Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains what information the QR & Barcode Scanner app ("the app", "we", "us") handles, why, and the choices you have. It applies to the app on Android and iOS.

Summary

• The app has no accounts and no sign-up. We do not run servers that collect your data.
• Your scan history, settings, and custom sounds are stored only on your device.
• Codes are read on your device — by Google Code Scanner, your camera, or a photo you choose. Camera images and photos are never saved or uploaded by the app.
• The app is free and shows ads from Google AdMob. Google may collect your device’s advertising identifier and limited usage and diagnostic data to show and measure ads.
• Where the law requires it (for example the EEA, UK, and Switzerland) you are asked for consent before personalized ads, and you can change that choice at any time in Settings → Privacy & Ads.
• We do not sell your personal information.

1. Information stored only on your device

To make the app work, the following is saved in the app’s private storage on your device. It is not sent to us, and on Android it is excluded from device and cloud backups:

• Scan history: the content of the codes you scan, the detected type (for example link, Wi-Fi, contact, text, barcode), and the time of the scan. The most recent 50 scans are kept.
• Preferences: sound, vibration, auto-open links, and your selected scan sound.
• A copy of any custom scan sound file you choose.
• Simple counters used to limit how often ads appear.

2. Camera and photos

When you tap Scan Now, the app opens Google Code Scanner, which is provided by Google Play services. It reads the code on your device and returns only the decoded value to the app; the app does not receive camera images. Google may collect limited diagnostic and usage information about this service under the Google Privacy Policy.

On devices where Google Code Scanner is not available, Scan Now uses your phone camera inside the app instead. The app asks for camera permission only at that point. Camera frames are analyzed on your device and are not recorded, stored, or transmitted.

If you choose "Upload from Gallery", you pick a single image with your device’s system photo picker. The app reads only that image, on your device, to find a code in it. It does not get access to the rest of your photo library, and it does not store or upload the image.

3. Advertising (Google AdMob)

The app displays banner and interstitial ads provided by Google AdMob. To serve, limit the frequency of, and measure ads, and to prevent fraud, Google and its partners may collect and process:

• Your device’s advertising identifier (Android Advertising ID or Apple IDFA, where you allow it).
• Your IP address, which may be used to estimate your general location (country or city, not precise location).
• Information about ad interactions and app usage, such as ad views and clicks.
• Device and diagnostic information, such as device model, operating system version, and crash data.

4. Your advertising choices

• EEA, UK, and Switzerland: a Google-certified consent message is shown before personalized ads are used. You can review or withdraw consent at any time in Settings → Privacy & Ads.
• United States: where state privacy laws apply, you can opt out of the use of your data for targeted advertising through Settings → Privacy & Ads when that option is shown, or through your device settings.
• Android: you can reset or delete your Advertising ID in your device Settings → Privacy → Ads (the exact menu varies by device).
• iOS: the app asks for permission before your device identifier can be used for tracking. You can change this anytime in Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
• If you decline personalized ads, you may still see non-personalized ads, and every feature of the app keeps working.

Learn how Google uses information from apps that use its services at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites and read the Google Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

5. Permissions the app uses

• Camera: only on devices without Google Code Scanner, to scan codes in the app.
• Internet and network state: to load ads.
• Advertising ID (Android): used by Google AdMob as described above.
• Vibration: for optional haptic feedback when a scan succeeds.

The app does not request access to your location, contacts, microphone, or your full photo library.

6. Actions you choose to take

• Open Link: opens the scanned web address in your browser. The website you visit has its own privacy practices.
• Search Web: sends the scanned text to Google Search, only when you tap the button.
• Share and Copy: sends the scanned content to the app you pick or to your clipboard.
• Send Report: opens your email app with a pre-filled message. Nothing is sent unless you send the email yourself.

7. Data retention and deletion

Information stored on your device stays there until you delete it. You can delete a single scan, clear all history in the History tab, reset your scan sound in Settings, or uninstall the app to remove everything.

Because we do not collect your data on our own servers, we have nothing to delete on our side. Data collected by Google for advertising is handled under Google’s policies; you can control it with the options in section 4 and at https://myadcenter.google.com.

8. Security

Your on-device data is kept in the app’s private storage, which other apps cannot access. Communication between the Google Mobile Ads SDK and Google’s servers is encrypted in transit.

9. Children

The app is not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 in the EEA and UK), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through the app, contact us and we will help.

10. Your rights

Depending on where you live (for example under the GDPR, UK GDPR, or US state privacy laws), you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict the use of your personal information, and to withdraw consent. Because the app keeps your data on your device, you can exercise most of these rights directly in the app. For advertising data, use the choices in section 4 or contact Google. For any other request, email us at support.qrscanner@gmail.com.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the app changes. We will change the effective date at the top of this page, and for significant changes we will provide notice in the app.

12. Contact us

Questions about this Privacy Policy: support.qrscanner@gmail.com