Why Selv captures anything at all
Selv is built to remember your context so you can retrieve it later with on-device AI. That only works if there's something to remember — so, with your permission, it can collect the things you already produce during a day.
What it can capture
- Notes and reflective writing you keep in Selv.
- Screen context — what you were looking at, for recall later.
- Audio and transcription for conversations and spoken thoughts.
- Everyday activity signals that help reconstruct how a day actually unfolded.
All of it is stored encrypted at rest on your Mac and used only by the on-device AI. For the full picture of where it lives and what leaves your machine, read How your data stays on your Mac.
You're in control
Capture is something you grant, and something you can take back:
- Pause capture whenever you want.
- Choose what's captured — the sources are separate, so you can leave some on and some off.
- macOS asks for its own permission (screen, microphone) before Selv can use those, and you can change your mind in System Settings at any time.
If a source is off, Selv simply has less to work with there — nothing is captured behind your back.