Privacy Policy
AquaClear: Speaker Cleaner

1. What the App does

The App plays sound tones to help move trapped water and loose dust from speakers and headphones. It provides automatic and manual cleaning, microphone-based Water Detection, headphone channel cleaning, sound tests and care tips. Cleaning and audio analysis take place on your device. Optional Premium subscriptions remove ads and unlock additional features.

2. Information we process

2.1 Microphone audio: processed only on your device

When you start Water Detection and grant microphone permission, the App plays a test tone and analyses microphone input to estimate signs of trapped water. Audio is processed temporarily in memory on your device. It is never saved as a recording, uploaded to a server, or shared with us or advertising providers. Microphone access stops immediately when detection finishes. The App does not use microphone audio for advertising, profiling or identifying you.

2.2 Technical information processed by advertising services

Google AdMob and advertising services used through mediation may collect and share information through their software development kits (SDKs), depending on the services enabled, device settings, region and consent choices. This can include:

• IP address and approximate location inferred from it, such as country or region;
• device and app information, such as device model, operating system, app version and language;
• advertising and app identifiers, such as Android Advertising ID and app set ID, where available;
• app and ad interactions, such as app launches, ad impressions, taps and video views;
• diagnostic and performance information relating to the app and advertising SDK; and
• consent preferences and related information used to apply privacy choices.

Approximate location inferred from an IP address does not require GPS access. The App does not request precise location permission. Advertising providers perform their own measurement, diagnostics and fraud detection. We also use Firebase Analytics and Firebase Crashlytics, as explained below.

2.3 Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics

We use Google Analytics for Firebase (Firebase Analytics) to understand how the App is used and improve its features. Depending on configuration and applicable consent, it processes app-instance identifiers, device and app information, usage events such as app launches, screen views and feature interactions, approximate geographic information, and advertising identifiers where available and permitted. Google states that Analytics does not log or store individual IP addresses for users in the European Union, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, although it uses those addresses to derive approximate geographic information.

We use Firebase Crashlytics to diagnose crashes and improve stability. It processes installation identifiers, crash stack traces, device and operating system information, app version, and diagnostic information associated with crashes and errors. These services transmit information to Google and provide us with analytics and crash reports.

Microphone audio is not included in analytics events or crash reports and is never uploaded to Firebase. The App does not require a name, email address or user account for analytics or crash reporting.

2.4 Purchase information

Google Play processes subscription purchases. The App receives purchase information needed to recognise Premium access, such as the product identifier, purchase token and subscription status. We do not receive your full payment card details or banking credentials.

2.5 Support communications

If you contact us, we receive your email address, message and any information or attachments you choose to provide. Please avoid sending sensitive information or audio recordings unless necessary for your request.

2.6 Accounts and personal content

The App has no registration or login system and no developer-operated account database. It does not collect your contacts, SMS messages or call logs. This does not prevent Google Play, advertising services or our email service from processing information for their respective purposes.

3. Microphone and permissions

Microphone (RECORD_AUDIO): used only for Water Detection after you grant Android microphone permission. You can deny or revoke access in Android Settings → Apps → AquaClear → Permissions. Water Detection cannot analyse microphone input without permission; sound playback and cleaning do not require microphone access.

The App also uses internet access for ads, consent messages, Firebase analytics and crash reports, and Google Play services. Advertising SDKs may use the Android Advertising ID where permitted and available. Google Play Billing supports subscription purchases. These capabilities do not give the App access to your messages, contacts or payment card details.

4. How information is used

• Provide speaker cleaning, sound tests and on-device Water Detection.
• Display ads and measure their delivery and performance.
• Apply advertising consent choices, prevent fraud and diagnose advertising SDK problems.
• Understand feature usage, improve the App, diagnose crashes and resolve stability problems using Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics.
• Recognise purchases and provide Premium features.
• Answer support requests and comply with applicable legal obligations.

Where European or UK data protection law applies, our legal bases, as appropriate, are providing the service you request (performance of a contract), consent for processing that requires it, legitimate interests in support and service security where those interests do not override your rights, and compliance with legal obligations. Device permission is a technical control and does not replace legally required advertising consent.

5. Sharing and service providers

Google AdMob serves advertising in the App. Advertising may also be delivered through mediation or bidding services. The following providers may be used for advertising; listing a provider does not mean it receives data from every user or every version of the App. A provider processes data only when its service is enabled and involved in an ad request, subject to applicable privacy choices and requirements.

Google also processes analytics and diagnostic information through Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics to provide reports and troubleshooting services to us.

Advertising providers may process identifiers and technical information for ad selection, personalisation, measurement and fraud prevention under their own policies. Microphone audio is not provided to these services. Consent messages, where shown, provide information about the advertising vendors and purposes applicable to the request.

We do not sell microphone audio or your support messages. Advertising-related disclosures may constitute “sharing” for cross-context behavioural advertising or a “sale” under some privacy laws, even without a monetary payment. Your applicable rights are described below.

