Otterdock Privacy and Permissions: What Stays on Your Mac
Learn which Otterdock features need Accessibility permission, what data stays local, and how the Direct and Mac App Store editions differ.
Otterdock is designed around a local-first boundary: your core group configuration lives on your Mac, while network services such as updates, payments, or optional analytics are separate concerns. The important distinction is not “does the app ever use a network?” but “which feature needs which data, and can I turn it off?”
Accessibility permission is optional
The Direct edition uses macOS Accessibility permissions to detect hover activation and intercept click actions on its Dock icon. Native macOS Dock folders open using standard system interactions without extra permissions.
What stays local
- Group configuration and item organization.
- Paths and references needed to open your local files.
- Icon preferences and local settings.
Current builds are documented as not sending group names, item names, file paths, file contents, app configurations, or detailed error messages in analytics events. Read the official privacy terms for the current boundary.
Direct and Mac App Store editions
The Direct edition uses Creem for checkout and Sparkle for updates. The Mac App Store edition is sandboxed, uses Apple’s StoreKit and App Store updates, and is officially available on the Mac App Store. Both editions offer a free download with an optional $6.99 one-time Pro purchase; the difference is integration and distribution, not a different core organization model.
Permission rule of thumb: The Direct edition uses macOS Accessibility permissions to detect hover activation and intercept click actions on its Dock icon. Native macOS Dock folders open using standard system interactions without extra permissions.
Frequently asked questions
Does Otterdock require Accessibility permission?
The Direct edition uses macOS Accessibility permissions to detect hover activation and intercept click actions on its Dock icon. Native macOS Dock folders open using standard system interactions without extra permissions.
Where does Otterdock store group data?
Core group configuration and related local data are stored on the Mac under ~/Library/Application Support/Otterdock/ and macOS UserDefaults.
Does Otterdock upload file paths or group names?
Current builds are designed not to send group names, item names, file paths, file contents, app configurations, or detailed error messages in analytics events. Optional services and edition differences are documented in the privacy terms.
For the interaction trade-off, read click mode versus hover mode. For payment boundaries, read how Otterdock payments work with Creem.