Improve Handwashing & Privacy

Improve Handwashing is designed to protect your privacy and enable you to choose what to share.


Improve Handwashing sends limited information that is captured by your Apple Watch as part of your use of the Handwashing feature. The information collected will include limited motion data, feedback you provide and certain processed audio data. If you choose to share this information it will be reviewed only by Apple employees and used to develop, improve and understand the effectiveness of the Handwashing feature; it will not be used for any other purpose. This information is not linked to your Apple Account or other data Apple may have from your use of other Apple services.

The information collected from you as part of Improve Handwashing will include certain raw motion data (such as accelerometer data), your engagement with the feature (such as your response to handwashing notifications), and certain processed audio that is captured by your Apple Watch only when this feature is enabled and processed on device to remove most instances of recognisable speech.

The collected audio files will not exceed 60 seconds from when handwashing motion is detected by your Apple Watch. Any audio that is identified by Apple to include recognisable speech will be promptly deleted.

All information provided as part of Improve Handwashing will be encrypted in transit and on your device.

By enabling Improve Handwashing, you agree and consent to Apple’s and its subsidiaries’ and agents’ transmission, collection, maintenance, processing and use of this information as described above. Apple may store this information with trusted third-party service providers. You may choose to stop sharing your data with Apple at any time. To do so, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements and tap to turn off Improve Handwashing.

At all times, information collected by Apple will be treated in accordance with Apple’s Privacy Policy, which can be found at apple.com/au/privacy.

Published Date: September 20, 2024