We may disclose information we hold when legally required, to address fraud or protect legal rights, or in connection with a business transfer, subject to applicable legal safeguards and notice requirements.

6. Advertising and consent

The free version is supported by advertising. We use Google's AdMob consent management platform to present applicable consent messages in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. The message allows users to make choices about the advertising purposes and providers presented. Advertising is subject to those choices and applicable requirements. Non-personalised ads may still involve technical information for delivery, measurement and fraud prevention.

You can manage the Advertising ID and available ad privacy controls through Android Settings, usually under Privacy → Ads or Google → Ads. Options vary by Android version and device. These controls do not replace choices made in a consent form or necessarily stop all technical data processing.

To ask about consent withdrawal or exercise applicable advertising privacy rights, contact us using the details below. The App does not currently provide a dedicated in-app option to reopen the consent form. Premium removes ads, but does not delete information previously processed by advertising providers or automatically disable Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics. AdMob consent choices do not by themselves guarantee that separate analytics or crash-reporting collection is disabled; those services have their own configuration and applicable consent requirements.

7. Subscriptions and payments

Optional subscriptions are purchased through Google Play Billing and renew according to the terms displayed at checkout unless cancelled. Google processes payment and maintains purchase records under its own privacy policy. Purchase information is used to confirm your entitlement to Premium.

You can manage or cancel subscriptions through Google Play → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions, or through Google Play subscription settings. Uninstalling the App or requesting deletion of support information does not cancel a subscription. We do not collect payment card numbers inside the App.

8. Retention and deletion

• Microphone audio: processed temporarily during detection and never retained as an audio recording.
• Local app data: you can remove locally stored settings and cached information by clearing the App's storage in Android Settings or uninstalling it. This does not erase records held by Google or advertising providers.
• Purchase records: Google retains transaction information under its policies and applicable obligations. The App uses purchase status to recognise Premium entitlement.
• Advertising and consent information: retained by the relevant providers according to their policies, processing purposes and legal requirements.
• Firebase Analytics: user-level and event-level data is retained according to our Google Analytics property retention settings and applicable Google service policies. Aggregated reports may be retained longer.
• Firebase Crashlytics: Google states that crash stack traces and associated identifiers are retained for 90 days before removal from live and backup systems begins.
• Support messages: retained only as long as reasonably necessary to resolve the request, maintain relevant support records and meet legal obligations. You can request deletion using our contact email.

There is no AquaClear account to delete. Clearing local storage or uninstalling the App does not automatically erase previously transmitted analytics or crash reports. For information we control, including information processed on our behalf by Firebase, email us to request access or deletion. Because these reports use installation or app-instance identifiers rather than an AquaClear account, we may need relevant identifiers to locate records and may not be able to associate them with your email address alone. We may need proportionate information to verify your request. We respond within applicable legal deadlines and explain any lawful reason for retaining information. We cannot directly erase data independently controlled by Google or advertising providers; their privacy policies explain their request procedures.

9. Security and international processing

We take reasonable measures to protect information we handle. Microphone analysis remains on your device, while analytics and crash reports are processed by Google through Firebase. Google states that information transmitted by its Mobile Ads SDK is encrypted in transit using TLS. Other providers apply the security measures described in their policies. No transmission or storage system can guarantee absolute security.

We are based in Pakistan. Google, advertising providers and our email service may process information in other countries, including the United States. Those countries may have different privacy laws. Where applicable law requires safeguards for international transfers, the relevant controller or provider must use an appropriate lawful transfer mechanism, such as standard contractual clauses. Provider policies describe their arrangements.

10. Your privacy rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights to access, correct or delete personal information; receive a portable copy; restrict or object to processing; withdraw consent without affecting the lawfulness of earlier processing; and complain to a data protection authority.

Where applicable, including under California privacy law, you may also have rights to know about collection and disclosure, opt out of sale or sharing for targeted advertising, and receive equal treatment when exercising privacy rights. Available rights depend on the law's applicability and the information involved.

Send requests concerning information we control to freeappsstoodio@gmail.com. For information controlled independently by Google or advertising providers, use their privacy request channels. Please do not send passwords, full payment card details or unnecessary identity documents.

11. Children and teenagers

The App is intended for people aged 13 and above and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information to us, contact us so we can investigate and delete information we hold where appropriate. Additional protections or parental consent may be required for teenagers under applicable local law; the App's minimum age does not override those requirements.

12. Policy updates

We may update this policy when the App, its providers, our information practices or applicable requirements change. The effective date will identify the latest revision. Where required, we will provide additional notice and obtain consent before making changes that require it.

13. Contact us

Appelation Solutions
Publishing as Smarty App Solutions
176 E Khayaban-e-Amin, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Email: freeappsstoodio@gmail.com
Website: appelationsolutions.com