DRIVE PHOTOS · PRIVACY

Your photos stay
with you.

Drive Photos reads the photo library you authorize and writes available local resources to the folder you choose. The current build has no developer-operated backend, account system, or analytics service.

Photos access

Full Photos access lets the app export the library that iOS makes accessible. Limited access covers only selected items. Requests for photos and videos disable iCloud downloading; cached thumbnails are not treated as proof that an original is available.

What goes onto your drive

Exported files retain their original embedded metadata. A hidden catalog alongside your media can include capture and library-added dates, GPS location, albums, favorites, original filenames, file checksums, and people tags you enter. Someone with access to that drive may be able to read the media and this metadata. Drive Photos does not encrypt the export.

Saved folder access

The app stores a local permission bookmark so it can reopen the selected folder. It does not copy your entire drive library back to the phone for browsing.

Actions you choose

Sharing a file sends it to the destination you select. Opening a photo’s location in Maps passes that location to Apple Maps. Apple’s privacy practices apply to that service.

TestFlight beta testing

When you install through TestFlight, Apple separately collects crash logs and usage information and shares them with the developer. Feedback and screenshots you submit through TestFlight are also shared with Apple and the developer. Avoid including private photos in feedback unless you intend to share them. See Apple’s TestFlight privacy details.

No automatic deletion

The current app does not delete photos from your iPhone or iCloud. Exporting alone does not free phone storage. Deleting an item in Apple Photos while iCloud Photos is enabled can remove its synchronized cloud copy as well.

Applies to the current development version of Drive Photos.