Glossary · App Store privacy label
What is an App Store privacy label?
Short answer
An App Store privacy label is the 'App Privacy' panel on every App Store listing, where the developer states which data the app gathers and how it is used. It sorts data into three tiers: used to track you, linked to you, and not linked to you. Apple has required it for new apps and updates since December 2020.
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What do the three tiers mean?
| Tier | Meaning | How concerned to be |
|---|---|---|
| Data Used to Track You | Combined with data from other companies' apps or sites for ads, or shared with data brokers | Most |
| Data Linked to You | Tied to your account, device or identity | Moderate; check the purpose |
| Data Not Linked to You | Collected without being connected to who you are | Least |
| Data Not Collected | The developer states it gathers nothing | Lowest, if true |
Under each tier the label lists types such as Contact Info, Identifiers, Usage Data or Photos or Videos. Tap the panel for the purposes attached to each one, such as analytics, app functionality, product personalisation or third-party advertising.
How is it different from Google Play's Data safety section?
Apple organises data by its relationship to your identity, while Google organises it by whether it is collected, shared or protected. Apple's label has no field for encryption in transit; Google's has no direct equivalent of 'Data Used to Track You'. Reading both for an app available on each store gives a fuller picture. The two can legitimately differ, because each version may use different analytics or ad libraries, but large gaps between them deserve a closer look at the privacy policy. See the Google Play Data safety section for the Android side.
What should I look for in a cleaner app's label?
- Photos or Videos under 'Linked to You'. Fine for functionality, but it means the data is tied to you.
- Anything under 'Used to Track You'. Unusual and unnecessary for a storage tool.
- Identifiers and Usage Data. Common for analytics; check whether they feed advertising.
- A very short label on an ad-heavy app. A mismatch worth noting, because ad libraries usually collect identifiers.
Labels describe intentions, not behaviour. Apple's guidance makes developers responsible for keeping them current, including data gathered by third-party code inside the app.
Do labels matter if I use Android?
Indirectly, yes. Many cleaner apps exist on both stores, and the iPhone label is sometimes more detailed about third-party tracking. If an app appears on our app reviews list, comparing its two disclosures is a quick check. GalleryJury itself is an Android app, coming soon to Google Play, so its disclosures will appear in the Play listing rather than an App Store label.
Frequently asked questions
Does Apple check privacy labels?
Apple reviews apps before release and can reject or remove ones whose labels are clearly wrong, but the answers come from developers and are not independently audited for every update.
Where do I find the label?
On the app's App Store page, scroll to 'App Privacy'. 'See Details' opens the full breakdown by tier and purpose.
Does 'Data Not Collected' mean the app is private?
It means the developer says nothing leaves the device in a way that counts as collection. That is a strong claim and a good sign, but it is still the developer's statement. Check that the app works offline and that its privacy policy agrees.
Sources
- Apple Developer: App privacy details on the App Store (checked 31 October 2026)
- Google Play Help: Understand app privacy and security practices with Google Play's Data safety section (checked 31 October 2026)
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