Privacy Policy for ALauncher

Last Updated: October 6, 2026
Effective Date: October 6, 2026
Application: ALauncher: Minimal Launcher (com.alauncher.app)
Developer: Nallu Pradeep Reddy (nallupradeepreddy@gmail.com)
Play Store Listing: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alauncher.app

1. Core Privacy Philosophy: 100% Local, Private & Offline

At ALauncher, we firmly believe that your personal data, daily habits, app usage, and notifications belong exclusively to you.

• Zero Network Transmission: ALauncher does not include the android.permission.INTERNET permission in its Android Manifest. The application cannot connect to the internet, upload data, or communicate with external servers.

• Zero Third-Party Telemetry: We do not embed any analytics SDKs, crash loggers (like Firebase Crashlytics), tracking libraries, advertising SDKs, or third-party marketing tools.

• Zero Account Creation: You never need an email, phone number, password, or account to use ALauncher.

• 100% On-Device Processing: All launcher capabilities—including notification filtering, app search, math evaluation, unit conversions, clipboard history, screen time tracking, and contextual alerts—are executed solely on your device.

2. Device Permissions and On-Device Data Usage

To serve as your Android home screen launcher and provide digital wellbeing and glanceable contextual features, ALauncher requests access to specific Android platform APIs and permissions. All data accessed through these APIs remains strictly on your device:

A. Notification Access (NotificationListenerService)

• Purpose: Powers ALauncher's signature distraction-free notification management. Non-urgent alerts are suppressed from your phone's top status bar and organized into ALauncher’s custom Notification Center for mindful batch review.

• Sensitive Content Handling (OTPs & Meetings): Ephemeral alerts such as one-time passwords (OTPs), calendar meetings, and live delivery updates are processed in volatile device memory to surface glanceable cards on the Contextual Island.

• Privacy Guarantee: Notifications are never saved to unencrypted external files and are never uploaded off your device.

B. Accessibility Service API (AccessibilityService — Optional)

• Purpose: ALauncher includes an optional "Double-Tap to Lock" feature that allows you to turn off and lock your screen by double-tapping empty space on the home screen.

• API Usage: To perform this action, ALauncher uses Android's AccessibilityService API solely to invoke the system screen lock action (GLOBAL_ACTION_LOCK_SCREEN).

• Preserving Biometric Security: By using the official Accessibility lock action rather than legacy Device Admin lock methods, your fingerprint unlock, face unlock, and smart lock continue to work smoothly without requiring a PIN/password on wake.

• Privacy & Data Guarantee: The Accessibility Service does NOT monitor, inspect, read, log, or transmit any user keystrokes, screen contents, personal messages, or interaction events.

• User Control: This service is disabled by default, strictly optional, and requires explicit user enablement in Android Accessibility Settings. You can revoke it at any time.

C. Installed Applications (QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES)

• Purpose: As an Android Home Screen Launcher replacement, ALauncher requires visibility of installed applications to render your app drawer, launch applications, pin favorite home screen shortcuts, and provide real-time Trie-based search.

• Privacy Guarantee: The list of your installed applications is processed strictly in-memory and in local sandboxed storage. It is never logged or shared.

D. Zero-Permission Contact Shortcuts (Android System Intent Picker)

• No READ_CONTACTS Permission: ALauncher does not request or use the broad android.permission.READ_CONTACTS runtime permission.

• How It Works: Quick-dial shortcuts on communication apps use the standard Android System Contact Picker (Intent.ACTION_PICK). You explicitly select individual contacts from the native Android system dialog, ensuring ALauncher never has arbitrary access to your contact database.

E. Calendar Access (READ_CALENDAR — Optional)

• Purpose: If granted by the user, ALauncher reads upcoming calendar events for the current day to display glanceable agenda cards and meeting links (Google Meet, Zoom, Teams) in the Contextual Island 30 minutes prior to meetings.

• Privacy Guarantee: Calendar entries are read on-the-fly and never shared or transmitted.

F. Screen Time & Usage Access (PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS — Optional)

• Purpose: If you enable App Time Limits and Screen Time tracking, ALauncher queries on-device foreground app usage to remind you to take screen breaks and deter doomscrolling.

• Privacy Guarantee: Usage metrics are calculated locally and never transmitted.

G. Do Not Disturb / Notification Policy (ACCESS_NOTIFICATION_POLICY — Optional)

• Purpose: Enables Focus Mode and scheduled Quiet Hours to automatically mute distractions.

• Privacy Guarantee: Used exclusively to toggle the Android system Do Not Disturb state. No personal data is accessed.

H. Display Over Other Apps (SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW — Optional)

• Purpose: Powers the Universal Thumb Dock handle and displays full-screen gentle "Take a Break" reminders when your daily app usage limits are reached.

• Privacy Guarantee: Only used for overlay rendering; does not capture or record screen pixels.

I. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Status (ACCESS_WIFI_STATE, BLUETOOTH_CONNECT — Optional)

• Purpose: Displays active Wi-Fi hotspot status (with automatic 30-minute reminder notifications) and connected Bluetooth accessory battery levels directly on the Contextual Island.

• Privacy Guarantee: Accesses only peripheral metadata and system status locally.

J. Foreground Services (FOREGROUND_SERVICE, FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE)

• Purpose: Keeps the Universal Thumb Dock and App Usage Limits running reliably in the background. A persistent notification is displayed as required by Android platform rules. No data is collected or transmitted.

3. Data Storage, Encryption, and Retention

• Storage Mechanisms: All user preferences, home shortcuts, notification filter rules, quick notes, and clipboard history are stored exclusively in your device’s sandboxed local storage using Android Jetpack DataStore, SharedPreferences, and a local Room SQLite database.

• Cloud Sync: ALauncher has no cloud synchronization servers, user accounts, or external databases.

• Data Deletion: Uninstalling ALauncher immediately and permanently purges all locally stored data, preferences, and cached items from your device.

4. Children’s Privacy

ALauncher is built for general audiences and complies with Google Play Families and COPPA policies:

• ALauncher does not knowingly collect, store, or solicit personal information from children under the age of 13.

• Because ALauncher operates completely offline with zero data collection, no personal data from any user—regardless of age—is ever harvested.

5. Google Play Data Safety Compliance

In accordance with Google Play's Data Safety declaration requirements:

• Data Collected: None.

• Data Shared: None.

• Data Transferred in Transit: Not applicable (the app does not possess internet access).

• Security Practices: Sandboxed local storage protected by Android OS security boundaries.

6. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect new launcher features or platform security updates. Any changes will be posted to this page with an updated "Last Updated" date.

7. Developer Contact & Support

If you have questions, feedback, or verification requests regarding ALauncher’s privacy architecture:

• Developer: Pradeep Reddy Nallu

• Email: nallupradeepreddy@gmail.com

• Application Package: com.alauncher.app

• Google Play Store: ALauncher: Minimal Launcher