FrankWeatherPrivacy Policy
1. Who we are
FrankWeather (the "app," "we," "us") is a weather application for Windows, macOS, iPhone, iPad, and Android operated by FrankWeather. You can reach us at support@frankweather.com.
2. What the app does with your data
FrankWeather is designed to keep core preferences on your device and minimize service data. Specifically:
- Saved locations, layers, and settings are stored locally on your device (in the app's local storage and configuration files). They are not uploaded to us.
- Weather and map data (radar, alerts, forecasts, satellite, lightning, etc.) are requested from public providers such as the National Weather Service (NWS), NOAA, the Storm Prediction Center, the National Hurricane Center, USGS, and others. Some platform or provider requests may use a FrankWeather proxy/cache service for compatibility and reliability. Requests can include the place, map area, station, or weather resource you ask to view and ordinary network metadata. Provider and hosting privacy practices apply.
- "Use my location" is optional. If you use it, the app asks your operating system for your approximate location (or estimates it from your IP address) to center the map and request local weather. The app does not build a location history, but the requested place or coordinates can be sent to the relevant weather provider or FrankWeather proxy/cache service to return that data.
- Diagnostics are kept in local log files on your device to help you troubleshoot. Optional remote diagnostics are off by default and only send data if you explicitly turn them on and configure an endpoint.
3. No required account or license activation
FrankWeather is free and requires no account or license key for weather browsing. Cloud notifications are being tested and are available only in builds that explicitly offer enrollment. (Under our earlier paid model, license activation sent a license key, a hashed machine identifier, your IP, and the purchaser's name/email to our license server; that flow no longer runs. Historical license records from past purchases are retained only for support and can be deleted on request — see section 7.)
The desktop app's update check requests a small version file from frankweather.com; like any web request it exposes ordinary request metadata, including your IP address and requested file, to our host. Apple and Google store apps use their stores' update systems under those providers' privacy terms.
Optional cloud notifications
In builds that offer background notification enrollment, enabling it creates a notification account protected by a passkey. The server stores a random account and device identifier, your passkey public key (never the private key), session records, device/app details, push delivery token, selected sound and quiet hours, and the coordinates and identifiers of monitored saved places. Coordinates may be precise. This is optional; weather browsing works without enrollment. We do not continuously track the device while the app is closed. Saved-place changes sync when you open the app.
FrankWeather uses these records to match official weather notices to your places and deliver alerts. Apple Push Notification service and Google Firebase Cloud Messaging process device routing information and notification content to deliver messages. These services may receive ordinary network metadata. Notification tokens are encrypted at rest on our server, and connections use encryption in transit. Passkeys may sync through your chosen platform credential provider under its own privacy policy.
Use “Delete notification account and cloud data” in the background alert settings to request deletion. Once confirmed, monitoring coordinates are removed and notification routes and sessions are revoked. Remaining account records are deleted after a 30-day retention period; private database backups expire within a further seven days. Deleting a cloud account does not delete saved places on your device. Uninstalling alone does not request cloud-account deletion. You can also request deletion on this website.
4. What we do not do
- No advertising and no ad networks.
- No third-party analytics or behavioral tracking inside the app.
- No selling or renting of your personal information. Service providers process the information needed to supply weather and optional notifications, as described here.
5. Donations
FrankWeather is supported by voluntary donations handled by third-party providers (such as Ko-fi or PayPal) under their own privacy policies. We never see or store your payment card details, and donating creates no account or link inside the app.
6. This website
frankweather.com is a simple static site. It does not set advertising or tracking cookies. Our web host may keep standard server logs (such as IP addresses and requested files) for security and reliability.
7. Data retention
Historical license records from past purchases (key, hashed machine IDs, activation IP/region, name, email) are retained only for support and record-keeping now that the app is free — they no longer gate anything. You can ask us to delete your records at any time at support@frankweather.com.
8. Your choices and rights
Because most data stays on your device, you control it directly — clearing the app's data or uninstalling removes it. For license data we hold, you may request access, correction, or deletion by emailing us. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under laws such as the GDPR or CCPA; we will honor applicable requests.
9. Children
FrankWeather is intended for general audiences and is not directed to children under 13.
10. Changes
We may update this policy as the app evolves. Material changes will be reflected here with a new "last updated" date.
11. Contact
Questions? support@frankweather.com.