Privacy Policy Journal | mobile-games

Effective date: May 27, 2026
Last updated: May 27, 2026

Summary

We built this app so your journal stays on your device and, if you turn it on, in your Apple account (iCloud). We do not run servers that collect or store your journal. We do not sell your data, use advertising networks, or use third party analytics or tracking in the app.

When you buy the optional emoji unlock or restore purchases, Apple processes payment. When you tap links to our other apps, you leave the app for the App Store. The sections below explain permissions, Apple services, and your choices in more detail.

Who we are

Data controller (for purposes of privacy law):
Gary Cox
Email: bigsmashgames@gmail.com

This policy applies to Private Daily Mood Journal (the “App”) on iPhone and iPad.

What this App does with your information

Information you create in the App

The App is a personal mood journal. Depending on how you use it, you may store:

Mood selections and labels
Notes and text you type
Dates and times of entries
Optional tags, triggers, or similar fields you enter
Photos you attach (from the camera or your photo library)
Reminder titles, schedules, and repeat settings
In app settings (for example: show all entries on one day, photo optimization, biometric lock on or off, purchase unlock status, optional progress or milestone data stored locally)

This content is sensitive because it reflects your personal wellbeing. You control what you enter. We do not access, read, or use your journal content for marketing, profiling, or advertising.

Information we do not collect

We do not intentionally collect, store on our own systems, or receive from the App:

Your name, email address, or phone number (unless you email us voluntarily)
Precise location
Contacts, calendars, or HealthKit data
Advertising identifiers for cross app tracking
Analytics or crash reports sent to our servers (we do not operate analytics or crash reporting backends for this App)

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We do not use your data for cross context behavioral advertising.

Where your data is stored

On your device

Journal entries, photos saved with entries, reminders, and app preferences are stored in the App’s private storage on your iPhone or iPad. That data is protected by Apple’s device security (including encryption when your device is locked, depending on your device settings).

iCloud (optional)

If you are signed in to iCloud and iCloud is enabled for this App on your device, your data may sync using Apple’s iCloud services, including:

iCloud Drive / Cloud Documents (for example journal files and photos associated with entries)
iCloud Key Value storage (for example settings, purchase unlock flags, reminders, or legacy journal data during migration)

We do not host iCloud. Apple stores and processes synced data under Apple’s Privacy Policy and your iCloud settings. We cannot access your iCloud data on Apple’s servers.

Sync only happens between devices signed in with the same Apple ID that you choose to use with iCloud. You can turn iCloud off for this App in Settings → [your name] → iCloud.

Our servers

We do not operate servers that receive or store your journal content or photos.

Permissions and Apple frameworks

The App may ask for the following. You can deny most permissions; some features will not work without them.

CameraUsed to take photos you attach to mood entries. Processed on your device only and stored as described above.

Photo libraryUsed to choose existing photos for entries and to display thumbnails for items you selected. Processed on your device through Apple’s Photos framework.

Face ID / Touch ID (optional)Used to lock the journal when you enable “Protect your journal” in Settings. Handled only on your device through Apple LocalAuthentication. We never receive biometric data.

Notifications (optional)Used to deliver local reminders you create (for example “How are you feeling?”). Scheduled on your device through Apple’s notification system.

Internet

Used to load App Store product information for the one time emoji unlock, to complete or restore purchases, to check basic connectivity, and to open App Store links for other apps we promote. Purchases are processed by Apple (StoreKit). Other links open the App Store when you choose to follow them.

Biometrics: Authentication is performed by iOS. We do not store your face or fingerprint and cannot bypass your device passcode.

Notifications: Reminder content is defined by you. Notification delivery is handled by Apple. You can disable notifications in iOS Settings.

Purchases

The App offers a one time, non consumable in app purchase to unlock additional emoji moods (processed by Apple In App Purchase / StoreKit).

