Local by default
Audio and content stay on your device
The app has no cloud sync or clinical record integration. A speech recognition model may download from its provider, but the provider is not sent your audio or conversation content.
Privacy and data handling
Know where the conversation lives.
The current Windows prototype stores audio and text locally by default. Here is what that means in practice, including its limits.
Stored until you act
Local files remain available
Conversations, the local database and recordings remain on the computer until you remove them. “Zero server-side conversation storage” does not mean zero local retention.
Backups
Text backup has a narrow scope
The app creates a local text backup when it closes and can restore one as separate recovered conversations. Audio and timed segments are not included. Back up the whole data folder if you need audio copies.
Your device
Protect access to Windows
Local database and audio files are not encrypted at rest in this version. Use a protected Windows account and device. Multi-user access controls and an audit trail are still future work.
For sensitive information
Current safety and clinical limits
Use sample data for evaluation.
This prototype has not been clinically validated. Do not use live patient data until privacy, security and clinical workflows have been reviewed for your setting.
Speech recognition may make important mistakes. Check a transcript against its recording before relying on it. Notes and action lists are drafts, and clinical notes require a human review. WordHeld does not infer diagnoses or produce verified clinical summaries.
Workplace policies, recording consent, retention duties and professional obligations vary. Assess those requirements before any production use.
Storage and removal
New Windows installations store data under %LOCALAPPDATA%\WordHeld. Existing installations continue to use their original data folder. Storage & preferences shows disk use and opens the folder. You can remove current audio while keeping text, or manage files on the device.
Archiving only hides a conversation in the app; it does not delete it. Text backups and exported copies remain wherever you save them. Review those copies when deciding what to retain or remove.