Privacy Policy 

Last updated: August 08, 2026

ScanMate – QR & Barcode Tools (“ScanMate”, “the app”, “we”, “our” or “us”) is provided by NovaTech Labs.

This Privacy Policy explains what information ScanMate handles, why it is used, and the choices available to you.

You can use ScanMate without creating an account. Cloud Backup is optional and is only activated when you create an account, sign in, and enable backup.

1. Information Stored on Your Device

ScanMate stores most app data directly on your device.

This may include:

• Scanned QR code and barcode contents

• Generated QR code and barcode contents

• Code formats and detected content types

• Scan dates, scan counts and recent activity

• Categories, tags and notes

• Favourite and archived status

• Generator settings and code appearance options

• App preferences and privacy settings

• Approximate scan location, when enabled

This information is stored in persistent app storage, not temporary cache.

Clearing your device cache normally does not remove ScanMate records.

However, local records may be permanently removed if you:

• Uninstall ScanMate

• Clear the app’s storage or data

• Reset your device

• Lose or damage your device

We recommend using Cloud Backup or exporting important records if you want an additional copy.

2. QR Code, Barcode and Camera Processing

ScanMate uses your device camera to scan QR codes and supported barcodes.

Camera images are processed only to detect and decode codes.

ScanMate does not intentionally save or upload live camera images.

When you select an image from your gallery:

• ScanMate reads the image to detect a code

• The image is not intentionally uploaded to our cloud storage

• Only the decoded result may be saved

QR codes and barcodes may contain personal information, such as:

• Names

• Phone numbers

• Email addresses

• Contact details

This information is stored only when you choose to keep the scan or generated code.

3. Optional Cloud Backup

Cloud Backup is optional.

ScanMate does not upload your scan records to Firebase unless you create or sign in to a Cloud Backup account and enable backup.

When Cloud Backup is enabled, Firebase may store:

• Your email address

• Firebase user identifier

• Scan records

• Generated-code records

• Categories, tags and notes

• Favourite and archived status

• Approximate location information saved with records

• Backup and synchronization settings

Your password is handled by Firebase Authentication.

ScanMate does not store your password as readable text.

Cloud records are stored under your authenticated user ID. Firebase security rules are used to prevent users from accessing another user’s records.

Signing out stops new backup and synchronization on that device.

Signing out does not delete existing Cloud Backup data.

Firebase privacy information:

https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy/

4. Location Information

The Save approximate scan location feature is optional and disabled by default.

When enabled, ScanMate uses your device location temporarily to determine an approximate address.

ScanMate saves only:

• City

• State or administrative area

• Country

• Country code, when available

ScanMate does not save:

• Latitude

• Longitude

• Altitude

• GPS accuracy

• Raw GPS coordinates

These values are not added to:

• Scan records

• Cloud Backup

• CSV exports

• Analytics

• App logs

Precise device location is discarded after the approximate address is obtained.

Your device or location provider may temporarily process your location to convert it into an address.

A scanned or generated QR code may itself contain coordinates. Those coordinates are part of the QR code content and are separate from ScanMate’s approximate-location feature.

You can remove saved approximate location information from a record at any time.

5. Biometric Security

You may choose to protect your scan history using:

• Fingerprint

• Face recognition

• Other biometric methods supported by your device

Biometric verification is performed by your device’s operating system.

ScanMate receives only the verification result.

ScanMate does not receive or store:

• Fingerprints

• Face images

• Biometric templates

6. Advertising

ScanMate may display advertisements using Google Mobile Ads (AdMob).

Google Mobile Ads may automatically process information such as:

• IP address

• Advertising or device identifiers

• General location estimated from IP address

• Advertisement views and interactions

• Device and app information

• Diagnostic and performance information

• Information used to prevent advertising fraud

Google processes this information according to its Privacy Policy:

https://policies.google.com/privacy

Where required, advertising consent and privacy choices will be shown before production advertisements request information requiring consent.

ScanMate does not provide advertisers with the contents of your:

• Scans

• Notes

• Tags

• Generated codes

Firebase Analytics is not enabled by default.

7. How Information Is Used

ScanMate uses information to:

• Scan and identify QR codes and barcodes

• Generate QR codes and barcodes

• Save and organize records

• Search and filter records

• Import and export records

• Detect duplicate scans

• Update scan counts

• Manage favourites, categories, tags and notes

• Provide optional approximate location information

• Protect history using optional biometrics

• Synchronize records through Cloud Backup

• Display advertisements

• Maintain security

• Prevent misuse

• Meet legal requirements

ScanMate does not execute commands, scripts or programs found inside scanned content.

