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The desktop app counts words, never text. This page explains what it looks at, why, and what stays on your computer.

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Why the app needs keyboard access

The app counts words as you type in your other apps, so it needs to notice keystrokes across your whole computer.
On Linux, the input group lets any program you run read keyboard input, not only 4thewords. Installing the app adds you to it if you aren’t already in it, and the install says so when it does. Uninstalling doesn’t remove you. See Uninstalling to undo it.

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What it reads

  • Keystrokes, turned into counts. Words typed, words pasted, and time spent writing.
  • The app or site in front of you. It counts only the ones on your list. The app checks this on your computer, then forgets it.
The app also keeps a log of what it did (launches, syncs, counts, and errors) in its settings folder. The log never holds your text, the names of your documents or sites, or your sign-in. It stays on your computer unless you send us a debug bundle.

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What it never stores or sends

  • Your text. 4thewords counts your words. Your text is never stored or sent. When you paste, the app reads the pasted text once to count it, then discards it.
  • Passwords. Password managers and your computer’s password prompts never count.
  • Terminals. Command-line windows never count.
  • Anything you haven’t added. An app or site that isn’t on your list is skipped.

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App and site names are opt-in

By default the app doesn’t record where you write. Your synced data is numbers only.
Where to find it: 4thewords icon → Settings → Track apps & sites
Turn on Track apps & sites and the app adds a breakdown of your words by app and site, which you see in Stats. It also sends those names to 4thewords along with your word counts.
With Track apps & sites on, the app sends the names of the apps, sites, and documents you write in. Leave it off to keep those private. Your text is never sent either way.
Turn the switch off and the app stops recording and sending names right away. Your word counts keep syncing as usual.

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Your words stay on your computer until you sign in

Without an account, the app counts your words and keeps the total on your computer. Signing in sends your counts to your 4thewords account. Turn Sync to 4thewords off in Settings to keep them local again.

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No ads, no data sales

Word counts go only to 4thewords. No advertising or analytics services receive data from the app, and we never train AI on your words or your writing data.

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Uninstalling

Removing the app never touches your 4thewords account. See Uninstalling.

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Frequently Asked Questions

No. It turns your keystrokes into numbers on your computer, and your text is never stored or sent. The only moment it reads text is a keyboard paste: it reads the pasted text once to count it, then discards it.
No. Word counts go only to 4thewords.
Only if you turn on Track apps & sites. With it off, your synced data is numbers only. With it on, the app sends the names of the apps, sites, and documents you write in.
The app stops recording and sending app and site names right away. Your word counts keep syncing as usual.
Yes. Click the pause button on the Mini bar, or switch Tracking off in the window. Quit app in Settings stops the app completely.
You sign in on the 4thewords website, so the app never sees your password. It keeps a sign-in token on your computer, and Disconnect in Settings signs you out.
Keep exploring

Word Counting & My Sites

Choose the apps and sites on your list.

Troubleshooting

What a debug bundle contains before you send one.