Private viewing data deserves specific answers.

What ShowNext processes

ShowNext connects to one Trakt account only after the person authorizes it. The app downloads the account name, library, viewing progress, lists, ratings, collection, and related activity needed for tracking and synchronization. A local copy lets the app open and accept actions without waiting for the network.

ShowNext may request show, movie, person, and artwork metadata from TMDB and may open a user-initiated JustWatch web search. ShowNext does not send a Trakt credential to either service. Persisted TMDB media and person records expire at the six-calendar-month boundary.

When private iCloud synchronization is enabled, ShowNext-owned preferences and other private overlays may be stored in the person’s private iCloud container. ShowNext Lab identity, comments, and votes remain separate and are never joined to Trakt identity or viewing history.

Trakt authorization

ShowNext operates no account, token, or viewing-history server in the current release path. The app presents Trakt’s authorization page and exchanges the returned one-time code directly from the device with Trakt. Refresh requests also go directly from the device to Trakt, and resulting user tokens are stored in the device Keychain.

The native Release build masks the shared app-registration credential as an app-hardening measure. Native masking cannot make a shared credential perfectly confidential and does not change what personal data ShowNext processes.

On-device storage, private iCloud, and deletion

Confirmed Trakt data remains on the device until the person disconnects, deletes ShowNext data, or completes the explicit account-replacement flow. ShowNext-owned private-iCloud choices remain until deletion converges across the person’s devices. A verified deletion may retain a bounded recovery record for 30 days; retrying deletion does not extend that window.

Deleting ShowNext data removes the local credential, downloaded library, pending ShowNext actions, private choices, metadata, derived intelligence artifacts, and signed-in widget projection. It never deletes or changes the person’s Trakt history, watchlist, ratings, collection, or lists.

Diagnostics and support reports

Support reports are created locally only after the person requests one. Nothing is uploaded automatically. The default report includes app and sync status counts but excludes credentials, tokens, usernames, comments, titles, viewing details, and provider payloads. The person reviews the exact report and chooses whether and where to share it.

If a person chooses to send a report to LifeWithTech, only Thomas/LifeWithTech may access it. Support correspondence and attached reports are deleted within 30 days after the request is resolved, or sooner when the person asks through contact@lifewithtech.net. The chosen transport and email provider may process the message while delivering and storing it during that period.

Intelligence, voice, purchases, and providers

Built-in intelligence runs without an external AI account. The normal Release configuration does not offer a ChatGPT connection and sends nothing to OpenAI. The policy and App Store disclosures must be reviewed again before enabling any external AI provider.

The app bundle includes a microphone usage description for a bounded concierge development proof. The normal Release configuration does not enable that proof, does not request microphone access, and does not send microphone audio to OpenAI. The source-controlled proof is available only in Debug builds with an explicit launch flag and a developer-supplied API key. This policy and the App Store disclosures must be updated before voice or external-AI audio is enabled in a shipping build.

Apple processes optional App Store purchases. ShowNext does not sell personal information, show third-party advertising, or use cross-app tracking.

Choices and contact

People can disconnect Trakt, delete ShowNext data, control notifications, disable reward sounds and haptics, and review a redacted support report from Settings.

ShowNext does not use a separate privacy-choices URL. Privacy questions, access requests, and deletion requests may be sent to contact@lifewithtech.net.