Privacy Policy

Mic sound stays on your device

The sound heard during the microphone check is used only in this device's memory, to draw the level bar and to play the 5-second recording back to you. The recording is not saved to a file, and it is erased from memory after playback or when you leave the screen. The sound is not sent to a server or used for ads or usage statistics.

When the microphone is used

The microphone is used only from the moment you tap “Start microphone” on the microphone check until you leave that screen. It stops right away when the app goes to the background or the screen turns off. The speaker checks (left and right, earpiece, frequency sweep) do not use the microphone.

What stays on your device

The app stores only the answer you tapped for each check (working, problem, skipped), the date of the check, and settings such as theme and language. If Android backup is turned on, these answers and settings may be included in the backup to your Google account or in a device-to-device transfer. That backup is managed by Android and we cannot see it. The picture made for sharing a result card is kept in the app cache for a short time and deleted after one hour.

Result card

The result card is one picture showing your answer for each check, the date and the device model name. Tapping “Save result card” saves it to the Pictures/SoundCheck folder on your device. When you share, you choose the app to send it with; the app does not send it anywhere by itself.

Where the sound goes

The app reads only the kind of output, such as phone speaker, wired headphones or Bluetooth, and shows it on screen. It does not read the name or address of a Bluetooth device.

Account

There is no account. The app does not ask for an email or phone number, and there is no sign-in, sign-up or in-app purchase.

Ads

This app is supported by ads. Google AdMob serves the ads, and in doing so the advertising ID (AAID), IP address, device information, app performance diagnostics (such as launch time and hangs) and ad-related app activity (such as ads viewed and tapped) are collected by and shared with Google. An approximate location (country level) may be derived from the IP address. Mic sound and check results are not used for ads and are not shared. Ads are limited to the Teen (T) content rating and below. See Google's policy for details (policies.google.com/technologies/ads).

When ads appear

There are no ads while you run the checks or view the result. An ad may play once when you share or save the result card, and the app tells you before you tap. If the ad cannot be loaded or you choose not to wait, the app continues without it. A small banner appears at the bottom of the home screen and the result screen, and not on the check screens that play or listen to sound.

Turning off ad personalization

In Android Settings → Privacy → Ads you can delete the advertising ID or turn off personalization. Ads still appear, but they are not personalized.

Permissions

The only permission you are asked to approve is the microphone, and only when you tap “Start microphone” on the microphone check. The other checks work without it. To play a tone through the earpiece the app briefly changes the audio route, using a permission (modify audio settings) that is not asked for separately. The ads and statistics SDKs use internet access, network state and advertising ID related permissions. The app does not ask for camera, contacts, location, storage, Bluetooth or notification permission.

Usage statistics

To improve the app and place ads appropriately, the app collects usage statistics with Google Analytics for Firebase. This includes how often the app is opened and for how long, which features are used (for example which answer you tapped on each check, whether microphone permission was allowed, whether sound was detected in a recording, and whether the result card was shared or saved), whether an ad notice was followed by a completed ad and ad impressions, device model, OS version, app version, country, language, and a random identifier per app install and the advertising ID, all of which are sent to Google. Mic sound, sound level values and Bluetooth device names are not sent. In regions where ad consent is required, no statistics are collected unless you consent.

Third parties

Other than Google AdMob and Google Analytics for Firebase (see Usage statistics above), the app uses no other analytics tools or crash reporters. No outside service receives mic sound.

What the app does not do

The app only helps you check whether the speakers and microphone work. It does not clean, repair or boost anything, and it is not a hearing test. The level bar is an uncalibrated, relative value.

Children

Sound Check is not intended for children under 13, because Google AdMob collects the advertising ID, IP address and device information when ads are shown.

Deleting data

Uninstalling the app deletes the check results and the settings on the device. A copy kept in Android backup is managed in the backup menu of Android Settings. Result cards you saved must be deleted in your gallery or files app. We keep nothing on a server. You can delete the advertising ID in Android Settings → Privacy → Ads.

There is nothing we can delete

This app has no server that stores user data. Results on the device disappear when you uninstall the app, and the advertising ID is held by Google, so we cannot look it up or delete it. If you have questions, contact dev@indieway.xyz.

Changes and contact

If this policy changes, this page will be updated with a new date. Contact: dev@indieway.xyz. If you email us through Contact us in the app, we use your email address, your message, and the app and device details added at the end of the message (app version, Android version, device model, app language, theme and font size) only to reply to you.