Privacy Policy for Local File Share
Last updated: November 7, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how the Local File Share Android app ("the app", "we", "us") handles information when you use it. Please read it together with the privacy information of the third-party services listed below.
1. Summary
- Files you share are sent directly between devices on the same local Wi-Fi or hotspot network. The app does not upload your files to our servers.
- Your app settings, favorites and Safe Box data are stored on your device.
- The app shows ads through Google AdMob and uses Google Firebase services. These services may collect device identifiers and usage data as described in Section 5.
2. Information processed on your device
The app works with the following information locally on your device:
- Files and media you choose to browse, preview, share, convert or protect. Photos and videos are chosen by you with the Android photo picker; the app only receives the items you select and saves a copy in its own storage so you can preview and send them. With your permission, the app reads audio files from your device storage, and it lists installed apps so you can share their installation files (APK).
- Files you receive from other devices, and files the app creates (for example PDFs, images extracted from PDFs and audio extracted from videos). These are saved in the app's own storage area.
- App preferences: device nickname, avatar color, favorites, theme, selected language, port and transfer settings, and cleaner statistics.
- Safe Box: files you move into the Safe Box are encrypted with AES-256-GCM and kept in the app's private storage. The Safe Box PIN is stored on your device. The default PIN is 1234; please change it in the app before storing private files.
- Storage cleaner: the cleaner only scans and deletes temporary and cache files inside the app's own storage. It does not delete files elsewhere on your device.
This information stays on your device unless you choose to send files to another device. We do not have access to it.
3. Local network sharing
- When sharing or receiving is active, the app runs a local web server on your device (ports 58280 to 58282) and announces itself to other devices on the same network over UDP port 58284. The announcement contains your device nickname, local IP address, port, transfer mode and avatar color.
- Other Local File Share devices on the same network can see your device nickname and send files to you.
- WebDrop lets any phone or computer on the same network open your device's local address in a web browser to download the files you placed in the share queue, and to upload files to your device while receiving is active. No password is required. Only use WebDrop on networks you trust, remove files from the share queue when you are done, and stop sharing when you no longer need it.
- Transfers over the local network use plain HTTP and are not encrypted in transit. Avoid sending sensitive files on public or untrusted networks.
4. Permissions
- Photo picker: photos and videos are selected with the Android photo picker, which needs no permission. The app does not request access to your whole photo and video library.
- Music and audio (and storage access on older Android versions): to list, preview and share your audio files.
- Location and Nearby Wi-Fi devices: Android requires these permissions for apps that discover devices and read Wi-Fi network information. The app uses them for local network discovery only. It does not use GPS to track you and does not send your location to us.
- Installed apps: to list the apps on your device that have a launcher icon, so you can share their installation files (APK).
- Wi-Fi and network state: to detect your local network address and connect to nearby devices.
- Notifications, foreground service and wake lock: to keep transfers running and show transfer status while the app is in the background.
- Internet: for local transfers and for the advertising and Firebase services described below.
You can grant or revoke permissions at any time in your device settings. Some features may not work without them.
5. Third-party services
The app uses the following services provided by Google. They may collect and process information independently, under their own privacy policies.
- Google AdMob (Google Mobile Ads SDK): shows ads in the app. It may collect the advertising ID, IP address (which can indicate approximate location), device and app information, and interactions with ads, for ad delivery, measurement, fraud prevention and, where allowed, personalization.
- Google User Messaging Platform: where required (for example in the EEA, the UK and Switzerland), the app asks for your consent for ads before personalized ads are shown. You can change your choice at any time from "Privacy options" in the Me tab when it is shown.
- Firebase Analytics: collects app usage events such as screens viewed, the app instance ID, and device and app information, to help us understand how the app is used.
- Firebase Remote Config: retrieves app settings, such as ad placement settings, from Google servers using a Firebase installation ID.
- Firebase Crashlytics: collects crash reports, including device model, OS version, app state and a crash installation identifier, to help us fix problems.
More information:
- Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
- How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites
- Firebase privacy and security: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy
You can reset or delete your advertising ID, or opt out of personalized ads, in your device's Google or privacy settings.
6. How we use information
We use information processed by the services above to provide and improve the app, show ads, measure ad performance, fix crashes and adjust app settings. We do not sell your personal information. We do not receive the files you transfer.
7. Data retention and deletion
- Data stored on your device remains until you delete it in the app, clear the app's data in system settings, or uninstall the app. Uninstalling the app removes files stored in its private storage, including Safe Box contents and copies of photos and videos you added with the photo picker, so move out any files you want to keep first.
- Data collected by Google services is kept according to Google's retention policies. For questions or deletion requests about data related to this app, contact us using the details below.
8. Security
We use reasonable measures to protect information, such as encrypting Safe Box files on your device. However, no method of storage or transmission is completely secure, and local network transfers are not encrypted in transit.
9. Children
The app is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through the app, please contact us so we can help address it.
10. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with a new "Last updated" date.
11. Contact
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at: vtbtsoft@gmail.com