email address, your message and any attachments. The bug report template in the app contains the RiffDex version and your operating system version, and never attaches your songs or notes. We use this information only to reply and to fix problems, and we keep it only as long as needed for that or where the law requires. Please don’t include anything you would rather keep private.

If you test RiffDex through TestFlight or another beta programme, Apple or Google may collect diagnostics under their own terms and your device settings.

This website

This help site is hosted by Netlify, which processes standard connection information (such as IP addresses) to deliver pages and keep the service secure. The site has no cookies, analytics or advertising of our own.

Your choices and rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct or delete personal information held about you. The only personal information we may hold is what you send us by email; contact us to exercise any of these rights and we will respond promptly.

Changes to this policy

If RiffDex’s handling of information changes, we will update this page and the effective date above before the change takes effect.

Contact

Ashton Nik McKeown · ashtonnik@me.com