> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hermesvoice.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Privacy Settings

> Control how Hermes handles your data, syncing, and analytics.

## Privacy Mode

| Setting          | Default | Description                                  |
| ---------------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Privacy Mode** | Off     | Master switch that blocks all cloud features |

<Warning>
  When Privacy Mode is on, Cloud Sync, Analytics, and Crash Reports are all disabled. Your data stays entirely on your Mac.
</Warning>

Use Privacy Mode if you:

* 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          |

***

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Settings Overview" icon="gear" href="/settings/overview">
    How settings relate to each other.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Formatting Settings" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="/settings/ai-formatting">
    Vision and Local AI options.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>