Overview
Elsewhere is an iOS app that helps you wind down before bed by quieting chosen apps and giving you a nightly ritual. This policy explains what information Elsewhere collects, why, and the choices you have. It applies to the Elsewhere app published by Zhichao Li ("we," "us").
Elsewhere is built to need as little about you as possible. We don't run ads, we don't sell your information, and we don't use third-party analytics or advertising SDKs.
An account is optional. Without one, everything — your name, evening routine, app choices and ritual history — stays on your iPhone, and Elsewhere sends nothing to our servers.
Information we collect
Account information
If you choose to create an account, Elsewhere uses Sign in with Apple. Depending on the choice you make at sign-in, we receive either your real email address or the private relay address Apple generates for you, along with a unique account identifier. We don't request your name from Apple. If you enter a first name or nickname in Elsewhere while signed in, we store it with your account.
Screen Time & app shielding
When you choose apps, categories, or websites to quiet during your wind-down or a moment away, Elsewhere uses Apple's on-device Screen Time (Family Controls) framework. By design, Apple does not disclose to us which specific apps, categories, or websites you select — we only receive an encrypted, opaque token that lets your device apply the shield. We cannot see, and do not store, the identity of what you've chosen to quiet.
Ritual & usage data
Your evening routine — bedtime, wind-down time and which evenings are active — stays on your iPhone and is never sent to us. If you're signed in, we store your ritual history so it survives a reinstall or a new iPhone: the start and end time of each ritual and whether it was completed or ended early. Weekly minutes and active days are calculated on your device from that history.
Subscription information
Membership is a paid subscription processed entirely through Apple's In-App Purchase system. Apple handles your payment details directly — Elsewhere never receives your card number or full billing information. We receive only your subscription status (active, expired, or cancelled) so the app can unlock membership features.
Notifications
Wind-down reminders are scheduled on your iPhone as local notifications. Elsewhere doesn't use push notifications, and no device token or reminder information is sent to us. Turning reminders off in the app or in iOS Settings stops them.
Diagnostic data
Apple may share aggregated, anonymized crash and performance data with us through App Store Connect. This is Apple's standard developer diagnostics and isn't tied to your name or account.
How we use it
- Operate your nightly ritual, wind-down schedule, and app-shielding settings
- Save your ritual history to your account, if you're signed in
- Recognize your Membership status through the App Store
- Diagnose crashes and improve the app's reliability
- Respond to you when you write to us
Retention
We keep your account and ritual data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we delete this data from our systems within 30 days, except where a short retention is needed to comply with a legal or financial obligation (for example, records tied to an App Store transaction).
Your choices
- Access or export. Email us to request a copy of the data tied to your account.
- Delete your account. Open Settings in the app, tap your account, then tap Delete account and confirm with Apple to permanently remove your account and associated data.
- Correct your information. Email us to correct information tied to your account.
- Notifications. Turn wind-down reminders off anytime in iOS Settings or in the app.
- Screen Time permission. Revoke Elsewhere's Screen Time access anytime in iOS Settings → Screen Time.
- Subscription. Manage or cancel Membership through your Apple ID subscription settings.
Children's privacy
Elsewhere is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
Security
We use industry-standard safeguards, including encryption in transit, to protect your information. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, and we can't guarantee absolute security.
International users
Elsewhere's servers may process and store information in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. By using Elsewhere, you understand your information may be transferred to and processed in a country different from your own.
Changes to this policy
If we make material changes to this policy, we'll update the effective date above and, where appropriate, notify you in the app. We encourage you to review this page from time to time.
Contact
Questions about this policy or your information can be sent to tedleezc@gmail.com.