Last updated: 16 October 2026 · Published by simplest.agency
Your library on your iPhone
foundtape stores recorded and imported audio, titles, dates, collections, markers, optional locations and transcripts in app storage. It also stores preferences and local information needed for duplicate detection, playback, recovery and sync.
We do not operate a server that receives your recording library. The app has no advertising, tracking or third-party analytics SDK. You do not need a separate foundtape account.
Microphone and input levels
Microphone access is used to record audio and show live input levels. You can explicitly check levels before recording; that preview keeps level readings, not an audio recording. Once permission is granted, levels can appear when you open the recorder or input settings. You can change microphone permission in iPhone Settings.
Speech transcription
Transcription starts only when you request it for a saved take. Speech recognition runs on your iPhone using Apple’s on-device speech tools, with no server recognition fallback. Recording and importing do not start transcription. If language files are needed, the app asks before downloading them from Apple.
Completed transcripts and available word timings are stored with the take. Optional iCloud sync also stores saved transcripts in your iCloud account. You can copy or remove a transcript separately from its audio.
Locations and imported metadata
If you enable start location and allow location access, foundtape saves a single location for a new recording. It does not track your route. Imported audio may already contain coordinates and recording dates; foundtape can read and save those even when start-location capture is off. Turning location capture off does not remove locations already saved with takes.
You can remove a take’s saved location and edit its title. Removing coordinates does not automatically remove a place name from the title or change the original imported file.
When Apple services are used
Optional iCloud sync
During setup you choose whether to sync with iCloud; the switch is initially on. Library transfers begin after you continue through setup. You can change this choice in foundtape Settings.
With sync enabled, audio originals and library metadata—including titles, dates, collections, markers, transcripts, saved locations and deletion state—are stored using Apple CloudKit in your private iCloud account. The app uses account and sync identifiers to connect the right library and coordinate changes. We cannot browse your private iCloud library.
Downloaded originals remain on your iPhone for offline use. Audio transfers use Wi-Fi unless you enable cellular audio; metadata may sync over cellular. Turning sync off keeps existing local and cloud data. Sync is currently in beta.
Maps and place names
Displaying the map uses Apple Maps. Looking up a place name sends the saved coordinates to Apple’s mapping or geocoding service. This may happen for a newly captured location or when you view a saved location without a place name, including one read from imported audio.
Apple processes service requests under its own policies. See Apple’s Privacy Policy and Apple Maps & Privacy. Device backups, App Store purchases and any diagnostics you choose to share through iOS or TestFlight are also handled by Apple under its policies and your settings.
Keeping and removing data
Your library stays in app storage until you remove it. Deleted takes remain in Recently Deleted until you explicitly erase them. With sync enabled, permanent erasure queues cloud audio removal and propagates to other installations when they sync. A minimal deletion record is retained to prevent erased takes returning.
The app keeps recovery information and a previous library index to help repair interrupted recordings or an unreadable library. Earlier metadata, including a removed transcript or location, may remain in these local recovery copies. Temporary import, transcription and export files can also remain until cleanup. Device or cloud backups and copies outside the app have their own retention lifecycle.
To remove synced takes, erase them from Recently Deleted while sync is enabled and let pending work finish. Turning sync off or uninstalling the app does not itself erase existing iCloud data. Export anything you want to keep first. See storage and recovery support for practical steps.
Website visits and support
This website has no analytics scripts, advertising trackers, contact forms or site-set cookies. Fonts and images are served with the site. The public website is served through Cloudflare, which may process connection information such as IP address, requested URL, request time and browser information to deliver and protect the site. See Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy.
If you email support, we receive your email address and whatever message, diagnostics or attachments you choose to send. We use that information to answer your request and investigate the issue. Our email service processes the correspondence to deliver and store it. We retain support correspondence as needed to resolve your enquiry and related follow-up, or meet applicable obligations. You can ask us to delete it.
Please do not send private recordings or transcripts unless they are needed for the issue and you are comfortable sharing them. We do not sell personal information or use your support correspondence for advertising.
Questions and privacy requests
foundtape is published by simplest.agency. For privacy questions or requests about information you have sent us, email support@foundtape.app. We may need to verify a request before acting on it. Your rights depend on the laws that apply to you; this policy does not limit them.
Library data can be managed in the app; we cannot retrieve a private library for you. If our data practices change, we will update this page and its date, and provide any further notice or choice required.