Privacy Policy for PilcrowMD
Effective date: June 16, 2026
PilcrowMD ("the app") is a Markdown reader and editor for Android. This policy explains how the app handles your information. The short version: PilcrowMD does not collect, store, or share any personal data. There are no accounts, no ads, and no tracking.
Data we collect
None. PilcrowMD has no user accounts, no analytics, no advertising, no crash-reporting or telemetry SDKs, and no trackers. We — the developers — do not receive any information about you or your use of the app.
Your files
PilcrowMD only accesses the Markdown (.md, .markdown,
.txt) files you explicitly open, using Android's Storage
Access Framework. Those files, and any edits you make, stay on your
device. The app never uploads, copies, or transmits your files to us or
to any server.
Settings stored on your device
The app saves your preferences locally on your device only — for example your chosen font, text size, line-number toggle, the location of your most recently opened file, and your scroll position per file. This information never leaves your device and is removed if you uninstall the app.
Optional features that use the network
PilcrowMD works fully offline. One optional feature may cause your device to contact a third-party server directly, only when you use it:
- Cloud diagram rendering (Mermaid): This is off by default. If you turn it on in Settings, the source text of a Mermaid diagram in your document is sent to the third-party service mermaid.ink to render an image. Leave it off and nothing is sent.
The request goes directly from your device to that third party — we do not operate, receive, or log it. That third party has its own privacy policy. If you never enable cloud diagram rendering, PilcrowMD makes no network connections.
Permissions
- File access (Storage Access Framework): to open and save the specific files you choose. PilcrowMD does not request broad access to your storage.
- Internet: used only for the optional feature above.
Children
PilcrowMD is not directed at children and does not knowingly collect any data from anyone, including children.
Your rights (GDPR / CCPA)
Because PilcrowMD does not collect, store, or share any personal data, there is no personal data for us to access, correct, delete, or export. You remain in full control of your own files on your device at all times.
Open source
PilcrowMD is open-source software (GPL-3.0). You can inspect exactly how it handles data in the source code at github.com/pilcrowmd/pilcrow .
F-Droid's build system rebuilt PilcrowMD 1.0.5 from that source and the published APK matched it byte for byte; an independent contributor verified that published file on a physical phone — see how that was verified.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, we will update it here and revise the effective date above.
Contact
Questions about this policy: [email protected].
Data controller: Addvalue Paweł Leks · [email protected].