Effective date: October 4, 2026

Needle ("the app", "we", "us") is a focus timer for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac, developed by Galiya Zhenis. This policy explains what information Needle handles, why, who can see it, and the choices you have.

The short version

• Without an account, your focus data stays on your devices. Sessions, tags, notes, settings, wallpapers and App Blocker choices are stored on your device.
• An account is optional. If you sign in with Apple or Google, Needle keeps a profile and syncs your sessions and tags through Google Firebase, so you can use friends, rankings, live focus sessions and sync across devices.
• Part of your profile is visible to other Needle users: your name, @username, photo and focus statistics. Your session history, notes and tags are never shown to anyone.
• We collect usage statistics (Google Analytics for Firebase) to improve the app. They are not linked to your name or account, and you can turn them off in Settings → Share Usage Data.
• We don't sell your data, show ads, or track you across other companies' apps and websites.

1. Data stored only on your device

With or without an account, Needle keeps the following on your device:

• Focus sessions (when they ran, how long, and whether they were focus or break), tags, daily goalons") and energy ratings
• Settings and preferences, such as durations, sounds, language and appearance
• Wallpapers you choose from your photo library. Needle keeps its own copy inside the app, and youd.
• Data shown in widgets, Live Activities and the Apple Watch app, which is shared only between Needle on your own devices
• App Blocker choices (see section 6)

This data leaves your device only if you sign in (section 2), export it yourself (Settings → Exporile you choose where to share), or send it to us.

2. Your Needle account (optional)

Signing in. You can sign in with Apple or Google. Needle uses Firebase Authentication (provider login. We receive your name, your email address and an account identifier from Apple or Google.If you use Apple's "Hide My Email", we receive a private relay address instead. Your email address is used only for your login and is never shown to other users.

Your profile. When you sign in, Needle creates a profile with:

• your display name, taken from Apple or Google, which you can change