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jo requires explicit permission to access your data. You control exactly what jo sees, and you can revoke access at any time. All data stays on your Mac.

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Understanding jo’s permission model

jo uses macOS system permissions—the same ones that Apple’s native apps use. This means:
  • No backdoors: jo cannot access data without your explicit approval
  • System-level control: macOS enforces these permissions at the operating system level
  • Full transparency: You can see exactly what jo is accessing through macOS System Settings
  • Complete privacy: Everything stays local—permissions only control local access, never cloud uploads
During installation, jo requests permissions for the first time. You can change these settings anytime through System Settings or within the jo app.

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Permission types explained

jo requests access to specific data sources on your Mac. Each permission is independent and granular:
What this allows:
  • Read email content and metadata
  • Search through email threads and conversations
  • Access email attachments
  • Index sender and recipient information
What this does NOT allow:
  • Send emails on your behalf
  • Delete or modify emails
  • Access email from other accounts not configured in Mail.app
Example queries enabled:
  • “What did my accountant say about the W-9?”
  • “Catch me up on emails from Sarah this week”
jo only accesses emails visible in your Mac’s Mail app. Configure IMAP accounts in Mail.app first.
What this allows:
  • Read files in your Documents, Downloads, and Desktop folders
  • Index file names, content, and metadata
  • Search through PDFs, text files, and documents
What this does NOT allow:
  • Modify or delete files
  • Access system files or other users’ files
  • Create new files without your explicit request
Example queries enabled:
  • “Where’s that contract PDF from March?”
  • “Find my competitor research notes”
By default, jo indexes common folders. You can exclude specific folders in jo Settings > Privacy.
What this allows:
  • Read notes from Apple Notes app
  • Search note titles and content
  • Access note attachments and embedded images
What this does NOT allow:
  • Edit or delete notes
  • Access password-protected notes
  • Share notes with others
Example queries enabled:
  • “What did I write about the kitchen remodel?”
  • “Show me my meeting notes with Jake”
What this allows:
  • Read browsing history from Safari and Chrome
  • Index page titles and URLs
  • Search bookmarks and saved pages
What this does NOT allow:
  • Access private/incognito browsing history
  • Read passwords or form data
  • Modify bookmarks or history
Example queries enabled:
  • “What was that Stripe documentation page I was reading?”
  • “Find that productivity podcast I started”
jo only indexes metadata (titles, URLs, timestamps), not full page content.
What this allows:
  • Read calendar events and meeting details
  • Access event notes and attendee lists
  • Search past and upcoming events
What this does NOT allow:
  • Create, modify, or delete events
  • Send meeting invitations
  • Access other users’ calendars
Example queries enabled:
  • “Prep me for my 2pm with Sarah”
  • “What meetings do I have tomorrow?”
What this allows:
  • Read photos from the Photos app
  • Search by visual content, location, and date
  • Access photo metadata (location, date taken)
What this does NOT allow:
  • Edit or delete photos
  • Upload photos anywhere
  • Access hidden or deleted photos
Example queries enabled:
  • “Show me photos from that Tokyo restaurant”
  • “Find pictures with blue doors from 2019”
What this allows:
  • Read iMessage and SMS conversations
  • Search message content and attachments
  • Access message timestamps and sender info
What this does NOT allow:
  • Send messages
  • Delete conversations
  • Access deleted messages
Example queries enabled:
  • “What did I promise to send Jake?”
  • “Find that contractor name Mike texted me”

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How to grant permissions

1

During first launch

When you first open jo, it displays a permissions checklist. Check the boxes for data sources you want jo to access, then click Grant Permissions.macOS displays system permission dialogs for each checked item. Click Allow for each one.
2

Through System Settings (anytime)

You can manage jo’s permissions at any time:
  1. Open System Settings on your Mac
  2. Go to Privacy & Security
  3. Select the permission type (Files, Calendar, etc.)
  4. Find jo in the app list and toggle it on or off
3

Within the jo app

Jo provides a convenient permissions manager:
  1. Open jo settings (click the gear icon or press Cmd+,)
  2. Go to the Privacy tab
  3. Toggle permissions on or off directly
  4. Click Open System Settings to modify restricted permissions

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Revoking permissions

You can revoke any permission at any time with no penalty:
1

Choose revocation method

Use System Settings (for complete removal) or jo Settings (for temporary disabling).
2

Revoke the permission

Toggle the permission off. jo immediately stops accessing that data source.
3

Optional: Delete indexed data

In jo Settings > Privacy, click Clear Index next to the data source to delete all previously indexed information.
Clearing the index means jo will need to re-index if you re-enable that permission later.
Not sure what to enable? Here are common configurations:

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Excluding specific folders or data

Even with permissions enabled, you can exclude specific locations:
  1. Open jo Settings > Privacy
  2. Click Manage Exclusions
  3. Add folders, files, or email accounts to exclude:
    • Drag folders into the exclusion list
    • Add email addresses to exclude specific senders
    • List file patterns (e.g., *.env, credentials.*)
Common exclusions:
  • Work-related folders when using jo for personal tasks
  • Sensitive financial documents
  • Personal journals or private notes

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Privacy guarantees

Here’s what jo promises about your data:

100% Local

All indexing and processing happens on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded.

Encrypted Index

jo’s search index is encrypted using macOS FileVault encryption.

No Analytics

jo doesn’t collect usage data, search queries, or telemetry.

Open to Audit

Security researchers can verify jo’s privacy claims. Email [email protected] for technical documentation.

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Troubleshooting permissions

Solution:
  1. Verify Mail.app is configured with IMAP accounts (not POP3)
  2. Check System Settings > Privacy > Full Disk Access and ensure jo is listed
  3. Restart jo after granting permissions
Solution:
  • Check that folders aren’t in the exclusion list (Settings > Privacy > Exclusions)
  • Verify the folder isn’t protected by macOS (like system folders)
  • Ensure jo has Full Disk Access in System Settings
Solution: This usually means permissions weren’t fully granted. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and manually enable all requested permissions for jo.

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Next steps

Your first queries

Start asking jo questions now that permissions are set

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