Last updated: September 2, 2026
Trace Privacy Policy.
Trace uses your own Gemini API key and does not include a built-in account, API key, or cloud sync service. This page explains how audio, Apple Watch local recording and transfer, transcripts, meeting background, generated content, local storage, and tracking are handled.
At a glance
| Data | Where it is stored | When it is sent, and to whom | What you can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recordings and audio, including Apple Watch recordings | On your iPhone; watch recordings stay on the watch until the iPhone confirms receipt | After your consent, to Google Gemini for transcription; Trace makes a best-effort deletion of temporary data once processing ends | Delete meeting records; withdraw consent in Settings |
| Transcripts, meeting background, template instructions, and generated results | On your iPhone | After your consent, to Google Gemini for organization, analysis, and fact-checking | Delete, or share and export with iOS |
| Gemini API key | Only in iOS Keychain | Used only to call the Google Gemini API; never written into records or exports | Remove it in Settings |
| Accounts and tracking | Trace requires no account | No tracking and no advertising use | Nothing to set up |
This summary does not replace the full policy below. How Google uses submitted content depends on whether your API key project is on the free or paid tier.
Overview
Trace is an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch app that records or imports meeting audio and turns it into transcripts, meeting notes, decisions, risks, action items, and fact-checking drafts. Trace uses a bring-your-own Gemini API key model. It does not include a built-in account, built-in API key, or built-in cloud sync service.
Trace also includes an Apple Watch app that records locally on the watch. Completed recordings transfer device-to-device from the Apple Watch to its paired iPhone and appear in the iPhone Recording Inbox the next time Trace is active; this is not cloud sync and Trace does not send them to a Trace server. The watch keeps its local copy until the iPhone confirms durable receipt and retries when connectivity returns.
Data processed for app functionality
To provide app functionality, Trace may process content you provide or generate, including:
- Audio recorded, transferred from Apple Watch, or imported.
- Transcripts.
- Meeting background you enter.
- Template instructions you select or edit.
- Generated results such as meeting notes, action items, decisions, risks, and fact-checking drafts.
When data is sent, and to whom
Trace collects this content from your device and sends it only to the third-party Google Gemini API when needed to provide transcription, organization, analysis, meeting-note generation, and fact-checking that you request. Trace does not use this content for advertising or cross-app or cross-website tracking.
Before the first transmission, Trace identifies the data types, recipient, and purposes in the app and asks for your explicit permission. If you decline or later withdraw consent, Trace will not start new Gemini transcription or automatically retry transmissions in the background. You can withdraw consent in Settings. Trace will ask again if this disclosure materially changes.
How Google uses it
Google's use of Gemini API data depends on the service tier for the project associated with your API key. Under Google's current terms:
Unpaid services
Google may use submitted content and responses to provide, improve, and develop its products and machine-learning technologies, and human reviewers may process API inputs and outputs; Google therefore advises not to submit sensitive, confidential, or personal information to unpaid services.
Paid services
Google states that it does not use prompts, files, or responses to improve its products and processes them under its data processing addendum, while limited logging may still occur for safety, abuse prevention, and legal obligations.
Trace shares data with the Google Gemini API only for the purposes described above and relies on Google's applicable API terms, privacy policy, and paid-service data processing commitments to provide protection consistent with this policy for data processed on Trace's behalf. Trace does not separately authorize Google to use data for any undisclosed Trace purpose.
Temporary storage and deletion
Longer recordings are processed in sections; the audio is uploaded to Google and held temporarily on its servers while that happens. After processing finishes, is cancelled, or fails for good, Trace makes a best-effort attempt to delete that temporary data. If a network or service failure prevents this, the data may remain under Google's settings and retention policies. Google currently states that submitted content, related context, and replies may be kept for up to 55 days to detect violations of its usage policies.
Gemini API key
You provide your own Gemini API key. The key is stored only in iOS Keychain and is used to call the Google Gemini API. It is not written into meeting notes, transcripts, Markdown exports, or in-app meeting data.
Trace does not provide a built-in Gemini account or built-in API key. You can remove the saved key in Settings.
Local storage
Trace stores recordings, meeting notes, transcripts, generated results, processing state, and necessary app settings locally on your iPhone so you can review, retry, play, and share results later. Audio recorded locally on Apple Watch stays on the watch until the iPhone confirms receipt. These records stay on your devices unless you choose to share, export, back up, or transmit them using system features.
Tracking and accounts
Trace does not track you across apps or websites, does not require a built-in account sign-in, and does not collect account passwords.
Your choices
- You can choose not to enter a Gemini API key, but Gemini transcription and analysis will not work without one.
- You can decline Google Gemini data sharing before the first transmission.
- You can withdraw Google Gemini data sharing consent in Settings.
- You can remove the saved Gemini API key in Settings.
- You can delete meeting records and local results in the app.
- You can share or export results using iOS system features.
Contact
For privacy questions or support needs, please start with the Trace Support page.