Payment and billing are handled entirely by Apple.
We do not receive your payment card or full payment details.
Apple may provide us only limited purchase related information needed to unlock features (for example that a purchase completed or was restored for your Apple ID).
Restore Purchases uses Apple’s systems to verify prior purchases on your Apple ID.

Apple’s terms and privacy policy apply to those transactions: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/

Links to other apps and websites

The App may show buttons that link to other apps on the App Store (cross promotion). If you tap them, you are taken to Apple’s App Store. We do not receive your journal data through those links.

Our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use may be shown inside the App in a web view. Those pages are hosted on our website. The hosting provider may process technical data (such as IP address and browser type) as described in their own policies when you load a page.

App Store review prompt

The App may ask you to rate it using Apple’s in app review API. Whether a prompt appears is controlled by Apple. We do not receive your review text through that API.

How we use information (legal bases)

Because we do not collect personal information on our own systems, most processing happens on your device and, if you use iCloud, under your contract with Apple.

Where privacy laws require a legal basis:

Performance of the App / your request: Storing and displaying your journal, reminders, and settings.
Legitimate interests: Securing the App, preventing abuse, improving stability (only on device), and complying with law.
Consent: Optional biometrics, notifications, camera, and photo library access (you grant through iOS prompts and Settings).

How long we keep information

On your device and in your iCloud account: Until you delete entries, use “Erase Journal” or similar controls in the App, turn off iCloud for the App, or delete the App.
On our systems: We do not retain copies of your journal on developer operated servers.
Email to us: If you contact us, we keep correspondence only as long as needed to respond and for reasonable business records unless you ask us to delete it sooner where the law allows.

We cannot delete data held only by Apple (iCloud, purchase history). Use Apple’s tools and support for those systems.

Your choices and rights

Everyone

Access and control: View, edit, and delete entries in the App.
Biometric lock: Enable or disable in app Settings.
iCloud: Manage in iOS / iCloud settings.
Permissions: Camera, Photos, Notifications in Settings → Privacy & Security (or Settings → [App name]).
Purchases: Restore via the App; manage in Apple ID settings.

European Economic Area, UK, and Switzerland (GDPR / UK GDPR)

You may have rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict, object, and data portability for personal data we control. Because we do not hold your journal on our servers, most requests involve data on your device or in iCloud under your control.

We do not sell or share personal information as defined by California law for cross context behavioral advertising.

We do not collect categories of personal information on our servers for this App as described in the “Information we do not collect” section.

California residents may contact us to request information about our practices. Because we do not maintain a file of your journal on our systems, there may be nothing for us to access beyond emails you send us.

Other regions

If your country provides similar privacy rights, contact us and we will respond as required by applicable law.

Children’s privacy

The App is not directed at children under 13 (or the minimum age in your country). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children on our systems. If you believe a child has provided us personal information by email, contact us and we will delete it.

Parents should supervise children’s use of journaling apps and device permissions.

International transfers

If you use iCloud or In App Purchase, Apple may process data in the United States or other countries where Apple operates, under Apple’s policies. We do not transfer your journal to our own servers in other countries because we do not operate those servers.

Security

We rely on:

Apple’s platform security for data on device and in iCloud
Standard iOS APIs for storage and optional biometrics
No transmission of journal content to developer operated backends

No method of storage or transmission is 100% secure. You are responsible for your device passcode, Apple ID security, and iCloud account security.

Data breach

Because we do not store your journal on our servers, a breach of our systems would not typically expose your entries. If we become aware of a security issue affecting data we do control (for example email correspondence), we will take reasonable steps to notify you and regulators where required by law.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the new version with an updated Last updated date. For material changes, we may also show a notice in the App. Continued use after changes means you accept the updated policy.

Contact

Questions or privacy requests:
Email: bigsmashgames@gmail.com

Please include “Privacy” in the subject line and the app name Private Daily Mood Journal.

Disclaimer

This Privacy Policy is provided for transparency and App Store compliance. It does not create a contract beyond what is required by law and does not limit any rights you have under mandatory consumer protection laws.