Privacy Policy
AppShare · last updated
1. Summary
AppShare (“the app”) is a local APK backup and sharing utility published by Cool App Helpdesk.
- The app reads the list of apps installed on your device — its core function — but only after you have seen an in-app explanation and tapped “Allow”. That list stays on your device and is never uploaded, transmitted or shared.
- There are no user accounts, no analytics and no telemetry. All app data is stored locally on your device.
- The only information that ever leaves your device is what you type into the optional Send Feedback form, if you choose to submit it (see section 5).
- The app includes Google AdMob for banner advertising, which processes a limited set of device data on its own (see section 5). Advertising is currently switched off and the ad SDK is not started at all.
2. Data we collect
Installed applications (with your consent). AppShare collects the list of apps installed on your device — their names, package names, icons, version numbers and sizes — in order to display them, to show your storage breakdown, and to let you extract, back up and share their APK files. This is the app’s core function and it cannot work without it.
- Before any of it is read, the app shows a prominent disclosure explaining what is collected and why, and asks for your explicit permission. Nothing is read until you tap “Allow”. Dismissing the notice, pressing back, or leaving the app is not treated as agreement.
- The list is processed entirely on your device, held in memory while the app runs. It is never uploaded, transmitted, sold or shared with the developer or with any third party.
- You can withdraw your permission at any time in Settings → Privacy → Read installed apps. The list is discarded immediately when you do.
Feedback you choose to send. If you use the in-app Send Feedback form, the message you submit is sent to the developer so that it can be read and answered. It contains the feedback type, subject and message you wrote, a contact address only if you fill one in, and basic technical context (app version, device model, Android version) to help reproduce the issue reported. It is used solely to respond to and act on your feedback, and is never used for advertising or shared with third parties. Submitting the form is entirely optional; the rest of the app works without it.
Everything else: none. The developer collects no other personal data, no identifiers, no location, no contacts, no analytics and no usage tracking.
3. Data stored on your device
| Item | Where | Sent off device? |
|---|---|---|
| List of installed apps | Device memory (runtime only, after you allow it) | Never |
| Your answer to the installed-apps notice | App-private SharedPreferences | Never |
| Extracted APK files | Internal storage / Downloads folder | Never |
| APK Vault contents | App-private internal storage | Never |
| Share history | App-private SharedPreferences | Never |
| App settings (theme, language) | App-private SharedPreferences | Never |
4. Permissions used
| Permission | Reason |
|---|---|
QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES | List installed apps so you can browse, extract, and share them — the core function of the app. Used only after you allow it in the in-app notice, and never used to build a profile or to transmit the list anywhere. |
REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES | Reinstall APK files from your local backup. |
PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS | Optional. Granted by you in system settings; lets the Storage screen and app details show each app’s app, data and cache sizes. The app works without it. |
INTERNET | Sending the optional feedback form, and loading banner advertisements when advertising is enabled. |
ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE | Check connectivity before a network request is attempted. |
AD_ID | Declared for Google AdMob’s advertising identifier. Not used while advertising is switched off. |
INSTALL_SHORTCUT | Allow AppShare to be added to the device home screen. |
No permission is used for any purpose other than what is listed above.
5. Network activity and third parties
The app generates network traffic in only two situations, and never to transmit your list of installed apps, which does not leave your device under any circumstances.
1. Feedback you submit. When you tap Send on the in-app feedback form, its contents are sent over HTTPS to a feedback endpoint operated by the developer on Google Cloud Run (europe-west1). Nothing is sent unless you submit the form. See section 2 for exactly what it contains.
2. Advertising, when enabled. The app includes the Google AdMob SDK for banner advertising. Advertising is currently switched off, and while it is off the ad SDK is not initialised at all — the app makes no ad-related network requests whatsoever. When advertising is enabled again, AdMob (Google LLC) processes data on its own, as an independent data controller. The data Google may then receive includes:
- The device’s advertising ID (a resettable identifier you control in your device settings).
- Your IP address (used to derive approximate location).
- General device information (model, OS version, screen size, language).
- Ad interaction data (impressions, clicks).
- Diagnostic data.
The developer does not receive this data; AdMob shares only aggregated revenue reports. Relevant Google references:
- Google Privacy Policy
- How Google uses information from sites or apps that use their services
- AdMob & AdSense data disclosures
You can reset or delete your advertising ID, and opt out of personalised ads, at any time in Device Settings → Privacy → Ads. Should advertising be enabled again in a future version, a consent prompt meeting the requirements for the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland will be presented before any personalised ad data is collected, and this page will be updated beforehand.
6. Children’s privacy
The app is not directed at children under 13 and is intended for general audiences. The developer does not knowingly collect data from children. AdMob is configured to request only general-audience (G-rated) ad content; advertising is in any case currently switched off.
7. Data retention and deletion
- APK files and vault: remain on your device until you delete them inside the app or via your file manager.
- Share history: remains on your device until you clear it with the “Clear history” action.
- Settings: remain on your device until you uninstall the app.
- List of installed apps: held in memory only while the app is running. It is discarded when the app closes, and immediately if you withdraw permission in Settings → Privacy. There is nothing to delete off-device, because it is never sent off-device.
- Feedback you submitted: retained by the developer only for as long as it takes to read and act on it. To have a message you sent deleted, email the address in section 10 and it will be removed.
- Uninstall: removes all app settings, your saved permission choice, and share history. APK files saved to your Downloads folder are not removed on uninstall.
8. Security
All data managed by the app is stored locally on your device and protected by Android’s built-in application sandboxing. APK files in the app’s internal storage are not accessible to other apps. Files saved to the Downloads folder follow standard Android file access rules. The app is distributed through the Google Play Store, which verifies the developer signing key on every update.
9. Changes to this policy
If any material aspect of how the app handles data ever changes, this page will be updated and the “last updated” date above will be bumped. Continued use after a change constitutes acceptance.
10. Contact
Questions or feedback? Email coolapphelpdesk@gmail.com.