Sphere About this policy
This policy explains how Sphere, an app for viewing and organizing panoramic photos and videos, handles information. It also covers this policy website and messages you choose to send to Sphere support. For privacy questions, contact sphere-app@proton.me.
Your media and local library
You choose which files to open or import. The app reads media content and available metadata on your device to identify formats, display panoramas, create previews, organize your library and place geotagged items on a map. Metadata can include dimensions, codecs, projection information, capture dates, camera information and embedded location coordinates.
Depending on the import option, Sphere stores a copy of the original or a reference to a file in Files or Photos. It also stores a local catalog, albums, favorites, thumbnails, previews and viewing preferences. Videos imported from Photos are currently copied into the app, even when linking is selected for still images.
Sphere does not edit the source originals. Removing an item from Sphere does not delete its original in Photos or a linked Files location.
Photos access and motion
The system photo picker provides the items you select. Linking still images to Photos may require limited or full Photos permission so that the app can access those selected items again. You can change access in iOS Settings; revoking access may make linked items unavailable until access is restored or you import a copy.
Device motion is used locally to change the viewing direction when Motion is enabled. Motion readings are not sent to us. Display and viewer preferences are stored on your device. The map uses location embedded in selected media; it does not require your current device location.
Network access and other services
There is no Sphere account, advertising SDK or analytics service in the app. We do not track your activity across apps or sell your personal information.
Some features still use network services: iOS and your file providers may download selected files from iCloud or other cloud storage, and Apple Maps supplies map content. These services receive information needed to fulfill their requests under their own privacy policies. Using them does not upload your media library to Sphere support.
When you explicitly share media or a report using the system share sheet, the destination you choose receives that content and handles it under its own policy.
Optional support requests
Contacting support is optional. A general support email contains the message you write. If you choose to prepare a media compatibility report, you can review it before sending or sharing it. The generated report includes technical format and playback attributes, such as container, codecs, dimensions, projection, frame rate, error codes, device model, operating system and app version. It may also include playback performance diagnostics and your optional comment.
Generated reports do not attach original media or thumbnails, and exclude filenames, file paths, GPS coordinates, capture dates, device serial numbers and raw metadata. Please avoid adding sensitive information to your own message. The app does not send an email automatically.
If the library cannot open, Report a Problem prepares an editable message with a safe error code and app/system versions. It does not include the database, raw error details or file paths.
If you send an email to sphere-app@proton.me, we receive your email address, sender name if your email includes one, message and any report you choose to include. We use them to reply, troubleshoot issues and improve format compatibility. Email is processed by your chosen mail provider and our email provider, Proton.
Keeping and deleting information
Your library and preferences remain on your device until you remove them. Items in Recently Deleted remain available for recovery until you permanently delete them. Permanently deleting an item removes its catalog entry and app-managed media resources; it does not remove a separate source original.
If you explicitly create a new library after a startup error, Sphere saves the previous catalog and app-managed originals in a recovery folder inside the app. You can export that folder from Recovery Copies. It can include media, metadata and saved preferences, and is shared only with the destination you choose. This recovery copy does not repair a damaged catalog and is not an automatic backup. Creating a new library resets Sphere preferences, not iOS permissions.
In Settings → Storage & Data, Clear Storage permanently removes all library records, imported copies, previews, temporary files and recovery copies while keeping your preferences and the existing database. Reset Sphere also removes the database and app preferences, creates a fresh library and returns to Welcome. Neither action deletes source originals in Photos or external Files folders, previously exported copies, sent support correspondence or system backups. iOS permissions remain unchanged.
Deleting the app removes its local app data, including saved recovery libraries. Export any recovery copies you want to keep before deleting the app. iOS backups, cloud copies and the behavior of offloading an app are controlled by your device settings and service providers, not by Sphere.
Support correspondence is kept for as long as needed to handle your request and related follow-up. You can ask us to delete it. We may retain information where required by law or necessary to resolve a dispute.
This website
This static policy page is hosted on Google Firebase Hosting. The page does not use analytics, advertising, cookies or third-party scripts. The hosting provider processes ordinary web request information, such as IP address and browser information, to deliver and secure the page. Hosting this page does not connect your in-app library to Firebase.
See the Apple Privacy Policy, Proton Privacy Policy and Google Privacy Policy for information about those providers.
Your choices and questions
You can manage media and viewing preferences in the app, change Photos access in iOS Settings, and choose not to send support reports. For access to, correction of or deletion of information you sent to support, or other privacy requests available under applicable law, email sphere-app@proton.me. We cannot access your on-device library remotely.
We will update this page when our data practices change and revise the date above.