Privacy Policy

STOW for Android

This section applies to STOW: Offline Audio Player for Android (com.bottleworkslabs.stowplayer), provided by Bottleworks Labs LLC. STOW is a player for your own audio files. No STOW account is required, and Bottleworks Labs does not operate a cloud music library or receive your audio files.

Local library and device access

Imported audio, library metadata, playlists, tags, artwork, listening history, resume positions, and preferences are stored locally. Android system file pickers let you choose files and folders to import. STOW does not request microphone, camera, location, advertising ID, or broad access to all files on your device.

Optional artwork lookup

When you request online artwork, STOW sends search terms based on album, artist, and track titles, or filename hints when tags are missing, to MusicBrainz. Artwork requests use Cover Art Archive and may be redirected to its image host, Internet Archive. Search and preview requests happen before you choose Apply.

These requests do not upload your audio, whole library, or listening history. The services receive your IP address, the app's user-agent, and the requested search terms or image identifiers. MetaBrainz logs request information, including IP address, user-agent, and request parameters. Its retention and processing are governed by its own policies. Downloaded artwork is cached locally.

Artwork is supplied by an external community archive and is not filtered for mature content. You can skip online artwork lookup and use embedded or locally selected artwork instead.

Read the MetaBrainz privacy policy and the Internet Archive policies.

Optional Wi-Fi Transfer

When you start Wi-Fi Transfer, STOW runs an HTTP upload server on your Android device and advertises it on the local network. A browser on your computer can send audio files directly to the device. STOW sends folder names, filenames, and transfer status to connected browsers. It does not offer a route for downloading your audio files.

This local connection is not encrypted and does not require a password. Other devices that can reach the service on the network may upload files or see the exposed folder and file information. Use only a trusted private network and stop the service when finished. Transfers can continue while STOW is in the background; the ongoing notification provides a Stop control. Android may also stop the service.

Playback, notifications, and Android Auto

Background audio playback uses an Android foreground service with notification controls. Android's media system and Android Auto can receive track and library metadata, queue state, and artwork to show playback and browsing controls. Notification permission controls notification visibility. These integrations do not create a Bottleworks Labs cloud library.

Google Play purchases and diagnostics

Optional Pro purchases are processed by Google Play. STOW receives product and purchase records and verification information needed to unlock, acknowledge, and restore purchases. Purchase evidence is cached locally and excluded from app backup. Bottleworks Labs does not operate a receipt server and does not receive your payment-card details. To acknowledge a purchase, STOW sends its purchase-specific token to Google Play through the Billing API.

STOW has no advertising SDKs or ads. Google Play Billing initializes automatically and sends Google diagnostics about Billing API successes, failures, and service connections, together with a random session identifier generated for each Billing client. Google uses this information for service analytics and reliability. This can occur without a Pro purchase, and STOW does not provide an in-app opt-out. Google processes and retains this information under its own policies; deleting STOW does not necessarily delete Google’s records.

See Google's privacy policy and Google Play Billing's documentation. Manage subscriptions and transaction records through Google Play. Uninstalling STOW does not cancel a subscription.

Storage, transfer, retention, and deletion

Local app data remains until you remove it, clear app storage, or uninstall STOW. Removing an item from STOW may not remove the original file from its source provider, other copies, backups, or store transaction records.

STOW's Android backup rules exclude app data from cloud backup on Android 12 and later and request device-to-device-only backup on older supported Android versions. Device-to-device transfer may include managed media, artwork, library data, and preferences, but excludes purchase evidence and temporary staging data. Actual transfer behavior depends on Android and the device manufacturer.

You can avoid optional artwork requests, stop Wi-Fi Transfer, remove local items, or clear the app's storage. Deleting local data does not delete records retained by Google, MetaBrainz, Internet Archive, or a file provider. Contact those providers about their records.

Age audience and contact

STOW for Android is intended for people aged 13 and older and is not directed at children under 13. For questions about STOW's Android privacy practices, contact support@bottleworkslabs.com.

iPhone (iOS)

iOS section last updated: June 2026

Stow is a local-first music player for iPhone. Your audio files stay on your iPhone unless you choose to import them or use an optional network feature described below. Stow does not operate a cloud music library, does not require an account, and does not upload your audio files to Bottleworks Labs.

What stays on your device

• Imported audio files
• Your library (folders, playlists, tags, queue, resume positions)
• Artwork cache
• Appearance and playback preferences
• Search history (stored locally on the device)

Stow does not operate a cloud music library and does not upload your audio files to Bottleworks Labs.

Optional network features

Find Artwork

When you tap Find Artwork or Replace Artwork, Stow sends a search query to public metadata services (MusicBrainz and Cover Art Archive).

Sent: track title, artist, album, and filename hints when tags are missing.
Not sent: audio files, file contents, folder paths, library structure, listening history, or Apple ID.

Lookup runs only when you request it. Downloaded artwork is stored on your device.

Wi-Fi Transfer

When you start Wi-Fi Transfer, Stow runs a temporary upload server on your local Wi-Fi network so a nearby Mac or PC can upload files.

• No cloud storage — files go directly to your iPhone
• No password — use only on networks you trust
• Server stops when Stow is not open in the foreground

See our Support page for Wi-Fi Transfer tips.

CarPlay

CarPlay shows playback through Apple's system interface. Stow reads your local library on the phone; it does not send your library to Apple beyond normal iOS Now Playing behavior.

Local network permission

iOS may ask for Local Network permission so Stow can advertise the Wi-Fi upload service on your home network.

Analytics and tracking

Stow does not include third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking SDKs.

Stow includes an optional Diagnostics & Support export (long-press the version on About Stow) that you choose to share — nothing is sent automatically.

Purchases of Stow Pro are handled by Apple's In-App Purchase system. Stow receives only the entitlement status needed to unlock Pro features; we do not receive or store your payment details.

Children's privacy

Stow is a general-audience music player and does not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Your choices

• Skip Find Artwork if you do not want metadata sent to MusicBrainz
• Do not start Wi-Fi Transfer on public or untrusted Wi-Fi
• Delete the app to remove local library data