01 Does Pixel Dust upload my screen anywhere?
No. Captures, the text read from them, and the search index all stay on your Mac. The only network traffic is the update check, which sends your app and macOS version and nothing else. Optional cloud AI features are off by default and ask before sending anything.
02 Is my screen history encrypted?
Encryption is offered during setup and can be turned on later in Settings. When it's on, both the screenshots and the search index are encrypted with a key that lives in your Mac's Keychain and on a recovery sheet you print. Pixel Dust never has a copy. When it's off, your data is protected by macOS and FileVault like any other file.
03 What happens if I lose my recovery phrase?
Your encrypted history cannot be opened — by you, by Pixel Dust, or by anyone. There is no support path that recovers it, because we never had the key. That's why setup makes you confirm the phrase before it lets you finish.
04 Can I tell when it's recording?
Always. macOS shows its recording indicator in the menu bar whenever Pixel Dust is capturing, and we never try to hide or work around it. There's also a one-click pause in the menu bar.
05 Does it record passwords?
No. When a password field has focus, macOS signals it and Pixel Dust stops capturing until it's gone. Private and incognito browser windows are excluded at the capture layer, and you can exclude any app by name.
06 How much disk space does it use?
Pixel Dust stores compressed stills, not video — typically a few gigabytes a month. You set how long history is kept, and the app reclaims space automatically inside that window.
07 Will it slow down my Mac?
Capturing the screen is cheap. Reading the text off each capture is the expensive part, and it runs in the background with limits you control: only when plugged in, above a battery threshold you set, and never in Low Power Mode.
08 Does it record audio or meetings?
Not yet. Pixel Dust records the screen. Audio is on the roadmap.
09 Which Macs does it run on?
Apple Silicon and Intel Macs on a recent version of macOS. It needs Screen Recording permission to capture and Accessibility permission to detect private windows and excluded apps.
10 What does it cost?
Free during the beta. Paid plans will follow, and beta users will hear about them first.
Pixel Dust is free during the beta. Everything stays on your Mac.
Request beta access