Privacy policy
Last updated · 2026-09-16
Chain is local-first by design: you can focus without an account, and your history lives in a database on your device. We do not sell your data or share it for advertising. Account sync, Guild sharing, usage statistics and Windows integrations have the separate data practices and controls described below.
Data stored on your device
Your sessions, chain, XP, medals and settings are stored in a local SQLite database on your computer. Using Chain requires no account. On Windows, uninstalling can leave the local database on your disk. On Android, uninstalling removes the app’s local data.
If you create an account
Signing in (email one-time code) enables sync and the friends leaderboard. We then store on our backend (Supabase, EU-hosted project):
- your email address (for sign-in only — never sold, never used for marketing without your consent);
- your synced session history, so your devices agree;
- your Guild profile: display name, level, hour-rank and equipped cosmetics, shared with confirmed friends when "Share with my Guild" is on;
- your projects and goals, including private ones, for your own-device sync. A goal shared with your Guild can show its project, title, hours and days to confirmed friends. Its Charge (finish line) stays private while the goal is active. Choosing "Only you" on a project also keeps its goals and trophies private;
- your trophies — the frozen record of a completed goal, including its title, Charge, project and totals. Completion keeps the goal's audience. Choosing "Only you" withdraws the shared copy while preserving your own record. Changing which trophies appear on your profile changes placement, not privacy;
- live status, shared with confirmed friends when Guild sharing is on. Private project and goal details are excluded. Time spent on private work still contributes to shared totals and progression.
Guild sharing starts on for new accounts. Turning it off hides your profile activity, goals, trophies, medals and live status from friends. Your name remains in their friend list so they can manage the friendship. Your history continues syncing between your own devices. Changes made offline take effect on this device first and reach the server when it reconnects.
Explicitly sharing an invite can publish a Forge Card snapshot for anyone with the link. Turning Guild sharing off revokes that snapshot; the link becomes a generic invite. Copies and previews already saved by other people or services cannot be withdrawn. Session notes and intentions are never included in Guild profiles or Forge Cards.
Guild content guidelines
Keep shared names, goals, trophies and invitations respectful and relevant to your work. Do not share threats, harassment, hate, sexual exploitation, illegal content, spam, someone else's private information, or material you do not have permission to share. Do not use Chain to contact or exploit children.
Report harmful or inappropriate content privately to hello@chainsmith.app. Include the person's display name or invitation link, what happened, and a screenshot if helpful. Please don't post reports on the public feedback board. You can also remove a friend to end the connection.
We review reports and may remove shared content or restrict accounts that break these guidelines. We also remove or disable content when Microsoft, Google or applicable law requires it.
Usage statistics and feedback
Usage statistics are on by default. Chain sends app version, operating system, feature-usage events and technical error reports to help us improve the app. These records use a random installation identifier that is separate from your account and sync identifiers. Usage events do not include your project names or session notes. You can turn them off in Settings → Data & privacy → Anonymous usage stats. Turning this off also discards queued events before their next upload.
Feedback links open Chain's Cartog feedback board in your browser, where feedback is visible to other visitors. Chain does not attach your account details, install id, or app version to this link. Older app versions used an in-app form; those submissions remain privately stored with the message, optional contact details, app version, operating system, and random install id.
Discord status on Windows
Show forge on Discord is on by default. If the Discord desktop app is running and permits activity sharing, Chain can display your focus or break status and elapsed focus time on your Discord profile. The default Full detail setting can also show your current heat and chain length. Chain does not send your intention, session notes or project names to Discord.
Turn this off, or choose Quiet detail, in Settings → Data & privacy. Discord controls who can see your activity under its own settings and privacy policy. This setting is separate from Share with my Guild.
Drift Ward on Windows
Drift Ward is off by default. When enabled during a focus session, it reads the foreground app's executable name and window title on your device to match the distraction rules you choose and show a reminder. Matching happens on your device. Rule settings and drift events, including their rule labels, are part of your own data and can sync between your signed-in devices.
Microsoft runtime on Windows
Chain uses Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime to display its Windows interface. The Microsoft Store edition includes a Fixed Version Runtime, which is updated with Chain through Microsoft Store. WebView2 sends required diagnostic data to Microsoft. Optional diagnostic data follows Windows Settings → Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback. Chain's Anonymous usage stats switch does not control Microsoft runtime diagnostics.
Chain includes Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. SmartScreen collects and sends information about your use of the runtime to Microsoft as described in the Microsoft Privacy Statement and the Microsoft Edge SmartScreen privacy information. See also WebView2 data and privacy for Microsoft's diagnostic and crash-reporting practices.
Microsoft Edge WebView2 Fixed Version Runtime licence terms
The following Microsoft terms apply to the bundled runtime. They are separate from Chain's own data practices above. The runtime's accompanying third-party notices also remain applicable.
MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
MICROSOFT EDGE WEBVIEW2 RUNTIME (FIXED VERSION)
These license terms are an agreement between you and Microsoft Corporation (or one of its affiliates). They apply to the software named above and any Microsoft services or software updates (except to the extent such services or updates are accompanied by new or additional terms, in which case those different terms apply prospectively and do not alter your or Microsoft’s rights relating to pre-updated software or services). IF YOU COMPLY WITH THESE LICENSE TERMS, YOU HAVE THE RIGHTS BELOW. BY USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU ACCEPT THESE TERMS.
1. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a) General. You may install and use any number of copies of the software on your devices.
b) Included Microsoft Applications. The software may include other Microsoft applications. These license terms apply to those included applications, if any, unless other license terms are provided with the other Microsoft applications.
c) Third Party Components. The software may include third party components with separate legal notices or governed by other agreements, as may be described in the ThirdPartyNotices file(s) accompanying the software.
d) Other Services. The software may include features that provide an access point to, or rely on, other services, websites, links, content, material, integrations or applications, including as provided by independent third parties (“Other Services”). Your use of Other Services or of software features that rely on Other Services may be governed by separate terms and subject to separate privacy policies. You can view these separate terms and policies through the Other Services’ websites or settings, as applicable. The Other Services may not be available in all regions. You may not use tokens the software uses to call into a Microsoft Azure service separate from the software.
2. DISTRIBUTABLE CODE. The software may contain code you are permitted to distribute (i.e. make available for third parties) in applications you develop, as described in this Section.
a) Distribution Rights.
i. You may copy and distribute the object code of the software; and
ii. You may permit distributors of your applications to copy and distribute any of this distributable code you elect to distribute with your applications.
b) Distribution Requirements. For any code you distribute, you must:
i. add significant primary functionality to it in your applications;
ii. require distributors and external end users to agree to terms that protect it and Microsoft at least as much as this agreement, including providing notice to end users as required in Section 8 below;
iii. You must acquire all code, including any code obtained from a Microsoft URL, directly from Microsoft, including a Microsoft download site; and
iv. indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Microsoft from any claims, including attorneys’ fees, related to the distribution or use of your applications, except to the extent that any claim is based solely on the unmodified distributable code.
c) Distribution Restrictions. You may not:
i. use Microsoft’s trademarks or trade dress in your application in any way that suggests your application comes from or is endorsed by Microsoft; or
ii. modify or distribute the source code of any distributable code so that any part of it becomes subject to any license that requires that the distributable code, any other part of the software, or any of Microsoft’s other intellectual property be disclosed or distributed in source code form, or that others have the right to modify it; or
iii. provide any Microsoft download sites or shortcuts that provides access to this software to a third party.
3. SCOPE OF LICENSE. The software is licensed, not sold. Microsoft reserves all other rights. Unless applicable law gives you more rights despite this limitation, you will not (and have no right to):
a) work around any technical limitations in the software that only allow you to use it in certain ways;
b) reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code for the software, except and to the extent required by third party licensing terms governing use of certain open source components that may be included in the software;
c) remove, minimize, block, or modify any notices of Microsoft or its suppliers in the software;
d) use the software in any way that is against the law or to create or propagate malware; or
e) share, publish, distribute, or lease the software, provide the software as a stand-alone offering for others to use, or transfer the software or this agreement to any third party.
4. DATA.
a) Data Collection. The software may collect information about you and your end users’ use of the software, and send that to Microsoft. Microsoft may use this information to provide services and improve our products and services. There are also some features in the software that may enable you to collect data from users of your applications. If you use these features to enable data collection in your applications, you must comply with applicable law, including providing appropriate notices to users of your applications. You can learn more about data collection and use in the help documentation and the privacy statement at https://aka.ms/privacy. Your use of the software operates as your consent to these practices.
b) Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen (“SmartScreen”) is enabled by default. You can learn more about SmartScreen in the Microsoft Edge Privacy Whitepaper at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/privacy-whitepaper#smartscreen. If you do not disable SmartScreen, you must provide notice to your end users as required by Section 8 below.
c) Processing of Personal Data. To the extent Microsoft is a processor or subprocessor of personal data in connection with the software, Microsoft makes the commitments in the European Union General Data Protection Regulation Terms of the Online Services Terms to all customers effective May 25, 2018, at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/gdpr.
5. EXPORT RESTRICTIONS. You must comply with all domestic and international export laws and regulations that apply to the software, which include restrictions on destinations, end users, and end use. For further information on export restrictions, visit https://aka.ms/exporting.
6. SUPPORT SERVICES. Microsoft is not obligated under this agreement to provide any support services for the software. Any support provided is “as is”, “with all faults”, and without warranty of any kind.
