Bookno

Bookno Privacy Policy

Effective date: September 8, 2026
Last updated: September 8, 2026
Applicable versions: Bookno 1.0 and later versions that expressly reference this policy

Bookno (“the app”) is provided by the app’s developer (“we”). We care about your privacy. This policy explains what data the app processes, for what purposes, how data is stored, and how you can manage or delete it.

1. Policy summary

2. Data we process

2.1 Reading data you create or import

The app may process the following:

Purpose: creating, editing, searching, organizing, importing, exporting, and backing up reading notes, and syncing across devices after you purchase Bookno PRO and choose to enable iCloud.

Storage: on your device by default. Reading data can be stored in your iCloud private database after you purchase Bookno PRO and actively enable iCloud sync.

2.2 Camera, photo library, and OCR scan data

When you use “physical book OCR import,” the app may process:

OCR text recognition runs on device using Apple’s system capability (Vision) by default. Unless you actively enable the “AI OCR” feature described below or turn on iCloud sync, scanned images and recognition results do not leave the device because of Bookno’s features.

If you actively enable “AI OCR” under “Me > OCR Configuration” and complete the connection setup, the app will send the book page images you select for recognition (preprocessed on device with enhancement and cropping; possibly partial regions) over an encrypted connection to the API service address you enter. The preset service is Alibaba Cloud Bailian’s Qwen OCR; you may also enter another service compatible with the Chat Completions API. Before sending book page images to a service address for the first time, the app displays an explanation and asks for your consent; your consent is recorded on device per service address, and consent will be requested again if you change the address. Recognized text returns to the device as a note draft and is saved only after you confirm. “Save & Test Connection” sends one app-generated test image to the service to confirm the configuration works. After you turn off “AI OCR,” the app no longer sends any book page images.

Images sent to a third-party AI OCR service are governed by that provider’s terms and privacy rules, and the service may charge you based on usage; review the provider’s published information before use. After purchasing Bookno PRO and enabling iCloud sync, scan images and recognition results saved into notes sync to your iCloud private database with the corresponding notes.

The app never browses your entire photo library on its own; it only handles images you explicitly select through system interfaces.

2.3 Files and clipboard contents

When you actively choose to import a file, tap paste, or invoke the system paste control, the app may read:

Files and clipboard contents are used for parsing, preview, import, or restore. Markdown is Bookno’s export format, not the backup/restore format of the current version. A full JSON restore first validates the backup; after your further confirmation, it replaces the books, notes, tags, sources, covers, OCR scan pages, and import records in the current Bookno database. Export your existing data before performing a restore.

The app does not monitor the clipboard in the background and does not read files you have not actively selected. Parsing usually happens on device; parsed results are stored locally as described in this policy, or synced after you purchase Bookno PRO and enable iCloud.

2.4 WeRead connection data

When you actively use “WeRead notes import”:

We never receive or store your WeChat account password. You can choose “Disconnect WeRead Skill” in the app to delete the API key from this device’s keychain. WeRead’s own handling of data is governed by its own terms and privacy rules; please review them via WeRead’s official channels before use.

Bookno is an independent app and is not an official product of WeRead, Tencent, Apple Books, Kindle, Amazon, or BOOX, nor is it endorsed by them unless expressly stated in writing.

2.5 iCloud and Apple service data

iCloud sync is an optional benefit included with Bookno PRO (one-time in-app purchase). Only after you purchase Bookno PRO and actively enable sync does the app use Apple CloudKit to sync books, notes, tags, covers, OCR scan images, and necessary related information in your Apple ID’s private database.

2.6 Diagnostics and analytics

The app currently integrates no third-party advertising, user profiling, behavioral analytics, or crash statistics SDKs, and creates no advertising user profiles.

If you choose to share diagnostic and usage data with developers in your Apple device settings, Apple may provide us with crash, performance, or diagnostic information per your system settings. Apple controls the collection and provision of this information; it is generally not used to identify you directly and is used only for troubleshooting and stability improvements.

3. System permissions

The app may request or invoke the following system capabilities:

Permission or capability Use case Required?
Camera Photographing physical book pages for OCR Only when using the capture feature
System photo picker Choosing book covers or book page images for OCR Only when actively selecting images
System file picker Importing supported Kindle/BOOX files, or selecting a JSON backup to restore Only when actively importing or restoring
Clipboard paste Importing Apple Books or other note text you actively copied Only when actively pasting
iCloud/CloudKit Syncing reading data across devices with the same Apple ID Optional (Bookno PRO benefit)
Background remote notifications Triggering background sync when iCloud data changes Used when iCloud sync is enabled

You can manage camera, photo, and iCloud permissions in iOS or iPadOS Settings. Denying an optional permission does not affect features unrelated to that permission.

We process data only to:

  1. Provide the book management, notes, tags, import, OCR, export, and sync features you actively use;
  2. Save your settings and operation results;
  3. Maintain security, data integrity, deduplication, and failure recovery;
  4. Locate and solve problems when you request support;
  5. Comply with applicable legal requirements.

In regions where applicable law requires a processing basis, processing is generally based on performing our service agreement with you, your active requests or consent, our legitimate interest in maintaining service security, and legal obligations. You may withdraw withdrawable consent by stopping use of the relevant features, revoking system permissions, or deleting data as described in Section 7.

5. Data sharing, sale, and tracking

We do not sell or rent your personal information, do not use your reading content for advertising, and do not track you across companies, apps, or websites.

Only when you actively use the relevant features may data be processed by:

If we introduce third-party services or SDKs that access user data in the future, we will update this policy and the App Store privacy disclosure before enabling them, and will require those services to provide protections no weaker than this policy and applicable law.

6. Retention and security

Retention

Security

We adopt measures appropriate to the product’s current scale and data risks, including storing API keys in the system keychain, using Apple’s private CloudKit database, limiting permission scopes, and never logging real keys.

No storage or transmission method is absolutely secure, however. Protect your device passcode, Apple ID, WeRead API key, and AI OCR API key, and regularly use the app’s export and backup features to preserve important data.

7. Your choices, access, and deletion

You can:

Note: turning off sync does not delete data already in iCloud, and deleting the app does not necessarily delete keychain or iCloud data. To delete synced data, first delete the content on a device with iCloud sync enabled, confirm syncing has completed, and then disable sync or uninstall the app as needed.

The app offers no Bookno account registration, so there is no separate Bookno online account to close. For data we actually hold, such as support communications, you may request access, correction, or deletion via the contact in Section 11. We cannot read or delete, on your behalf, data that exists only on your device, in Apple’s private iCloud database, or in your WeRead account.

8. Cross-border processing

Apple, WeRead, or their service providers may process data related to their services outside your country or region, per their infrastructure and applicable terms. Such processing is the responsibility of the respective providers under their privacy rules. We operate no cross-border servers that centrally receive your reading data.

9. Minors

The app is not directed at children under 13, or other minimum ages set by the law of your region. Minors should use the app and external services under guardian supervision. If you believe we actually hold personal information of a minor that we should not process, contact us under Section 11.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy due to changes in features, the law, or Apple platform requirements. Significant changes will be explained via in-app notices, release notes, or the policy page, and the date at the top will be updated. Where the law requires renewed consent, we will seek it before the relevant processing begins.

11. Contact us

If you have questions about this policy, data processing, or privacy rights, contact:

We will handle reasonable requests within the period required by applicable law. To protect data security, we may need to verify the relationship between the requester and the relevant information.