Privacy Policy

Last updated 29 October 2026

This policy explains how the File Tide desktop app and this website handle your information, and in particular the data File Tide can reach in your Google account. File Tide is made by Opticalmedia Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales ("we", "us"). We are the data controller for the small amount of technical information described in section 4.

The short version. File Tide moves files between your computer and your own Google Drive. Your files and your Google data go straight between your computer and Google. They never pass through our servers, and we never see, store, sell or share them.

1. The Google data File Tide uses

When you sign in, Google asks you to allow File Tide two permissions. File Tide does not ask for full access to your Drive.

Permission (Google scope)	What it lets File Tide do	Why File Tide needs it
See and download your Google Drive files `drive.readonly`	See the names, sizes and folders of files in your Drive, Shared drives and Shared with me, and download them.	So you can browse your Drive in the app, download files and folders you choose, skip files that are already on Drive, and check each transfer arrived intact.
Only the files File Tide creates `drive.file`	Create folders and upload files to your Drive, and manage only the files and folders File Tide itself created.	So you can upload files and folders to the Drive location you pick. File Tide cannot change or delete anything on your Drive that it did not create.

File Tide also receives your Google account's email address and name when you sign in, so it can show you which account you are using.

2. How File Tide uses your Google data

File Tide only uses your Google data to do what you ask in the app: show your Drive, upload, download and verify the files you choose.
All of this happens on your own computer. File Tide talks directly to Google's servers. Your files, file names, folder names and Drive contents are never sent to us or to anyone else.
To check that a file arrived exactly as it left, File Tide compares it with the details Google keeps about that file. This happens on your computer.
We do not use your Google data for advertising, profiling, credit checks or to train any artificial intelligence or machine learning model.
We do not sell, rent or share your Google data with anyone.
No person at Opticalmedia Ltd can read your Google data.

3. What is kept on your computer

Sign-in token. After you sign in, Google gives File Tide a token so you stay signed in. It is saved in File Tide's own folder on your computer and is never sent to us. Signing out deletes it.
Transfer progress. So transfers can carry on after a dropped connection or restart, File Tide saves the progress of unfinished transfers on your computer. It is removed when the transfer finishes.
Settings and recent places. Your choices in the app, and Drive folders you used recently, are saved on your computer only.
App log. File Tide keeps a technical log on your computer to help fix problems. Before anything is written, file names, folder names, paths, Drive IDs, links and your email address are swapped for meaningless labels, and sign-in tokens are removed. The log never contains your Google data.

4. Information we do receive

To keep File Tide working, offer updates and help when something goes wrong, the app sends a small amount of technical information to our app dashboard:

Status and updates: a random device ID created by the app, the File Tide version, whether the app is online, the computer's name, its public IP address and its network (MAC) address. We use this to offer updates, see which versions are in use and spot problems. To find the public IP address, the app asks the ipify service (api.ipify.org).
Logs, only when needed: if you contact us for help, we can ask your copy of the app to send us its log. As explained above, the log has no file names, no Drive content and no email address. It contains technical details such as your operating system, app settings, speeds and error messages.

None of this includes your files or any data from your Google account. Our lawful basis is our legitimate interest in providing, securing and supporting the app. We keep device status records for as long as the app is in use on that device and up to 12 months after it was last seen, and support logs for up to 12 months.

5. This website

This website does not use cookies, analytics or tracking. Our web server keeps standard access logs (IP address, browser type, page requested, time) for up to 90 days to keep the site secure. If you choose light or dark mode with the button at the top, that choice is remembered in your own browser only. If you email us, we use your email only to reply and keep it as long as needed to help you.

6. Removing File Tide's access

Sign out in File Tide's Settings. This deletes the sign-in token from your computer.
Remove File Tide's access to your Google account at any time at myaccount.google.com/permissions. Choose File Tide, then remove access.
Uninstall File Tide to remove the app, its settings and its log from your computer.

Files you uploaded stay in your Google Drive. They are yours, and removing File Tide does not touch them.

7. Google API Services User Data Policy

File Tide's use and transfer to any other app of information received from Google APIs will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

In practice this means File Tide uses Google data only to provide the features you see in the app, does not transfer it to anyone else, does not use it for advertising, and does not allow people to read it.

8. Security

Everything between File Tide and Google, and between File Tide and our dashboard, is encrypted with HTTPS. Sign-in happens in your own web browser on Google's page, so File Tide never sees your Google password.

9. Children

File Tide is not aimed at children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect information from them.

10. Your rights

Under UK data protection law you can ask to see, correct or delete the information we hold about you, object to how we use it, or ask us to limit it. Email us at support@filetide.co.uk and we will reply within one month. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.

11. Changes to this policy

If we change this policy we will update the date at the top. If a change affects how File Tide uses your Google data, we will tell you in the app before it applies.

12. Contact us

Opticalmedia Ltd
Email: support@filetide.co.uk or hello@filetide.co.uk
Website: www.filetide.co.uk/support