7. H.264/AVC VIDEO STANDARD.. This product includes H.264/AVC codec technology. MPEG LA LLC requires this notice:
THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED UNDER THE AVC PATENT PORTFOLIO LICENSE FOR THE PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF A CONSUMER TO (i) ENCODE VIDEO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AVC STANDARD (“AVC VIDEO”) AND/OR (ii) DECODE AVC VIDEO THAT WAS ENCODED BY A CONSUMER ENGAGED IN A PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND/OR WAS OBTAINED FROM A VIDEO PROVIDER LICENSED TO PROVIDE AVC VIDEO. NO LICENSE IS GRANTED OR SHALL BE IMPLIED FOR ANY OTHER USE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM MPEG LA LLC. SEE HTTPS://WWW.MPEGLA.COM.
For clarification purposes, this notice does not limit or inhibit the use of the product for normal business uses that are personal to that business which do not include (i) redistribution of the product to third parties, or (ii) creation of content with AVC Standard compliant technologies for distribution to third parties.
8. REQUIRED SMARTSCREEN NOTICE TO END USERS.
If you do not disable SmartScreen as described in Section 4(b) above, you must provide notice to all users that your software includes Microsoft Defender SmartScreen and collects and sends the end user’s information to Microsoft as disclosed in Microsoft’s Privacy Statement at https://aka.ms/privacy and the Microsoft Edge Privacy Whitepaper at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/privacy-whitepaper#smartscreen.
9. BINDING ARBITRATION AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER. This Section applies if you live in (or, if a business, your principal place of business is in) the United States. If you and Microsoft have a dispute, you and Microsoft agree to try for 60 days to resolve it informally. If you and Microsoft can’t, you and Microsoft agree to binding individual arbitration before the American Arbitration Association under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), and not to sue in court in front of a judge or jury. Instead, a neutral arbitrator will decide. Class action lawsuits, class-wide arbitrations, private attorney-general actions, and any other proceeding where someone acts in a representative capacity are not allowed; nor is combining individual proceedings without the consent of all parties. The complete Arbitration Agreement contains more terms and is at aka.ms/arb-agreement-1. You and Microsoft agree to these terms.
10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This agreement, and any other terms Microsoft may provide for supplements, updates, or third-party applications, is the entire agreement for the software.
11. APPLICABLE LAW AND PLACE TO RESOLVE DISPUTES. If you acquired the software in the United States or Canada, the laws of the state or province where you live (or, if a business, where your principal place of business is located) govern the interpretation of this agreement, claims for its breach, and all other claims (including consumer protection, unfair competition, and tort claims), regardless of conflict of laws principles. If you acquired the software in any other country, its laws apply. If U.S. federal jurisdiction exists, you and Microsoft consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the federal court in King County, Washington for all disputes heard in court. If not, you and Microsoft consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the Superior Court of King County, Washington for all disputes heard in court.
12. CONSUMER RIGHTS; REGIONAL VARIATIONS. This agreement describes certain legal rights. You may have other rights, including consumer rights, under the laws of your state, province, or country. Separate and apart from your relationship with Microsoft, you may also have rights with respect to the party from which you acquired the software. This agreement does not change those other rights if the laws of your state, province, or country do not permit it to do so. For example, if you acquired the software in one of the below regions, or mandatory country law applies, then the following provisions apply to you:
a) Australia. You have statutory guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law and nothing in this agreement is intended to affect those rights.
b) Canada. If you acquired this software in Canada, you may stop receiving updates by turning off the automatic update feature, disconnecting your device from the Internet (if and when you re-connect to the Internet, however, the software will resume checking for and installing updates), or uninstalling the software. The product documentation, if any, may also specify how to turn off updates for your specific device or software.
c) Germany and Austria.
i. Warranty. The properly licensed software will perform substantially as described in any Microsoft materials that accompany the software. However, Microsoft gives no contractual guarantee in relation to the licensed software.
ii. Limitation of Liability. In case of intentional conduct, gross negligence, claims based on the Product Liability Act, as well as, in case of death or personal or physical injury, Microsoft is liable according to the statutory law.
Subject to the foregoing clause ii., Microsoft will only be liable for slight negligence if Microsoft is in breach of such material contractual obligations, the fulfillment of which facilitate the due performance of this agreement, the breach of which would endanger the purpose of this agreement and the compliance with which a party may constantly trust in (so-called "cardinal obligations"). In other cases of slight negligence, Microsoft will not be liable for slight negligence.
13. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY. THE SOFTWARE IS LICENSED “AS IS.” YOU BEAR THE RISK OF USING IT. MICROSOFT GIVES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES, GUARANTEES, OR CONDITIONS. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAWS, MICROSOFT EXCLUDES ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
14. LIMITATION ON AND EXCLUSION OF DAMAGES. IF YOU HAVE ANY BASIS FOR RECOVERING DAMAGES DESPITE THE PRECEDING DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY, YOU CAN RECOVER FROM MICROSOFT AND ITS SUPPLIERS ONLY DIRECT DAMAGES UP TO U.S. $5.00. YOU CANNOT RECOVER ANY OTHER DAMAGES, INCLUDING CONSEQUENTIAL, LOST PROFITS, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES.
This limitation applies to (a) anything related to the software, services, content (including code) on third party Internet sites, or third party applications; and (b) claims for breach of contract, warranty, guarantee, or condition; strict liability, negligence, or other tort; or any other claim; in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law.
It also applies even if Microsoft knew or should have known about the possibility of the damages. The above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you because your state, province, or country may not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental, consequential, or other damages.
This software incorporates material from third parties. Microsoft makes certain open source code available at https://thirdpartysource.microsoft.com, or you may send a check or money order for US $5.00, including the product name, the open source component, and version number, to:
Source Code Compliance Team
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
USA
Notwithstanding any other terms, you may reverse engineer this software to the extent required to debug changes to any libraries licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License.
Please note: As this software is distributed in Canada, some of the clauses in this agreement are provided below in French.
Remarque: Ce logiciel étant distribué au Canada, certaines des clauses dans ce contrat sont fournies ci-dessous en français.
EXONÉRATION DE GARANTIE. Le logiciel visé par une licence est offert « tel quel ». Toute utilisation de ce logiciel est à votre seule risque et péril. Microsoft n’accorde aucune autre garantie expresse. Vous pouvez bénéficier de droits additionnels en vertu du droit local sur la protection des consommateurs, que ce contrat ne peut modifier. La ou elles sont permises par le droit locale, les garanties implicites de qualité marchande, d’adéquation à un usage particulier et d’absence de contrefaçon sont exclues.
LIMITATION DES DOMMAGES-INTÉRÊTS ET EXCLUSION DE RESPONSABILITÉ POUR LES DOMMAGES. Vous pouvez obtenir de Microsoft et de ses fournisseurs une indemnisation en cas de dommages directs uniquement à hauteur de 5,00 $ US. Vous ne pouvez prétendre à aucune indemnisation pour les autres dommages, y compris les dommages spéciaux, indirects ou accessoires et pertes de bénéfices.
Cette limitation concerne:
-
tout ce qui est relié au logiciel, aux services ou au contenu (y compris le code) figurant sur des sites Internet tiers ou dans des programmes tiers; et
-
les réclamations au titre de violation de contrat ou de garantie, ou au titre de responsabilité stricte, de négligence ou d’une autre faute dans la limite autorisée par la loi en vigueur.
Elle s’applique également, même si Microsoft connaissait ou devrait connaître l’éventualité d’un tel dommage. Si votre pays n’autorise pas l’exclusion ou la limitation de responsabilité pour les dommages indirects, accessoires ou de quelque nature que ce soit, il se peut que la limitation ou l’exclusion ci-dessus ne s’appliquera pas à votre égard.
EFFET JURIDIQUE. Le présent contrat décrit certains droits juridiques. Vous pourriez avoir d’autres droits prévus par les lois de votre pays. Le présent contrat ne modifie pas les droits que vous confèrent les lois de votre pays si celles-ci ne le permettent pas.
The Android waitlist
If you join the waitlist on this site, we store your email address for exactly one purpose: telling you when Chain for Android is available. One email, then you're free.
Analytics on this website
We measure page views, demo use, download-link clicks and successful waiting-list submissions to understand how people find Chain. Reports include the page category, platform, app version, a broad source such as Google or Reddit, a recognised campaign label from our promotional links, and an approximate country supplied by our hosting provider. When a link brings you here from a website we do not recognise, we save that website's name only, so that we can tell where people found Chain. We do not save the full referring address, arbitrary link parameters, IP address, precise location, email, or a visitor identifier in these measurement records. A random identifier belongs to each event only, so a retried request is not counted twice.
Website measurement uses no cookies, browser storage, fingerprinting or cross-site tracking. It stays separate from app accounts and installation usage reports. We honour browser Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control signals. New website measurement records are automatically removed after 180 days. Only private aggregate reports are available to the operator. Our hosting provider may separately retain technical request logs to operate and protect the service.
Your rights
You can request a copy or deletion of your account data at any time. Deleting your account removes your synced history, profile and friendships from our backend; your local database remains yours. You can delete your account directly in the app (Settings → Delete account) — see how account deletion works — or contact: hello@chainsmith.app.
Chain · made by one smith in the Netherlands · back to the forge