Who operates the app
PDF Dictionary is operated by ref979factor. This policy explains how the app handles your information and when Apple, Google, websites, or an AI service you use may process it. Contact us at ref979factor@gmail.com about privacy or support.
Your documents and learning data
PDF files you import, reading position, annotations and drawings, vocabulary, notebook organization, quiz progress, and app preferences are stored on your device. The developer does not operate a server that receives your PDF library or routinely uploads your reading selections. We do not provide your PDFs or reading selections to the advertising SDK for ad targeting.
Basic dictionary and translation features use system services or on-device language models. Models may need to be downloaded. Native iOS versions can use Google ML Kit for language identification and translation. ML Kit processes translation input and output on the device, but Google may receive SDK usage and performance information, such as device/app configuration, installation-related identifiers, selected languages, feature events, and errors. This SDK information is separate from the text you translate. Apple services are governed by Apple's privacy practices.
iCloud and files you share
When iCloud is available and account safeguards allow it, the app automatically writes an updated vocabulary export to your iCloud Drive app container after vocabulary changes. This supports exchange with compatible vocabulary apps. The export can include expressions, meanings, context sentences, language pairs, document names, page references, notebook information, creation dates, and record identifiers. Identifiers can contain a source URL or local document reference. It does not contain the complete PDF files.
The data is stored in your Apple account, not in a developer-operated vocabulary server. Availability depends on iCloud, platform support, and account configuration. The app pauses export when it detects an unapproved change to the iCloud account. Data in iCloud, in another compatible app, or in a file you have shared can remain after you delete a local item or uninstall this app. Manage those copies in the relevant app, Files/iCloud storage, or recipient service.
You can export existing vocabulary from Settings even without an active Pro subscription. If you share a PDF or export file, you choose the destination, and that destination's privacy practices apply.
Optional Web AI: ChatGPT and Claude
Web AI opens a third-party website in an embedded browser using your own provider account. For ChatGPT, app-initiated messages can include the selected word, expression, or sentence; relevant surrounding sentence context; source and target languages; and translation instructions. For Claude, the app prepares a prompt containing these types of information for you to copy. Neither flow uses a developer-operated AI server or a developer API account.
Before the app sends reading text to ChatGPT, it asks for your explicit text-sharing permission. The permission screen identifies ChatGPT, explains selected-text and surrounding-context sharing, and links to the provider's privacy policy. Canceling leaves app-initiated sending disabled. After you allow sending, the current selection can be sent; while the ChatGPT panel is active and automatic sending is on, later selections can be submitted automatically. Automatic sending is initially on, but does not bypass permission. You can turn automatic sending off or withdraw ChatGPT Text sharing permission in the Web AI menu. Withdrawal stops later app-initiated sends; it does not erase content already received by the provider. Browsing and signing in remain separate from allowing these reading-text sends.
Claude uses manual copy, paste and send. Copy Prompt places the prepared prompt on the system clipboard. The app does not automatically insert text into Claude or send it. You choose whether to paste the prompt into the Claude chat and press Send; copying alone is not a submission, and the app cannot verify whether you sent it. Do not copy or share confidential or sensitive material that you are not permitted to share.
The provider can process content you send and associated account, device, usage, and connection information under its own policy and your account settings. Signing in or creating a provider account can involve your name, email address and provider user identifier; the provider handles this information, and PDF Dictionary does not receive your password. Provider retention, model-improvement use, account controls, and minimum-age rules depend on that service; an API-specific confidentiality promise should not be assumed for a consumer website account. Review OpenAI's Privacy Policy and Anthropic's Privacy Policy.
WebKit may retain provider cookies and login sessions. The app remembers valid conversation URLs and language settings to help resume a conversation; this does not confirm that a copied Claude prompt was sent or automatically apply instructions to Claude. Signing out or deleting conversations on the provider's website is separate from deleting data in PDF Dictionary. Copy/save tools may inspect clipboard change information and let you save a copied or selected AI response into your local vocabulary. The app does not upload your general clipboard history to a developer server.
Websites and downloads
When you browse websites or download a PDF from a link, the destination website receives the normal network requests needed to serve that content, which may include your IP address and browser information. Websites may use cookies, account login, and their own privacy controls. Their content and data handling are governed by their policies. Saving a web page or downloaded PDF creates a local file; it does not create a developer-hosted document account.
Advertising and privacy choices
Ad-supported iOS use can load banners and app-open ads through Google AdMob. Google and its advertising services can process device or app-related identifiers, IP-derived approximate location, ad impressions and interactions, app/SDK usage events, and crash or performance diagnostics. Uses can include serving and measuring ads, analytics, security, and fraud prevention. Google may process information on its servers and with advertising partners. See Google's Privacy Policy and Google's advertising information.
The app uses Google's consent tools where required and requests Apple's App Tracking Transparency permission before enabling advertising-identifier access. Processing depends on your region, consent choices, device settings, and the ad service's permitted configuration. You can decline tracking and continue using the app. Declining tracking does not mean that every necessary, diagnostic, consent, or non-personalized advertising request stops. Where required, Settings provides advertising privacy options so you can review your choices. You can also change tracking permission in Apple device settings.
An active Pro subscription removes this app's advertising requests and placements. Mac Catalyst versions do not use this advertising path. These statements do not prevent Apple, ML Kit, a website, or an AI service you choose to use from processing information needed for its separate service.
Purchases
Apple processes subscription purchases and payment details. The app uses StoreKit transaction information to determine and restore Pro access. We do not receive your payment card or bank account details through the app. You can manage or cancel a subscription through Apple's subscription controls. Expiration does not itself delete your existing local documents or vocabulary; existing vocabulary export remains available in Settings.
Diagnostics and contacting us
The app can keep a limited local history of Apple MetricKit crash, hang, and performance summaries, including technical stack/build/OS details. This local diagnostic store is not automatically uploaded to a developer server. Advertising and language SDKs may separately transmit their own diagnostics as described above.
If you email us, we receive your email address, message, and any files or diagnostic details you choose to send. Please send only what is necessary for the request. We use that information to respond, investigate the issue, maintain security, or meet legal obligations, rather than to target ads using your document content.
Retention, security, and your choices
Local data generally remains until it is deleted, replaced, or the app's storage is removed, subject to system backup behavior. Local diagnostic history is bounded; the current app keeps up to 50 summaries. iCloud files, shared copies, provider conversations, cookies, Apple purchase records, and SDK-held information follow the relevant service's retention and deletion rules. We do not set a single retention period for information controlled by those providers.
Support correspondence is retained as needed to address the request, maintain necessary records, or meet applicable legal obligations. No system can guarantee absolute security. Your device security, Apple account, provider login, and the destinations you choose when sharing files also affect access to your information. Providers may process information in countries other than your own; their policies explain their locations and applicable safeguards.
Depending on applicable law, you may have rights to access, correct, export, delete, restrict or object to processing, or withdraw consent. Contact the address above about information we hold. We cannot directly retrieve your private local library or erase conversations held solely by an independent provider; use the relevant device, iCloud, or provider controls for those records. You may also have the right to contact your local data-protection authority.
Children and changes
The app does not ask you to create a developer-operated profile or submit an age. Parents and guardians should supervise children's use of online features, and external AI services' age and account requirements apply. Contact us if you believe a child has sent personal information to us. The app's age rating and advertising audience configuration must be consistent with how it is offered.
We may update this policy when app features, providers, or legal requirements change. The published version will show its update date. Material changes will be communicated where required.