Privacy Policy

The short version

Files transfer directly between your Mac and Android device. Buying or recovering a website license requires an email sign-in. The license service stores your email, purchase references, trial eligibility, hashed sign-in credentials, an encrypted recoverable license key, and a random Mac activation identifier. Cloudflare hosts the service, Stripe handles payments, and Zoho Mail sends sign-in emails. We do not receive your full card details, file contents, or file names. The website edition also checks account.getportline.app for new versions; that request carries no license key or identifier.

Android file contents, names, folders, and transfer activity are processed locally and are not uploaded to our licensing service. We do not use advertising identifiers or sell personal information. Web-license data is used for activation, billing support, fraud prevention, and recovery, not advertising. Sign-in links expire after 15 minutes; account sessions expire after seven days, or one day without activity. Sensitive actions can require a fresh email sign-in. Contact support to request access to or deletion of account data, subject to billing and legal retention requirements.

Files and device information

At your direction, PortLine reads files, folder names, metadata and storage information made available by your Android device so you can browse them in Finder and transfer them. It also processes connection details such as device names, device identifiers and connection status.

This information is processed locally on your Mac and your Android device. File contents and connection details are not sent to us. Files copied to another app or to a cloud-synced folder are then subject to that destination's settings and policies.

Connections and permissions

Advanced USB uses Android debugging over a cable. Standard USB uses the Media Transfer Protocol. On Android 11 and later, paired Wireless debugging uses an encrypted connection on your local network.

Wi-Fi setup for Android 10 and older may first require USB. That older Wi-Fi connection is not encrypted. Use a trusted private network, turn it off when finished, or use USB instead.

Pairing information is stored locally in macOS-protected storage. Local Network permission is used to find and connect to your devices. You can revoke permissions in macOS or Android settings and remove remembered connections in PortLine.

Local storage and deletion

PortLine may keep downloaded or temporary file copies on your Mac to serve Finder and complete transfers. Preferences, remembered devices, transfer recovery state and activity history are also stored locally.

Use the app's cache and connection controls to review or remove local data. Removing a cached copy does not itself delete the original file on the phone. Deleting a file on a connected device does affect that device; keep backups of important files.

Android file contents, names, folders, and transfer activity are processed locally and are not uploaded to our licensing service. We do not use advertising identifiers or sell personal information. Web-license data is used for activation, billing support, fraud prevention, and recovery, not advertising. Sign-in links expire after 15 minutes; account sessions expire after seven days, or one day without activity. Sensitive actions can require a fresh email sign-in. Contact support to request access to or deletion of account data, subject to billing and legal retention requirements.

App Store purchases and platform services

Apple processes App Store purchases, subscriptions, trials and payment information. PortLine uses StoreKit product and entitlement information to unlock or restore features. We do not receive your payment card details.

Apple, macOS, Android or your device's maker may process purchase, crash or diagnostic information under their own privacy policies and your platform settings. This is separate from PortLine's local processing.

When you contact us

If you email [email protected], we receive your email address and whatever message, screenshots or diagnostic information you choose to send. We use it to respond, troubleshoot and keep necessary support records. Our email provider processes messages to deliver this service.

Please remove private file names and personal details from screenshots. Do not send passwords, pairing credentials, payment details or confidential file contents. We keep support information only as long as reasonably needed to resolve the request and meet record-keeping obligations.

This website

Cloudflare delivers and protects the website and licensing service. Requests involve IP addresses, browser information and timestamps. Installer requests may be counted by date, build and approximate country without storing the IP address in our download counters. Counts may include repeat requests and are separate from optional Analytics. Licensing records support your purchase, prevent abuse and recover access; billing records may be retained as required by law. Contact us for privacy requests.

Optional Google Analytics runs only after you choose Allow analytics. It measures page visits, approximate country, browser/device categories and download-link clicks. Downloads are starts, not proof of completed installation. We do not send email addresses, license keys, account identifiers, URL queries or fragments, or file contents to Analytics. Google may use analytics cookies and process data outside your country. Advertising signals and advertising personalization are disabled. Change or withdraw consent through Analytics choices in the footer; rejecting analytics does not affect the app or download.

Your choices and privacy requests

You control which devices connect, which files transfer and which information you send to support. You can disconnect devices, revoke debugging or network permissions and clear local data. Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to the processing of personal information we hold.

Email [email protected] for a privacy request. We may need proportionate information to verify it; we do not ask for sensitive identity documents unless necessary. You may also raise a concern with your local data-protection authority.

Security and children

PortLine uses the macOS App Sandbox and protected storage for connection credentials. No system guarantees absolute security. Keep your devices updated, approve only trusted computers and choose the connection appropriate for your network.

PortLine is a general-purpose utility and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect children's personal information. Contact us if you believe a child has sent us personal information.

Changes and contact

We publish policy changes here with an updated date. Material changes to how information is handled will be described on this page.

For privacy questions, email [email protected] with “PortLine Privacy” in the subject.