Effective date: October 31, 2026

ClipShelf is a private, local-first clipboard utility developed by The Pro Society. This policy explains how the ClipShelf iPhone and iPad app, keyboard extension, widget, Shortcuts actions, and “Save to ClipShelf” share action handle information.

Information ClipShelf handles

ClipShelf can store text, website links, and images that you choose to save. It also stores preferences and organizational information such as your history limit, pinned items, permanent snippets, custom categories, automatic-expiry choice, keyboard visibility choices, selected saving method, and setup progress.

Local storage, expiry, and deletion

Saved items remain in ClipShelf’s protected local App Group container by default so the main app, keyboard extension, share action, widget, and Shortcuts can use the same shelf. Saved images are resized and re-encoded before storage, which removes embedded metadata such as location information.

Temporary history can optionally expire after the period you select. Cleanup occurs only when ClipShelf or its keyboard is opened; ClipShelf does not run a background cleanup or monitoring process. Deleted clips remain in Recently Deleted for up to 24 hours unless you permanently delete them sooner. Permanent snippets and pinned clips remain until you delete them.

Deleting ClipShelf removes its local app data according to iOS behavior. If you enabled private iCloud sync, the iCloud copy may remain available for restoration until you delete it from ClipShelf Settings or manage it through your Apple Account.

Clipboard access

You can save an item by tapping ClipShelf’s system-provided Capture control. You can also use the “Save to ClipShelf” action from the iOS share sheet, which receives only the content you explicitly share.

If you select the keyboard method, enable Full Access, and turn on Auto-Save, ClipShelf checks the clipboard once when the ClipShelf keyboard opens and saves a new supported item if it has changed. This check occurs only while you actively open the keyboard. ClipShelf does not run a background clipboard listener or continuously poll the clipboard. iOS controls any paste-permission prompt and paste-access setting.

Keyboard extension and Full Access

The ClipShelf keyboard can display and insert previously saved text and links without Full Access. Full Access is optional and allows the keyboard to write new items to the shared local container, perform the optional single Auto-Save check when the keyboard opens, manage saved clips, and copy a saved image back to the clipboard. The keyboard does not use Full Access to transmit keystrokes or clipboard content and does not perform iCloud sync.

App lock and sensitive clips

You can protect the main ClipShelf app and sensitive clips using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode. Authentication is performed entirely by iOS. ClipShelf does not receive, store, or transmit biometric information. Sensitive clips remain identifiable in relevant lists but require successful authentication before their protected content can be viewed, copied, or inserted. Sensitive content is excluded from the ClipShelf widget.

Widget and Shortcuts

The optional ClipShelf widget reads only non-sensitive pinned clips and permanent snippets from ClipShelf’s local App Group container. Its interactive buttons can copy a selected non-sensitive text clip after you tap one. It does not contact a developer server.

ClipShelf’s Shortcuts actions can open the app, save the current clipboard, or copy a non-sensitive saved text clip when you explicitly run the action. iOS may request paste permission when a user-initiated action reads content copied from another app.

Local backup and restore

If you choose to create a manual backup, ClipShelf creates a standard JSON file and lets you choose where to save it using Apple’s document picker. The file can include readable text, links, organizational details, sensitive clips, and stored image data. Because the file is not password-encrypted by ClipShelf, you should keep it in a private, trusted location. ClipShelf and The Pro Society do not receive the backup or its contents.

Optional private iCloud backup and sync

You may choose to sync your ClipShelf library through the private CloudKit database of your Apple Account. This can include saved text, links, resized images, snippets, categories, pins, sensitivity settings, and deletion records needed to keep your devices consistent. The feature is off by default and can be disabled or its iCloud backup deleted from ClipShelf Settings.

The data is stored by Apple in your private iCloud database, counts toward your iCloud storage, and is available to ClipShelf on devices signed into the same Apple Account. The Pro Society does not operate a ClipShelf server and cannot view your private CloudKit records. Sync occurs after library changes while ClipShelf is running and when you open the app; ClipShelf does not continuously watch the system clipboard or poll iCloud in the background.

No data collection or tracking

ClipShelf does not transmit your clipboard history, keyboard activity, saved items, categories, or manual backup file to The Pro Society or any advertising or analytics service. If you enable iCloud sync, the selected library data is transmitted directly to Apple CloudKit for storage in your private iCloud database. The app contains no advertising, analytics, tracking, or ClipShelf user accounts. We do not collect, sell, rent, profile, or share your clipboard content.

Third-party services

ClipShelf does not integrate third-party advertising, analytics, or tracking SDKs. Apple may process private CloudKit data when you enable iCloud sync, and may process App Store, TestFlight, crash, or device diagnostic information under Apple’s own privacy policies and your device settings.

Children’s privacy

ClipShelf is a general-purpose utility and does not knowingly collect personal information from children or anyone else.

Changes to this policy

If ClipShelf’s data practices change, this page will be updated before the relevant app release, and the effective date above will be revised.

Contact and feedback

You can voluntarily send feedback to hello@theprosociety.com from ClipShelf’s Settings screen. Your email app controls what is sent. If you attach screenshots or include clipboard content, we receive only the information you choose to include and use it solely to respond to your request and improve ClipShelf.

Other questions can be sent through The Pro Society contact page.