Permissions are feature-specific
LittleDraft’s in-app switches and macOS permissions are separate controls. Turning a feature off in LittleDraft does not revoke its system permission. You can grant only the authorizations needed for your chosen workflow and change them later in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
Apple Mail Automation
Automation lets LittleDraft interact with Mail for selected-message reading, draft workflows, chosen Sent-folder sampling, and optional inbox checking. Enable or revoke LittleDraft → Apple Mail under Automation. The entry may appear after you first invoke a Mail feature and respond to the system prompt.
Style sampling happens locally. In Cloud AI, permitted drafting context is sent for AI processing. In Pro Private Mode, supported drafting is local. Mail itself continues to synchronize with your mail provider according to your existing account setup.
Accessibility
Accessibility supports identifying and interacting with Mail’s reply interface, including insertion. Grant it only when you want that integration. If direct insertion is unavailable, use the offered manual/copy workflow. Read the actual target and recipients in Mail before sending; granting a permission never enables automatic sending.
Screen Recording
Capture Context needs Screen Recording permission because it captures the entire display under the pointer. There is no window or area selection in the current capture flow. LittleDraft takes one snapshot when invoked, recognizes text locally, and saves recognized text to the encrypted Library; it does not save or upload the screenshot image. Unrelated visible content can still enter the recognized text, so inspect the saved capture.
Notifications, files, and Keychain
Notifications are optional for prepared replies and can be changed in System Settings → Notifications. File import uses the files you select; the documented workflow does not require Full Disk Access. Keychain protects credentials and local encryption keys. The protected writing-knowledge view can ask for Touch ID or your Mac password through macOS; do not share that password with support.
Example: choose a minimal setup
For manual replies, start with the Mail workflow and only the permissions it requests. Leave screen capture, automatic inbox preparation, and notifications off until needed. When you later enable Capture Context, grant Screen Recording deliberately and hide unrelated content before invoking it.
Local AI is a defined boundary
Private Mode keeps email and drafting context on the Mac for AI processing and has no automatic cloud fallback. It does not disable your mail provider’s sync, account sign-in, licensing, billing, backups, clipboard tools, or user-chosen exports. Initial activation and monthly renewal need online services. Cloud AI is a separate mode with cloud processing.
Retention and deletion
Manage saved profiles in Writing style and reference text in Library. Choose 7-, 30-, or 90-day Library retention, or keep items until deletion. Prepared replies are encrypted locally and generally retained for up to 24 hours. Removing local content does not recall earlier cloud requests or delete the original imported document or sent email.
See the privacy policy, AI transparency, and account deletion guide for the published legal notices and account process. This guide explains controls; it does not replace those notices.
Per-request online research in the 0.20.57 release
Ordinary Private AI drafting remains local. The release adds a deliberate exception for Little Engine online research, with approval required for each request before content is sent. The notice explains the email/conversation, directions, selected reference/captured-text excerpts, and enabled writing profile/examples that can leave the Mac through LittleDraft to OpenAI. A redacted research query is used for web search. Raw screenshots, original files, and the entire Library are not uploaded.
Cancel creates no research request. Approval is not stored as permission for later research, does not switch the selected mode, and does not authorize automatic Cloud AI fallback. Research needs internet and the applicable online allowance. This per-request research exception is included in version 0.20.57; older releases can require Cloud AI.
Recent activity controls in 0.20.57
Overview’s Recent activity records the replies you used and keeps that history encrypted on this Mac. Privacy lets you hide email subjects or clear the activity at any time. Private AI remains beta; review every draft before sending, even after local quality checks.