The short version
Tempo doesn't have servers. It doesn't have user accounts. It doesn't track you. Your listening history lives on your phone and nowhere else. That's it.
Now, if you want the details, they're below. But there's no gotcha - what you see is what you get.
What Tempo needs access to
To do its job, Tempo needs a few permissions on Android. Here's what each one is for:
| Permission | Why it's needed |
|---|---|
| Notification Access | This is how Tempo knows what song is playing. It reads music notifications and ignores everything else - no messages, no emails, nothing unrelated. |
| Foreground Service | Keeps Tempo running in the background so it doesn't miss a song when you switch apps. |
| Internet Access | Only used for optional things like fetching album art and genres. Your listening history is never sent anywhere. |
| Media Control | Lets Tempo read playback status from your music app so it knows exactly when a song starts and stops. |
Where your data lives
- On your phone: Everything is stored in a local database on your device.
- Google Drive (optional): If you choose, Tempo can back up your data to your own Google Drive - in your private app folder, encrypted.
- Your control: Export, import, or delete your data anytime from within the app.
When Tempo talks to the internet
Tempo only connects to the internet for optional features that enrich your library. Here's who it talks to and why:
Spotify
- Fetches album art, audio features, and genres.
- Sends simple search queries like "artist name + song title."
- If you connect your Spotify account, the access token stays on your phone.
Apple Music / iTunes
- Used as a backup source for artwork and artist images.
- Only public search queries are sent.
MusicBrainz, Cover Art Archive, Last.fm, Deezer
- These services help fill in metadata gaps.
- Only the minimum info needed for a lookup is shared.
- Tempo never uploads your personal audio files or listening history.
Google Drive
- Only used if you opt into backups.
- Tempo only accesses its own folder - nothing else in your Drive.
Network stuff
When Tempo connects to any of these services, it talks to them directly from your phone. There's no middleman server owned by Tempo. Your data goes from your device to the service, period.
Kids
Tempo is a general-purpose app and isn't aimed at children under 13. We don't knowingly collect anything from kids.
If this policy changes
Things might evolve as Tempo grows. Since there's no email list or account system, the best way to stay updated is to check this page or the About section in the app.
Questions?
Privacy is important and you should feel good about what you're using. If anything here is unclear or you want to know more, reach out to Avinash at hi@avinas.me or look through the code on GitHub - it's all there.