Privacy Policy
Pro Barcode Scanner · last updated
1. Summary
Pro Barcode Scanner (“the app”) is a barcode scanning and batch-management utility published by Cool App Helpdesk.
- The developer collects no personal data and operates no servers. Your barcodes and batches stay on your device.
- Barcode recognition runs on-device via Google ML Kit; camera frames are never stored or transmitted by the app.
- Data leaves your device only when you explicitly opt in — by enabling API Sync to a URL you control, or by sharing an export via your own email/share app.
- The app displays banner ads through Google AdMob. AdMob collects your device’s advertising ID and related device / ad-interaction data to serve and measure ads — see section 5.
- The app contains no analytics and no crash-reporting SDKs, and the developer receives no data about you.
2. Data we collect
The developer collects nothing. There are no user accounts, no developer-operated servers the app talks to, and no telemetry or usage analytics sent to us. We never see your scanned barcodes.
Google AdMob collects data to show ads. Because the app shows banner ads, the Google Mobile Ads SDK is bundled in the app and collects the following on Google’s behalf, not ours:
| Data type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Advertising ID (a resettable device identifier) and other device identifiers | Serve ads, cap frequency, measure performance, prevent fraud |
| Device and app information (model, OS version, app version, language, network type) | Select an ad that fits the device and screen |
| IP address, and coarse location derived from it | Serve region-appropriate ads and comply with local law |
| Ad interactions (impressions, clicks) | Ad measurement and billing |
This data is collected and processed by Google, is shared with Google as a third party, and is governed by the Google Privacy & Terms. It is never linked to your scanned barcodes, which never leave your device except through the optional API Sync you configure yourself.
3. Data stored on your device
| Item | Where | Sent off device? |
|---|---|---|
| Scanned barcodes (value, format, timestamp) | Local Room database | Only if you enable API Sync (see section 5) |
| Email credentials (optional) | Android EncryptedSharedPreferences | Never |
| API Sync URL and tokens (optional) | Preferences DataStore | Sent only to the URL you configured |
| App settings | Preferences DataStore | Never |
| Advertising ID | Managed by Google Play services, not by the app | Sent to Google to serve ads (see section 5) |
4. Permissions used
| Permission | Reason |
|---|---|
CAMERA | Scan barcodes using the device camera. Used only while actively scanning; frames are processed on-device and not stored. |
VIBRATE | Provide haptic feedback on a successful scan, only if “Vibration on scan” is enabled. |
INTERNET | Send scanned barcodes to the API endpoint you configure under Settings → API Sync. The app makes no network requests when API Sync is disabled or no URL is configured. |
ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE | Check connectivity before attempting an API Sync request, and required by the Google Mobile Ads SDK. |
com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID | Required on Android 13+ so the Google Mobile Ads SDK can read the advertising ID to serve ads. You can reset or delete this ID at any time — see section 7. |
5. Network activity and third parties
The app sends data over the network only when you turn on a feature that requires it.
API Sync (optional, off by default). When you enable API Sync and configure a URL, the app periodically POSTs unsent barcodes from the local database to that URL. Each request includes a JSON payload with the barcode id, value, format, timestamp, and batchId, plus the Authorization: Bearer and X-Header-Token headers if you configured them. You control the destination — the developer does not operate the receiving server and never receives this data.
Email sharing (optional). When you choose to share or email a batch, the app creates a temporary CSV/TXT file in app-private storage and hands it off to your device’s email or share intent. The app itself does not send the email and the developer is not involved.
Google ML Kit. Barcode recognition uses Google ML Kit, which runs entirely on-device. ML Kit may download model files from Google’s servers but does not transmit your barcode data. See the ML Kit terms.
Google AdMob (always on). The app displays a banner ad and initialises the Google Mobile Ads SDK at launch. Requesting an ad sends your advertising ID, device and app information, IP address and ad-interaction events to Google, which uses them to select, deliver, cap and measure ads — including, unless you opt out on your device, personalised ads. See How Google uses advertising data and the Google Privacy Policy. Your scanned barcodes are never sent to AdMob.
Apart from Google AdMob and Google ML Kit, the app contains no analytics SDKs, no crash-reporting SDKs, and no social or attribution SDKs.
6. Children’s privacy
The app is intended for business and productivity use and is not directed at children under 13. The developer does not knowingly collect personal information from children.
7. Data retention and deletion
- Barcode data remains on your device until you delete it inside the app.
- Exported temporary files may be cleared by the system.
- Disable API Sync at any time in Settings to stop transmitting data immediately.
- Uninstalling the app removes all locally stored data.
- To reset or delete the advertising ID that AdMob uses, open Android Settings → Privacy (or Google) → Ads and choose Reset advertising ID or Delete advertising ID. Deleting it stops personalised advertising across all apps on the device.
8. Security
Email credentials, if configured, are stored using Android’s EncryptedSharedPreferences. Barcode data is stored in the app’s private database and is not accessible to other apps. We recommend using https:// URLs for API Sync so requests are encrypted in transit. 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.