Privacy Policy

Opened files stay on your device

The contents of the contact files (VCF) you open, such as names, phone numbers, emails, addresses, photos and notes, are read and shown on this device only. The list, search, contact details and making CSV, PDF and VCF files also happen on the device. Contact details and file names are not sent to a server or used for ads or usage statistics.

No contacts permission

This app has no permission to read or write the contacts on your phone. It does not look at your phone's contacts and reads only the VCF files you choose. When you add a contact to your phone, the app opens your contacts app and hands the details over, and you save it yourself in that app.

Opening files

The app reads only the files you choose in the Android file picker or through "Open with" and Share in another app. It does not use full storage permission. The original file is opened for reading only and is never changed or deleted.

What stays on your device

The app keeps one copy of the opened file in its private storage (up to 256 MB) and reads from that copy. An index made to speed up search is kept in the app cache. The copy and index are cleaned up when you close or switch files, and anything left is deleted after a day. Files made to hand over to another app are kept in the app cache and deleted after an hour. The recent files list (up to 30) remembers the file name and location, the number of contacts and when you opened it. So that a file on the list can be opened again, the app keeps the read access you granted for it, and releases that access when the file leaves the list. The copies, the recent list and ad consent are excluded from Android Auto Backup and device transfer. Only your list order choice (file order or by name) is kept as a setting.

Saving, sharing and handing over

When you save as CSV, PDF or compatible VCF, you choose where to save it in the Android save screen. When you share the original or one contact, or hand contacts to your contacts app, you choose the receiving app. The app does not send anything on its own. The call, message, email and map buttons open those apps with the number or address filled in, and you place the call or send the message yourself.

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. The contact details and names of the files you open are not used for ads and are not shared. Ads are limited to content rated T (Teen) or below. See Google's policy for details (policies.google.com/technologies/ads).

When ads appear

There are no ads while you open files, browse the list, search, view details, copy, open call, message or email, hand contacts to your contacts app, or share the original file or one contact. An ad may play once when you save as CSV, PDF, compatible VCF or selected contacts only, and the app tells you before you tap. After you watch an ad to the end, it does not play again until you close that file. If the ad cannot be loaded or you choose not to wait, the app saves without it. A small banner appears only at the bottom of the home screen, not on the screens that show contacts.

Turning off ad personalization

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

Permissions

The ads and statistics SDKs use internet access, network state and advertising ID related permissions, to load ads and send usage statistics. None of them asks you for approval. The app does not ask for contacts, storage, camera, microphone, location 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 the VCF version of the opened file (2.1, 3.0, 4.0), which range the number of contacts falls in, the kind of reason if opening failed, which range the number of skipped items falls in, and whether search, handing over to the contacts app and saving were used, with the save format), whether an ad notice was shown and the ad was watched, ad impressions, device model, OS version, app version, country and language, and a random identifier assigned to each app install along with the advertising ID. Contact details such as names, numbers and emails, file names and locations are not sent. The app also uses Firebase Remote Config to change ad settings without an app update, which sends app version, OS version, country and language. In the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, information that identifies the device is not stored 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 your contact details.

Children

VCF Viewer 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

You can remove an item from the recent files list with the X on its right or by pressing and holding it. Uninstalling the app deletes the copies, index, list and settings. CSV, PDF and VCF files you saved, and contacts you added to your contacts app, must be deleted there. We keep no copy 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. Copies and records on the device disappear when you remove them in the app or uninstall it, 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.