Privacy summary
BetterScreenShot is a local-first Windows application.
The application itself does not provide:
- Cloud capture storage.
- Hosted sharing links.
- User accounts.
- Advertising.
- Behavioral analytics.
- Sale of user data.
Screenshots, recordings, microphone audio, computer audio, camera input, annotations, OCR, QR recognition, History, projects, and media export are processed on your computer.
This support page is a product overview, not a replacement for any formal privacy notice required by an app marketplace or website. The BetterScreenShot browser extension has its own detailed privacy policy linked from its marketplace listing.
Data BetterScreenShot handles
When you choose to use a feature, BetterScreenShot may handle:
- Pixels from a selected screen, window, display, or webpage.
- Audio from a microphone you select.
- Computer audio from the current Windows output when enabled.
- Video from a camera you select for Camera bubble.
- Pointer, click, and optional transient keystroke-overlay information.
- Text or QR content recognized from a selected image.
- Filenames, configured folders, tags, favorites, and project metadata.
- Local diagnostic events about app operations and failures.
This information supports the action you requested. It is not sent to the developer unless you deliberately attach a file or diagnostic report to a support message.
Local files and retention
BetterScreenShot can keep:
- Temporary managed captures in History.
- Thumbnails and History metadata.
- Editable image and recording projects.
- Settings and presets.
- Privacy-safe rotating diagnostic logs.
- Recovery information for interrupted work.
- Normal files you save to a folder you control.
- Backup files you export to a location you choose.
History retention is configurable. A separate file created by Save is not deleted by automatic History cleanup.
Use BetterScreenShot's own History, Recovery Center, backup, and deletion controls instead of manually removing application-data files.
Screen capture and recording
BetterScreenShot captures only when you start a capture or an explicitly configured local shortcut or automation action requests one.
External betterscreenshot:// links cannot silently capture the screen. They require visible one-time approval before capture.
BetterScreenShot marks its own selection overlays, recording controls, camera preview, and selected-area boundary for capture exclusion where Windows supports it. Capture exclusion is a platform safeguard, not a promise that unrelated applications, notifications, passwords, or sensitive content will be hidden.
If you reveal sensitive information on the selected screen, it may be included. Prepare your desktop before capture or recording.
Microphone, computer audio, and camera
Microphone and camera access are used only when you enable those recording inputs. Windows controls the underlying permission. You can review or revoke access in Windows Settings > Privacy & security.
Computer-audio recording follows the Windows output you select. BetterScreenShot does not listen to computer audio when the input is disabled and no recording is active.
Camera preview and compositing remain local. Close other camera applications if Windows reports the device is busy.
Keystroke overlays
Keyboard overlays are optional visual recording aids.
- Shortcut overlays can show key combinations.
- Printable keys require a separate privacy acknowledgement.
- Raw events are processed transiently in memory.
- BetterScreenShot does not write a keystroke log.
- Secure desktop input is not captured.
- Enterprise policy can disable the feature.
Turn the feature off before working with passwords or private text. BetterScreenShot cannot determine whether every field in every recorded application contains sensitive content.
OCR, QR, and link detection
Text recognition and QR reading happen locally with packaged or Windows-provided recognition components. Automatic language detection uses installed local language models.
When link detection is enabled, BetterScreenShot recognizes only HTTP and HTTPS destinations for open-link actions. It shows the exact destination and rejects unsafe schemes.
Always verify recognized text and links before using them.
Browser extension
The BetterScreenShot browser extension operates only after you start a full-page capture.
For that capture, it handles:
- Visible content of the active page as image pixels.
- The current page title and URL.
- Temporary progress and reconstruction data.
The result is transferred locally to the registered BetterScreenShot Windows application through the browser's native messaging system. The extension does not create a browsing-history database, run advertising, use analytics, or send the captured page to the developer's servers.
Read the full browser-extension privacy policy before installation.
Diagnostics
When enabled, BetterScreenShot keeps bounded rotating diagnostic events on the computer. These focus on operation names, timing, status, capability information, and privacy-reduced paths.
The diagnostic export review excludes:
- Screenshots and recordings.
- Microphone or computer audio.
- OCR and QR content.
- Keystrokes.
- Clipboard contents.
- Security tokens.
- Complete private paths.
You may deliberately add one sample when it is necessary and safe. Review the package before sharing it.
Diagnostics are not uploaded automatically.
Local backups
Local backups can include settings, presets, shortcuts, the History index, and optional managed captures and editable projects.
Backups exclude credentials, caches, thumbnails, diagnostics, crash dumps, and update files. The backup remains wherever you save it. Protect it like any file that may contain screenshots or project content.
Local automation
BetterScreenShot can expose an optional local command-line companion and betterscreenshot:// links.
Security controls include:
- Per-user local authentication for command requests.
- Strict command and parameter validation.
- Rejection of unknown or unsafe inputs.
- Visible approval for externally initiated capture.
- Privacy-reduced automation diagnostics.
- An option to disable automation or URI links.
Enable automation only when you use it. Do not copy command credentials or internal runtime values into support messages.
Microsoft Store and Windows services
Installing or updating through Microsoft Store and using Windows permissions may involve Microsoft services governed by Microsoft's terms and privacy practices. BetterScreenShot does not control Store telemetry, Windows crash reporting, device policy, or marketplace account data.
The app's optional update check asks the Microsoft Store for BetterScreenShot package availability. It does not upload your captures.
Your controls
You can:
- Disable History or change its retention.
- Save files only where you choose.
- Delete temporary History items.
- Delete saved or exported files through Windows.
- Disable microphone, camera, computer audio, cursor, clicks, or keystroke overlays.
- Remove the browser extension.
- Disable local automation and URI links.
- Disable BetterScreenShot diagnostics.
- Export and inspect a diagnostic package before sharing.
- Create and retain your own backup.
- Uninstall BetterScreenShot through Windows.
Before uninstalling, recover unfinished work and save or export anything you need.
Reporting a security or privacy concern
Email bss@guneykaragoz.com with a concise description. Do not include an exploit payload, password, private key, confidential screenshot, or sensitive recording in the first message. Support can request the smallest safe evidence needed.