Learn More About App Clips

Learn about how App Clips are invoked, the information collected from you when you use an App Clip, and how to manage App Clips on your device.

App Clips

App Clips are small parts of an app that allow you to complete a task quickly and without downloading the entire app. App Clips can be invoked in several ways, including by scanning an App Clip code, tapping an App Clip NFC tag, entering an App Clip from a link sent via iMessage or launching an App Clip from a smart App Clip banner in Safari. App clips can also be suggested by Siri or in Apple Maps.

When you launch an App Clip, your device sends to Apple information about which App Clip to retrieve and download to your device. This information does not reveal what link, tag, or code you interacted with to launch the App Clip. For users who have opted into sharing device analytics with Apple, your device will send some limited, non-personally identifiable information from your use of App Clips to help improve App Clips and other Apple products and services for you and others.

App Clip developers may separately collect information about you through the App Clip, and if you upgrade from the App Clip to the full app your data will be transferred to the app. For more information about the developer’s handling of your data you should consult the App Store product page for the full app and the developer’s privacy policy.

Location Confirmation

When you invoke an App Clip from an NFC tag or QR code, the App Clip may ask to confirm your location. Location confirmation helps the developer understand if the NFC tag or QR code has been moved from its intended location. If you allow App Clips to confirm your location, your device will send the App Clip a “yes” or “no” indication of whether the location of your device is in proximity to the location selected by the App Clip developer. The App Clip does not receive your precise location through location confirmation.

The first time an App Clip asks to confirm your location, you will be asked if you want to apply your choice to all App Clips. If you apply your choice to all App Clips by selecting Allow for All App Clips or Don’t Allow, you will not be prompted again to confirm your location. If you choose to confirm your location for only that App Clip (Allow Once), you will be asked by each App Clip that would like to confirm your location. After you’ve set your choice, you can modify your selection on the App Clip card shown the first time you launch the App Clip. You can also enable and disable location confirmation in Settings by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > App Clips and changing your setting for Confirm Location.

If the App Clip would like access to your device’s location data as part of the App Clip’s experience, the developer can separately request access to location services. If you give permission, the access will last for one day, and only while you are using the App Clip.

Notifications

App clips may send you notifications for up to eight hours each time you launch the App Clip on your device. You can enable or disable this feature directly on the App Clip card. You can also manage notifications for all App Clips by going to Settings > Notifications > App Clips.

Manage App Clips

If you would like to disable App Clips, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions, tap App Clips and select Don’t Allow. When you select Don’t Allow, any App Clips currently on your device will be deleted.

Sharing with Third Parties

For users that have opted into sharing analytics with third-party developers, Apple shares a subset of analytics information that is relevant to that developer’s App Clip, as long as the analytics information and statistics are aggregated or in a form that does not personally identify you. Apple shares this information to help Apple’s third-party developers improve their App Clips, apps, products, and services designed for use with Apple products.

You may enable or disable sharing of crash data and statistics about how you use App Clips with third-party app developers by going to Settings > Privacy > Analytics & Improvements > Share with App Developers.

Retention

Data associated with an App Clip is deleted from your device after 10 days or non-use, or, if you have signed in to the App Clip with Sign in with Apple, after 30 days of non-use. App clips are automatically removed from your device after 30 days of non-use.

At all times, information collected by Apple will be treated in accordance with Apple’s Privacy Policy, which can be found at www.apple.com/privacy.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

Published Date: March 24, 2021

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