The short version
We do not use cookies. No advertising cookies, no analytics cookies, no third-party cookies, no pixels. There is nothing to consent to, so there is no cookie banner.
What is stored, and why
“Cookies” are small files a site asks the browser to send back on every request. Sidenote does not set any. It does use browser storage that is strictly necessary for the app to function:
| Storage | Key | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| localStorage | sidenote:theme |
Remembers light, dark or system so the first paint is not the wrong colour. | Until you clear it |
| localStorage | sidenote:theme-pack |
Remembers the visual pack (Warm Paper, Blue 2001, Glass 2009, Gel 2000). | Until you clear it |
| sessionStorage | sidenote:companion-ran |
Remembers that the companion already crossed the screen this session, so it does not repeat. | Until the tab closes |
| IndexedDB | sidenote |
Your notebooks, notes, tags, attachments, version history and settings. | Until you delete them |
| Cache Storage | sidenote-shell-*, sidenote-assets-* |
The app shell and static assets, so the app can launch offline. | Until the service worker updates or you clear it |
On a self-hosted deployment with Supabase, the Supabase client also stores a session token in localStorage so you stay signed in. That is part of the deployment's authentication, not a tracking cookie.
Third-party storage
We do not embed third-party analytics, advertising, social widgets, comment systems or fonts. The website is served by GitHub Pages and the hosted app by Vercel; those providers may keep standard request logs for security and delivery, as described in the privacy policy. They do not receive your notes, and we do not ask them to set advertising cookies.
How to clear it
You can remove the app's storage at any time:
- In the app — Settings → Delete all data removes the notes and settings; Settings → Backup lets you export first.
- In your browser — open the site's settings, find
“Cookies and site data” (or the equivalent), and clear data for
sidenoteapp.vercel.appandawbuilds.github.io.
Clearing storage deletes your local notes. Export a ZIP backup first if you want to keep them.
Why there is no consent banner
Under the ePrivacy rules, storage that is strictly necessary to provide a service the user requested does not require consent. The theme value, the notes database and the offline cache are all in that category. We do not use anything else, so a banner would ask for consent we do not need.
If that ever changes, this page and the banner will change first.
Changes
We may update this page if the storage the app uses changes. The effective date at the top reflects the current version.
Contact
Questions about cookies or storage: use the private report channel or open an issue at github.com/awbuilds/sidenote/issues.