Privacy Policy

Last Updated: August 23, 2026

Your content stays on your device. TickDown Lite is a free, ad-supported application that works offline for its core features. Your tasks and events belong to you and are stored locally. To keep the app free, we show advertisements, which involve limited data sharing with our advertising partners as described below. You can remove ads at any time with an optional in-app purchase.

1. Data Storage and Control

TickDown Lite follows a Local First architecture.

• User Content: All tasks, countdowns, events, notes, categories, and settings are stored locally on your device. This information is never uploaded to our servers.
• No Account Required: You can use TickDown Lite without creating an account or signing in. We do not know your identity or email address. Signing in with Google is required only if you choose to enable the optional Google Drive backup feature described in Section 6.
• Data Deletion: Uninstalling the application permanently removes its local data unless you have manually exported a backup or enabled Google Drive backup.

2. Permissions We Request

TickDown Lite requests only the permissions required for its functionality.

• Notifications (POST_NOTIFICATIONS): Used to deliver reminder notifications, countdown alerts, and scheduled summaries.
• Exact Alarms (USE_EXACT_ALARM / SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM): Used to ensure reminders occur at the exact time you choose.
• Calendar (READ_CALENDAR): Optional. If you enable calendar integration, TickDown Lite reads your device calendar events so they can be displayed inside the app. Calendar data is read only when needed, is never uploaded to our servers, and is not permanently stored by TickDown Lite.
• Internet (INTERNET / ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE): Used to load advertisements, process optional in-app purchases, send analytics/crash reports (when enabled), and upload or download your backup if you enable Google Drive backup (see Section 6).
• Advertising ID (com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID): Used by our advertising partners to serve and measure ads.
• Boot Completed (RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED): Used to restore your scheduled reminders after your device restarts.

3. Advertising

TickDown Lite is free to use and is supported by advertising. Ads are provided by Google AdMob and, through AdMob mediation, additional advertising networks including Unity Ads and ironSource (Unity LevelPlay).

To serve and measure ads, these partners may collect and process:

• Your device's Advertising ID and general device information (such as device model, operating system version, and coarse, non-precise location inferred from IP address).
• Ad interaction data, such as ads shown, clicks, and app events used for frequency capping and measurement.

Consent (GDPR / UMP)

• Where required (for example, in the European Economic Area, the UK, and Switzerland), we present a consent request using Google's User Messaging Platform (UMP) before serving personalized ads.
• If you decline personalized ads, we and our partners serve non-personalized ads instead, which are not based on an advertising profile.
• You can change or withdraw your consent at any time from the Privacy Settings option in the app.
• For more information about how Google uses data from apps that use its services, please see Google's Privacy & Terms. For ironSource/Unity, please see Unity's Privacy Policy.

4. Remove Ads (In-App Purchase)

TickDown Lite offers an optional in-app purchase to remove advertisements and unlock premium benefits.

• All purchases are processed by the Google Play Store. We do not receive or store your payment card details.
• Purchases are validated to confirm entitlement. When premium is active, ads are disabled and the Advertising ID is no longer used for in-app ads.
• Restoring a purchase on a new device is handled through your Google account.

5. Analytics and Crash Reporting

We use Firebase Analytics and Firebase Crashlytics (provided by Google) to help us understand how TickDown Lite is used, identify crashes, improve stability, and enhance future versions of the app.

User Choice (Opt-Out)

• You can enable or disable Usage Analytics and Crash Reporting at any time from the Settings screen within the app.
• When disabled, analytics events and crash reports will no longer be collected or transmitted from your device.

What We Collect (Only If Enabled)

• Crash reports and diagnostic information to help identify and fix software issues.
• Anonymous usage events, such as opening screens, creating tasks, changing settings, or using features.
• A non-personal Firebase App Instance ID used solely for analytics and crash reporting.

What We Do NOT Collect

• We never collect or transmit the text content of your tasks, events, notes, reminders, or countdowns.
• We do not collect your contacts.
• We do not collect your precise (GPS) location.
• We do not sell your personal information.

Analytics and crash information is transmitted securely using encrypted HTTPS/TLS connections.

If you have any privacy concerns or wish to request deletion of analytics data associated with your device, please contact us at futuretekapps@gmail.com.

6. Backup & Restore

6.1 Local backup files

TickDown Lite allows you to export your data as a backup file (a .tickdown file).

• Backup files are created locally on your device.
• The backup file is not stored in a human-readable format. This guards against casual inspection if the file is opened by another app; it is not a security guarantee, and you should still treat your backup files as sensitive.
• You are responsible for storing your backup files securely.
• If you choose to share or upload a backup file using another service (such as email or cloud storage), that transfer is governed by the privacy policy of the service you choose. TickDown Lite does not access your backup files.

6.2 Google Drive backup (optional, premium feature)

TickDown Lite offers an optional feature that backs up your data to your own Google Drive. It is available with the optional in-app premium unlock, is disabled by default, and is only used if you explicitly turn it on and grant permission.

• Where your backup is stored: Your backup is written to the hidden, application-specific folder in your own Google Drive (the Drive “app data folder”). It counts against your personal Google Drive storage.
• We never receive your data: TickDown Lite does not operate any server for this feature. Your backup travels directly between your device and your Google Drive account. We cannot see, access, read, or retrieve your backup at any time.
• What is included: Your tasks, subtasks, events, archived events, reminders, and categories — the same content included in a local backup file. A backup also records which items you have deleted, so that a deletion made on one device is applied when you restore on another. These deletion records contain only an internal identifier and a timestamp — never the content of the deleted item.
• What permission we request: TickDown Lite requests only the https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.appdata scope. This grants access solely to the hidden folder that TickDown Lite itself creates. It does not permit the app to see, open, or modify any of your other Google Drive files, photos, or documents.
• Not used for advertising: Data backed up to your Google Drive is never shared with our advertising partners and is never used to serve or measure ads.
• Automatic backup: If you enable automatic backup, TickDown Lite will periodically upload an updated copy of your data while your device has a network connection. You can switch this off at any time in the app’s Backup & Restore settings.
• Deleting your cloud backup: You can delete your backup from within the app, or by visiting Google Drive → Settings → Manage apps.
• Revoking access: You can withdraw TickDown Lite’s access to your Google Drive at any time from your Google Account → Third-party apps & services page. Revoking access does not delete data already stored in your Drive; use the step above to remove it.

7. Children's Privacy

TickDown Lite is not directed toward children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Because the app displays third-party advertising, it is intended for a general audience and should be used under the guidance of a parent or guardian where appropriate. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can address it.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page together with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

9. Contact Us