8. When Information May Leave Your Device

Information may leave your device when:

• You enable Cloud Backup

• You export or share a record

• You share a generated code image

• You open a link, map, email, phone or messaging app

• You perform a web search using scanned content

• Google Mobile Ads processes advertising information

• Disclosure is required by law or necessary to protect users, the app or others

When you send information to another app or service, that service’s own privacy policy applies.

NovaTech Labs does not sell the contents of your:

• Scans

• Generated codes

• Categories

• Tags

• Notes

Advertising-related processing may be considered “sharing” or “targeted advertising” under the laws of some regions.

9. Data Retention

Local data

Local records remain on your device until:

• You delete them

• You use Clear Data

• An automatic deletion setting removes them

• You clear the app’s storage or data

• You uninstall the app

• Your device is reset, lost or damaged

Cloud Backup data

When Cloud Backup is enabled, cloud records remain in Firebase until you:

• Delete them

• Use the available cloud-data deletion feature

• Delete your Cloud Backup account

• Request deletion

Signing out does not delete existing Cloud Backup data.

Some service providers may retain limited backup, security or system-log information for a reasonable period when required for security, fraud prevention or legal compliance.

10. Deleting Your Information

You can delete individual records at any time.

You can also use Clear Data to remove ScanMate records stored locally on your device.

Delete Cloud Backup Account in the App

To permanently delete your Cloud Backup account and associated cloud data:

Settings > Cloud Backup > Delete Cloud Backup Account

You must be signed in before using the in-app account deletion feature.

If you are signed out, ScanMate will ask you to sign in first so your account can be verified.

Before deletion, ScanMate will:

• Confirm that you are signed in

• Show the account email being deleted

• Explain that deletion is permanent

• Ask for confirmation

• Request recent authentication when required by Firebase

After confirmation, ScanMate will delete cloud data associated with the authenticated account and then delete the Firebase Authentication account.

Cloud deletion may include:

• Scan records

• Generated-code records

• Categories, tags and notes

• Favourite and archived records

• Approximate location information

• Cloud Backup preferences

• Synchronization information

• Firebase Authentication account

Local device records are separate from Cloud Backup data.

The app will clearly explain whether local records will also be deleted and ask for confirmation before removing them.

Request Account Deletion by Email

You may also request deletion by email:

novatechlabs.apps@gmail.com

You can use this option if you:

• Are signed out

• Cannot sign in

• Lost access to your device

• Cannot access the in-app deletion feature

• Experience a problem deleting your account

We may request reasonable information to verify that the deletion request belongs to you.

Cloud Backup account deletion is permanent and normally cannot be undone.

Information already exported, shared or opened in another application cannot be removed by ScanMate from those external services.

11. Your Choices

You can:

• Use ScanMate without creating an account

• Choose whether to enable Cloud Backup

• Enable or disable approximate scan location

• Deny camera, gallery or location permissions

• Enable or disable biometric history protection

• Delete individual records

• Remove saved approximate location information

• Export your records

• Clear locally stored records

• Delete or request deletion of your Cloud Backup account

• Change advertising privacy choices where available

Some features may not work if required permissions are denied.

12. Security

We use reasonable technical measures to protect information.

These measures may include:

• Device storage controls

• Firebase Authentication

• Owner-restricted Firestore security rules

• Authenticated access to cloud records

Firebase states that its services use encryption in transit and that services including Cloud Firestore and Firebase Authentication encrypt data at rest.

No internet transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Avoid scanning, generating or storing highly sensitive information unless necessary.

13. Children’s Privacy

ScanMate is intended for a general audience.

It is not specifically designed for children under 13 or below the minimum digital-consent age in their country.

We do not knowingly request personal information directly from children.

If you believe a child has provided personal information through Cloud Backup, contact us so we can review and delete it when appropriate.

14. International Data Processing

When Cloud Backup or advertising services are used, information may be processed in countries other than your own.

Firebase Authentication, Google Mobile Ads and other Google services may process information using facilities located in different countries.

Privacy protections and legal requirements may differ between countries.

15. Third-Party Services

ScanMate may interact with:

• Google Firebase Authentication

• Google Cloud Firestore

• Google Mobile Ads

• Device camera services

• Device photo-selection services

• Device location and address services

• Device biometric authentication

• Mapping applications

• Browsers

• Email applications

• Telephone applications

• Messaging applications

• Apps selected through your device sharing menu

These services are governed by their own privacy policies and terms.

16. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when:

• ScanMate features change

• Service providers change

• Legal requirements change

The updated policy will show a new Last updated date.

Important changes may also be explained inside the app.

17. Contact Us

For questions, privacy requests or account-deletion requests:

NovaTech Labs

Email: novatechlabs.apps@gmail.com