Your Data Stays Local
Privacy-first design
LunaFinder is built so your photo library stays on your computer. The app is a tool on your Mac that reads folders you choose—it is not a cloud gallery that stores your images on LunaFinder servers.
What runs on your Mac
| Activity | Where it happens |
|---|---|
| Browsing folders and thumbnails | Your Mac |
| Adding and removing keywords | Your Mac (companion files next to images) |
| Standard search | Your Mac |
| AI Search matching | Your Mac (after the model is downloaded) |
| AI image indexing | Your Mac |
What uses the internet
Some steps need connectivity:
- License activation — validates your purchase
- AI model download — about 600 MB, one-time (or again if you redownload)
- App updates — when LunaFinder checks for a new version
- Support links — opening help or bug report pages in your browser
Routine browsing, tagging, and searching do not require uploading your photos for those features to work.
What LunaFinder does not do
- It does not replace your files with cloud-only copies.
- It does not require you to subscribe to LunaFinder cloud storage for the app to function.
- It does not change your original image pixels when you add keywords.
Hidden project data
Inside your opened library, LunaFinder may maintain a hidden folder for caches, thumbnails, logs, and AI data to keep the app fast. That data stays on the same disk as your library and is for LunaFinder’s use—not a remote backup of your photos.
You stay in control
You choose which folder to open. You can close the app, move drives, or stop using LunaFinder without losing originals—as long as you manage files normally in Finder.