Privacy Policy

Documents and local storage

The app accesses documents and images you select through Android file and photo pickers, or open with PDF Tools. It stores generated files, temporary previews, saved signatures, recent-file metadata, favorites, reading positions, and settings locally. Recent-file metadata can include document names, locations, sizes, and page counts. No PDF Tools account is required.

The app does not automatically upload document content or signatures for processing. App-managed storage is excluded from Android cloud backup and device transfer through the app’s backup configuration. Files you save to a cloud-backed provider, or share with another app, are handled by that provider or recipient under its own policies.

Scanning and file access

Document scanning uses Google ML Kit through Google Play services and runs on-device. Google Play services may download scanner components before first use and provides the scanner’s camera interface. PDF Tools does not request broad access to all your files or contacts. You control which files the app can access through Android’s pickers and permission controls. See the ML Kit document scanner documentation.

Advertising and consent

PDF Tools may display Google AdMob banner and interstitial ads. Ad requests are gated by the Google User Messaging Platform consent status. Where required and available, you can review your choices using the app’s privacy options.

Google and its advertising partners may process IP addresses, device and advertising identifiers, ad interactions, diagnostics, and approximate location inferred from IP addresses to deliver and measure ads and prevent fraud. Available ad types depend on your choices and regional requirements; declining personalization does not necessarily remove all ads. See how Google uses information from apps that use its services and Google’s Privacy Policy.

Usage analytics

Google Analytics for Firebase records app usage, including screen views, tool openings, operation starts, completions, failures and cancellations, and launches of the share chooser. Custom event parameters contain fixed screen or tool names, elapsed time, and error codes. They do not include document names, paths, URIs, document text, thumbnails, or signatures.

Firebase may also process app-instance identifiers, app and device information, and usage information to produce analytics reports. Advertising-ID collection and ad-personalization signals are disabled for Analytics. The advertising consent controls described above apply to advertising; they do not act as a general Analytics or Crashlytics switch.

Crash diagnostics

Firebase Crashlytics collects crash and diagnostic information to help identify stability problems, including installation identifiers, app version, device model, operating-system version, stack traces, and exception information. Custom nonfatal reports use fixed error codes without original document-related exception messages. Automatic fatal reports may include exception messages and technical context; these can incidentally contain file-related details. The app does not deliberately attach your documents or signatures to crash reports.

Google processes Firebase data as explained in Privacy and Security in Firebase and its Privacy Policy.

Purchases, when available

If an optional purchase is offered in the app, Google Play handles payment and may provide product, purchase-token, and entitlement information needed to validate or restore access. PDF Tools does not receive your card number or bank details. Features and prices are shown before purchase; a purchase option may not be available in every version.

Sharing and support

Files leave the app when you choose to share them or save them with another app or storage provider. Check the recipient and destination before continuing. If you contact support, we receive the email address and information you send. Please avoid attaching confidential documents unless necessary for your request. We use support correspondence to respond and resolve the issue.

We do not sell your documents or operate a document-upload service. Third-party Google services receive the technical and usage information described above.

Retention, deletion, and your choices

Local app data remains until you remove it, clear app storage, or uninstall the app. Saved signatures can be removed from the signature library. Clearing app storage or uninstalling removes app-private data; exported or shared copies may remain elsewhere and must be deleted separately. Deleting a file inside the app may delete the underlying document where supported, so keep backups of important files.

Google service data follows the retention settings and policies of the relevant service; uninstalling does not automatically erase data already sent to Google. You can manage file permissions and advertising settings through Android and use in-app privacy options where available. Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict the processing of personal information. Contact us to make a request; we may need information to identify the relevant records.

Security and children’s privacy

We use Android app storage and system access controls to limit document access, but no device or storage system can guarantee absolute security. PDF Tools is a general-purpose document utility and is not specifically directed at children. We do not knowingly request personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact us.

Changes and contact

We may update this policy when app features or data practices change. The effective date identifies the current version. For privacy questions or requests, contact ashmawi.co@gmail.com.