Privacy Mode
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|
| Privacy Mode | Off | Master switch that blocks all cloud features |
When Privacy Mode is on, Cloud Sync, Analytics, and Crash Reports are all disabled. Your data stays entirely on your Mac.
- Work with sensitive information
- Prefer complete local control
- Don’t need cross-device syncing
Individual controls
These settings are available when Privacy Mode is off:
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|
| Cloud Sync | On | Sync settings, dictionary, and notes across devices |
| Analytics | On | Send anonymous usage data to improve Hermes |
| Crash Reports | On | Send crash data to help fix bugs |
Cloud Sync
When enabled:
- Settings sync across your devices
- Dictionary entries appear everywhere
- Notes are available on all your Macs
When disabled:
- Everything stays on this Mac only
- Changes won’t appear on other devices
Analytics
Anonymous data about how you use Hermes:
- Which features you use most
- Performance metrics
- Error rates
This helps us improve Hermes. No personal data or dictation content is included.
Crash Reports
When Hermes crashes, a report can be sent automatically. This includes:
- What happened before the crash
- System information
- Error logs
No dictation content is included.
What data stays local
Regardless of your settings, these always stay on your Mac:
- Audio recordings — Never transmitted, processed locally
- Screenshots (when Vision is used) — Analyzed and immediately discarded
- Dictation content — Only transmitted for AI formatting (not stored)
Privacy Mode effects
| Feature | Privacy Mode Off | Privacy Mode On |
|---|
| Cloud Sync | Available | Disabled |
| Analytics | Available | Disabled |
| Crash Reports | Available | Disabled |
| AI Formatting | Cloud AI | Local AI only |
| Vision | Available | Disabled |
| Dictation | Normal | Normal |
