Overview
Now Playing Notify (“the App”) is a macOS menu bar app developed by Tom McFarlin (“we,” “us,” or “our”). This policy explains how the App handles your information.
The short version: we don’t collect any data. Period.
Information we collect
None. The App does not collect, transmit, or share any personal information or usage data.
How the App works
Everything the App does happens on your Mac:
- Reads what’s playing from Spotify. The App uses AppleScript to ask the Spotify desktop app on your Mac for the current track: its name, artist, album, Spotify track ID, playback state, and the web address of its cover art. It also listens for the update Spotify posts on your Mac when the track changes. The App never signs in to Spotify and has no access to your Spotify account.
- Shows a notification. When a new track starts, the App shows a standard macOS notification with the title, artist, album, and cover art. When the next track starts, the App removes the previous notification, so Notification Center holds only the current song.
- Downloads cover art. To show the cover in the notification, the App downloads the image directly from Spotify’s servers, at the address the Spotify app provided. The request does not pass through any server we operate.
- Opens and copies song links. When you click a notification or choose the current song in the menu, the App asks macOS to open that song in Spotify. When you choose Copy Song Link, the App puts an open.spotify.com link for the song on your clipboard. It does not otherwise use your clipboard.
Data stored on your Mac
The only data the App stores is:
- Your notification setting: whether Show Notifications is on. It is kept in macOS’s standard preferences for the App (com.tommcfarlin.NowPlayingOnSpotify) and never leaves your Mac.
- Temporary cover art: downloaded images are saved in your Mac’s temporary folder so the notification can show them. Each time the App opens, it deletes cover art files older than 24 hours, and macOS also clears this folder from time to time.
If you turn on Launch at Login, macOS keeps that choice in its own Login Items list. The App doesn’t keep a record of what you listen to. Nothing is stored on servers, no accounts are created, and no analytics are collected.
Permissions
macOS asks you about two permissions the first time you open the App:
- Notifications, so the App can show you each new song.
- Automation for Spotify, shown as “wants access to control Spotify,” so the App can read what’s playing in the Spotify app. The App uses it only to read track information.
You can change either one at any time in System Settings, under Notifications and under Privacy & Security › Automation. The App does not ask for your location, contacts, files, camera, microphone, or screen.
Network usage
The App connects to the internet only to download cover art from Spotify’s servers. It makes no other network requests. The App does not:
- Send any data to our servers (we don’t operate any)
- Track your listening history
- Record which songs you play
- Share any information with third parties
Third-party services
The App does not include any third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking services.
The App communicates only with the Spotify desktop app on your Mac, to read track information, and with Spotify’s servers, to download cover art. Your use of Spotify is governed by Spotify’s own privacy policy. We have no access to these communications.
Children’s privacy
The App does not collect any personal information from anyone, including children under 13.
Your rights
Because we don’t collect personal data, there is nothing to access, correct, or delete. Your notification setting stays on your Mac, and you can change it at any time from the App’s menu.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with a new date. Since we don’t collect any data, changes will most likely clarify our practices or reflect new legal requirements.
Contact us
Questions about this policy? Email support@pressware.co.