Penname support

Penname gives private details a pen name before you share a document with an AI assistant, and brings the real details back afterwards. It is a free app for iPhone, iPad and Mac, and everything it does happens on your device.

Get help

Write to info@philanthropel.com. Every message is read and answered by a person. Please do not send us donor data or key files. We never need them to help you.

I forgot my passphrase

We cannot recover it. The passphrase never leaves your device and we hold no copy, so without it the key file cannot be opened. Protect the original document again and choose a passphrase you will remember.

I lost my key file

The key file, which ends in .pnmap, is the only record of which stand-in belongs to which real detail. Without it the real details cannot be put back automatically. Protect the original document again to make a new safe copy and a new key file.

Where is my key file?

On iPhone and iPad, “Save key file” opens the share sheet. Choose “Save to Files” and pick a folder, then look in the Files app. On a Mac the key file is saved to your Downloads folder.

Penname missed something

No tool finds everything. On the review screen, type the exact text into “Penname missed something? Add it here” and it will be replaced wherever it appears. Always read the safe copy once before you share it.

A restored detail looks wrong

Every detail Penname puts back is highlighted. If your assistant reused a stand-in for something new, such as the same amount in a different sentence, Penname cannot tell the difference and restores it. Check the highlighted values. Anything Penname was unsure about is listed above the text and left unchanged.

Does Penname make us GDPR compliant?

No. Because the real details can be restored, the safe copy still counts as personal data. Penname reduces how much personal data you share with an AI assistant. It is a safeguard, not a compliance tool, and it is not legal advice.

Which files can I open?

Pasted text, and text, Markdown and CSV files up to about one megabyte of text.

Can I use key files from the desktop version?

Not yet. Key files made by the desktop version of Penname are locked to that computer. The iPhone, iPad and Mac App Store versions use a passphrase instead.

Your privacy

Penname collects nothing. The details are on the privacy page.