NotiVR Privacy Policy

Initially published: 2021-11-20

Last updated: 2026-05-13

Basically...

We don't collect your data. The Android app requests access to your notifications and the local network so it can find your PC, and the iOS app requests access to Bluetooth so it can stay paired with your PC. You're free to remove access using your phone's permissions at any time.

On Android, notifications are read by NotiVR and sent to the PC running the NotiVR desktop app. On iOS, the PC reads your notifications directly over Bluetooth using Apple's built in Notification Center Service, so the iOS app never sees the notification content itself. Either way, your notifications are never sent to us or any third party.

The Android app finds your PC automatically over your local network using mDNS, then connects to it directly. If mDNS isn't an option on your network, you can fall back to pairing by scanning a QR code on the PC App, in which case the Android app will ask for camera access so it can read the code. Camera images are only processed on your device using Google's ML Kit and never sent or stored anywhere after pairing.

All three apps use Sentry which is a third party for capturing error info. Data is only sent if the app crashes or experiences an unexpected error. In this case, any personal information (including notification content) is automatically removed before being sent to them.

We also use PostHog in the Android App and iOS App to collect anonymous usage data about how you use the app. We don't capture any information about the content of notifications.

The PC App talks to Steam for two things: Steam Cloud syncs your NotiVR settings to your Steam account so you don't have to set the app up again on a new PC, and Steam Workshop lets you download community asset packs with custom icons and sounds (or upload your own). Both run through Valve under their privacy policy.

The legal bit

In this privacy policy, we refer to:

"Android App", the NotiVR application downloaded from the Google Play Store
"iOS App", the NotiVR application downloaded from the Apple App Store
"PC App", the NotiVR PC application purchased from Steam
"Service", we are referring to the use of the Android App, iOS App and PC App and how they communicate information

Information Collection and Use

To facilitate the functions of the Service, the Android App will request access to your notifications which may contain Personally Identifiable Information ("PII"). Notification data received by the Android App is relayed to the PC App which is hosted on the user's computer. Notification data that is requested will be retained on your devices and is not collected by Matterworks Interactive.

The iOS App requests access to Bluetooth to maintain a connection between the iPhone and the PC App. The iOS App does not request access to notifications and does not read or process notification content itself. Instead, the PC App reads notifications directly from the iPhone over Bluetooth using Apple's standard Notification Center Service. Notification data may contain PII and is delivered straight to the PC App on the user's computer. It is not collected by Matterworks Interactive.

The Android App pairs with the PC App over the user's local network using mDNS service discovery. The PC App advertises a service record containing the PC's name and a device identifier so the Android App can find it. This information is only visible to devices on the same local network and is not sent to Matterworks Interactive or any third party. Once paired, the Android App and PC App communicate directly over the local network.

As a fallback when mDNS is not available, the Android App can also pair with the PC App by scanning a QR code that the PC App displays. If the user chooses this option, the Android App requests access to the camera so it can scan the code. Camera access is never used anywhere else in the Android App. All camera data is discarded after a successful pair and all image processing occurs on the user's device using AI powered by Google ML Kit.

The PC App uses Steam Cloud to sync your NotiVR settings against your Steam account so they follow you to other PCs. The PC App does not upload notification content, paired device names or any other PII to Steam Cloud, only your application settings. Steam Cloud is provided by Valve and is governed by Valve's privacy policy.

The PC App also integrates with Steam Workshop so users can download community-made asset packs of custom notification icons and sounds. When a user subscribes to a pack on the Workshop, the PC App downloads the pack content through Steam and stores it locally for use in the app. Users may also publish their own asset packs to the Workshop. Anything that is published is uploaded to Steam and hosted publicly against the user's Steam account. Matterworks Interactive does not host, store or process Workshop pack content, and Workshop usage is governed by Valve's privacy policy and Steam Workshop terms.

The Android App, iOS App and PC App integrate with a number of third parties to ensure the integrity and stability of the Service as well as to collect anonymous usage data for analytics. Information such as device logs are communicated to these third parties to assist Matterworks Interactive in improving the apps. PII is removed from logs before being sent to third parties. The list of third parties and their privacy policies are found at the bottom of this page.

Product analytics data

We collect anonymous usage data in the Android App and iOS App with our third party PostHog. This data is attributed to a unique identifier for the device and is not linked to any PII (including notification content). This data includes:

Application version
Error logs
Application events (i.e. connection events, pairing events, etc.)
Number of notifications received
Operating system version
Device model
Device language
Device region

Data request and removal

None of the Android App, iOS App or PC App is designed to send PII to any system controlled by Matterworks Interactive. As such, Matterworks Interactive does not hold any information on its users. Notification, local network and camera access on Android can be revoked by the user at any time using the Android OS permission management system. Bluetooth access on iOS can be revoked at any time using the iOS Settings app, and the paired PC can be removed under Settings > Bluetooth > Forget Device. Steam Cloud sync for the PC App can be turned off in the Steam client under the NotiVR Properties menu. Workshop pack subscriptions can be managed from the NotiVR Workshop page in Steam.

Users may wish to contact one of the third parties used in the apps. Provided below are a list of third parties used in the Android App, iOS App and PC App and their privacy policies

Updates to the privacy policy

We may make updates to this privacy policy from time to time. New versions will include a revised date. If substantial updates to this privacy policy, we may notify you by either prominently featuring a notice on this page or via a notification or notice in the Android App, iOS App or PC App.

Contact details

If you have any questions or comments about this policy, please email Matterworks Interactive at support@matterworks.co.uk