Privacy Policy

How the SolarSnap desktop application and its website handle your information.

Effective 2026-10-09 · Last updated 2026-10-09

This document is also available in Chinese. In case of ambiguity, the English version prevails.

1. Scope of this policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Chunyang Gao (individual developer) ("we", "us") collects, uses, stores, and protects your information when you use the SolarSnap desktop application (available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, the "App") and the SolarSnap official website (the "Site").
If you do not agree with this policy, please stop using the App and the Site.

2. Information we collect and transmit

We are local-first by design. Every core capability of the App — capturing, annotating, OCR text recognition, and history management — runs entirely on your device and does not require a network connection. Only the following situations cause data to leave your device, and each of them is either triggered by you or directly required by a feature:
  • Update checks: when the App starts, or when you manually click "Check for updates", it sends your current application version and an operating-system platform identifier (for example, windows-x64) to the SolarSnap version service. The request contains no device identifier, no account information, and no usage history.
  • License activation and validation: when you paste a license key into the App to activate it, the App sends the license key and a device name or identifier used to distinguish devices. This is required to determine how many devices a license has been activated on.
  • Upload and sharing (only when you actively use it): when you deliberately use features such as "upload to image host" or "create a share link", the selected screenshot is uploaded to the image host you chose, and a publicly reachable link may be generated. Screenshots are never uploaded when you do not use these features.
  • Contacting us: when you email 434260666@qq.com, we receive whatever information you choose to provide, such as your email address, order number, description of the issue, and any screenshots or logs you attach.
The above is the complete set of information types that leave your device. There is no other network activity.

3. What we do not do

  • We do not collect advertising identifiers, and we show no advertising. Neither the App nor the Site contains an advertising SDK.
  • We do not perform usage analytics or behavioural tracking. Neither the App nor the Site contains a third-party analytics SDK.
  • We do not report crash data. The App contains no crash-reporting SDK and does not automatically send exception traces or device information.
  • We do not read files unrelated to the App’s function. The App only accesses files you explicitly select or configure as an output folder.
  • We do not use your screenshots for any cloud analysis or model training. Screenshot contents are not read, analysed, or used for any other purpose by us.

4. How we use information

  • To provide, maintain, and improve the App’s core functionality;
  • To determine whether a newer version is available and, with your consent, to deliver updates;
  • To validate license entitlements and count how many devices a license is activated on;
  • To complete image uploads and sharing that you initiate;
  • To respond to your enquiries, bug reports, and refund requests;
  • To meet our legal and tax compliance obligations.
We do not use this information for advertising, profiling, or sale to third parties.

5. Third parties and information sharing

We do not sell your personal information. In the following situations, information is processed by third parties, each of which maintains its own privacy policy:
  • Dodo Payments (Merchant of Record): when you purchase a Pro licence on the Site, checkout, payment, invoicing, and tax collection and remittance are handled entirely by Dodo Payments. You provide your email address, payment method, and billing details to Dodo Payments, which holds them as the Merchant of Record. We never receive your full payment card details.
  • Microsoft Store: if you obtained the App through the Microsoft Store, the download and installation are handled by Microsoft and are subject to Microsoft’s privacy policy.
  • Image hosting services (only when you upload): screenshots you upload are stored on the image hosting service you use. Please note that anyone with the share link can view that image, so do not upload screenshots containing sensitive information.
  • The SolarSnap version service and license service are hosted on the servers that also serve the SolarSnap official website, and are used for update checks and licence validation.
  • Legal requirements: we may disclose information where we are legally required to cooperate with an investigation, or where necessary to protect rights and safety.

6. Where data is stored and how long we keep it

  • On-device data: your screenshots, screenshot history, and preferences are stored by default on your own device (in a `.solarsnap` directory under your user home folder on Windows and Linux; at `~/Library/Application Support/SolarSnap` on macOS). You have full control over this data — deleting that directory removes it completely.
  • Server-side data: request records produced by update checks and licence validation are kept on our servers solely for troubleshooting and for understanding version distribution, and are retained for no longer than 24 months.
  • Licence records: the association between a licence key and its activated devices is retained in order to keep validating the licence. If you ask us to delete your licence information, we will do so after verifying your identity.
  • Transaction records: order and invoice records are retained by Dodo Payments in accordance with its obligations as Merchant of Record.

7. Your rights

You can inspect and manage on-device data at any time using the App’s own features (for example, deleting screenshots in the history view, or deactivating a device in settings). For licence-related information we hold, you can exercise the following rights by emailing the address below:
  • To ask whether we hold information about you, and what that information contains;
  • To request correction of inaccurate information;
  • To request deletion of your licence information and related records;
  • To request a portable copy of the information you provided to us;
  • To withdraw consent you previously gave (withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal).
We will respond within 30 days of verifying your identity. Please write to 434260666@qq.com.

8. Children’s privacy

The App and the Site are not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. International transfers

Our servers are located in the People’s Republic of China. If you are located elsewhere, some of your information may be transferred to and processed in a location outside your country or region in order to perform update checks, licence validation, and payment processing. We apply appropriate safeguards such as HTTPS encryption in transit.

10. Changes to this policy

If we make material changes to this policy, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and highlight the change in the App or on the Site. Continuing to use the App or the Site constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact us

If you have any questions, comments, or complaints about this policy, please contact us:
  • Operator: Chunyang Gao (individual developer)
  • Email: 434260666@qq.com