PixBox · Last updated August 11, 2026

PixBox Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 3, 2026

Version: 1.1.0

Overview

PixBox ("the App") is developed by Zhenfeng Cao ("we," "us," or "our"). We value your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how the App handles your data.

Core Principle: PixBox is a fully local application. Your photos, videos, and face data are processed and stored exclusively on your device and are never uploaded to any server. We do not collect, access, or store any of your personal data. The only data that leaves your device is described in the Location Data section below.

Data We Process

Photos and Videos

The App requires access to your photo library for the following features:

• Browsing and organizing photos
• Creating virtual folders
• Detecting duplicate photos (computed locally on-device)
• Face detection and clustering (running entirely on-device; no images are transmitted)
• Backup and restore (export/import as ZIP files, initiated manually by you)
• Slideshow playback
• Location grouping (reads the GPS coordinates in your photos and sends them to Apple’s geocoding service to resolve place names — see Location Data below)

All photo processing occurs locally on your device. We never upload your photos, videos, or face data to any server.

Face Data

Face recognition runs entirely on-device. When you start a face scan, the App processes your photos locally and derives a numerical face feature vector for each detected face, used solely to group photos of the same person. This face data is derived on-device from your photos and never leaves your device.

• Collected: numerical face feature vectors (face embeddings) and face thumbnails, derived locally from photos you choose to scan.
• Use: grouping photos by person, entirely on-device.
• Sharing: none. Face data is never shared with any third party.
• Storage: stored only in the app's local on-device database and app sandbox.
• Retention: face data is retained only while the app is installed on the device. Uninstalling the app deletes all face data. You can also delete all face data at any time by tapping "Rescan" in the face recognition feature.
• Deletion: face data is removed when you uninstall the app, or when you clear recognition data within the app. Removing photos from the app's view does not keep a separate copy of face data beyond the device-local database.

Location Data (Reverse Geocoding)

When you start a location scan, the App reads the GPS coordinates embedded in your photos and sends only these coordinates to Apple’s reverse geocoding service (CLGeocoder) to convert them into place names. No photos, images, or face data are sent. The returned place names are stored locally on your device.

• Data sent: GPS coordinates only.
• Recipient: Apple’s reverse geocoding service (CLGeocoder).
• Purpose: converting coordinates into place names to group your photos by location.
• Consent: the App asks for your permission before starting a location scan.

Device Identifiers

The App does not use IDFA, IDFV, or any device identifiers for tracking. We do not perform any form of user tracking or behavioral analytics.

Other Data

• Local Settings: Language preferences, onboarding state (stored locally on your device)
• Database: Folder structure, tags, backup indexes (stored locally on your device only)

Data Storage

All data is stored locally on your iPhone:

• Photos and Videos: Managed by iOS Photos Library
• App Data (settings, database): Stored in the application sandbox
• Temporary Cache: Stored in the app cache directory, subject to automatic system cleanup

Third-Party Services

All App features run locally on-device. The App does not use any cloud AI services, analytics SDKs, or advertising SDKs. The only network call is Apple’s reverse geocoding service (CLGeocoder), used to convert GPS coordinates into place names during a location scan.

Data Sharing

We do not share your data with any third party, and we have no servers to receive your data. The only data that leaves your device is the GPS coordinates of your photos, sent to Apple’s reverse geocoding service to resolve place names, as described in the Location Data section.

Children's Privacy

PixBox is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Your Rights

Since we do not collect or store any of your data, no action is required to delete your data. To completely remove app data, uninstall the App.

Changes to This Policy

We will notify you of material changes to this Privacy Policy through app update release notes.

Contact Us

For privacy-related inquiries, please contact:

• Email: info@stellarsea.com
• Developer: Zhenfeng Cao

Governing Law: This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the People's Republic of China and complies with Apple App Store privacy requirements.