Workfold

Workfold by Symtix (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch)

Workfold organizes projects, tasks and deadlines in a folder that you choose. The app sends no data to us or to third parties and contains no code for internet connections. Whether and how the folder is synced with other devices or people (for example via iCloud Drive, OneDrive or a network drive) is up to you and the service you use for it; that service’s privacy terms apply.

The folder you choose

Workfold only accesses the folder you select during setup. There, the Mac app reads file names, folder structure, sizes and modification dates, but not file contents. The only exception is Word, PowerPoint and Excel files: from these it reads only the “Last Modified By” field to see who changed a file. The Mac app also checks the macOS information on when a file was last opened on this Mac. Folders you mark as protected, and the folders protected in the templates (for example for study data), are not read at all. iPhone and iPad only read Workfold’s own data in the folder (see below).

What Workfold stores in the folder

In the subfolder _Workfold, the app stores its data as text files: the team (display name, the names used in Office files, color), projects, tasks, annual goals, templates and a change log (which file was created, changed, moved or deleted when and, where this can be determined, by whom). For new projects, the app creates subfolders. Saved versions are copies of your files in the project’s _Versionen folder; the app deletes automatically saved copies after the retention period you set. Everyone with access to the folder can see this data.

What is stored only on your device

Your settings (access to the chosen folder, your team entry, protected folders, calendar, morning message, versions) and, on the Mac, also the state of the last check (a list of files with size and modification date) and a list of saved versions. Everything stays in the app’s protected area on the device, on the Mac in ~/Library/Containers/eu.symtix.workfold.

Calendar (optional, only with your permission)

If you turn it on, Workfold adds due dates and deadlines (by default only your own tasks) as all-day events to the calendar you choose and keeps them up to date. The events contain the task and project name and an identifier in the notes, never file names or contents. Workfold only looks for these events of its own in the chosen calendar and only changes or deletes those; if you turn the feature off, the app removes its events again. If the calendar is synced by a service (for example iCloud or Exchange), that service’s privacy terms apply.

Notifications, widgets and Apple Watch

The app creates the morning message locally on the device. For widgets and the watch face, it keeps a short overview (upcoming tasks with project and date, number of new changes, first names) in the device’s protected area. The Apple Watch receives this overview directly from your iPhone through the connection between the two devices.

Automatic start (Mac only, optional)

If you like, the app opens when you log in to your Mac. You turn this on and off in the app’s settings.

App Store privacy label

We receive no data from the app. Our App Store privacy label is therefore “Data Not Collected”.

Workfold FAQ

File changes do not appear on my iPhone or iPad.

File changes are detected by the Mac app. They appear on iPhone and iPad as soon as a Mac running Workfold with the same folder has picked them up and the folder has synced.

A change says “unclear”.

Workfold recognizes the person from the “Last Modified By” field in Office files or from the file having been opened on their Mac shortly before. On the Mac, go to Settings → Team and enter under “Names in Office” the names that Word, PowerPoint and Excel show for you (File → Info → “Last Modified By”). If the person cannot be determined, it stays “unclear”; Workfold does not guess.

How do I exclude a folder with confidential data?

On the Mac under Settings → “Protected folders”. Workfold does not read these folders at all.

No events appear in my calendar.

Allow calendar access (Mac: System Settings, iPhone and iPad: Settings, each under “Privacy & Security” → “Calendars”) and choose a calendar in Workfold. By default, Workfold only adds your own tasks.

The morning message does not arrive.

Check under “Notifications” whether Workfold may send notifications. On iPhone and iPad, Workfold schedules the message for the next morning each time you open the app, so open it now and then.

How do I delete my data?

To delete the shared data, delete the _Workfold subfolder in the folder (this removes it for everyone in the team) and saved versions in the _Versionen folders. Workfold removes its calendar events when you turn the calendar off in the app. Everything else is removed on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch by deleting the app, and on the Mac also by deleting the folder ~/Library/Containers/eu.symtix.workfold. Your own files stay unchanged.