# Privacy Policy for Parallel Launcher

**Effective date:** September 26, 2026
**App:** Parallel Launcher (`studio.boringrobots.parallel`)

Parallel is a home screen (launcher) for Android. This policy explains what information Parallel uses, why, and what happens to it.

## The short version

- **Parallel has no internet access.** The app does not request Android's internet permission, so it cannot send any information off your device.
- **We collect nothing.** Parallel has no accounts, no ads, no analytics, no tracking, and no third-party SDKs that collect data.
- **Everything stays on your phone.** Your layout, settings and any optional data Parallel uses are stored only on your device and removed when you uninstall the app.
- **Optional permissions are off until you allow them**, and each one is used only for the single feature described below.

## Information Parallel uses on your device

### Your installed apps
To show your apps on the home screen, in search and in folders, Parallel reads the list of apps installed on your device, their names and icons, including apps in a work profile if you have one. This information is only used to display your home screen. It is never shared.

### Your home screen layout and settings
Parallel saves your arrangement of apps, folders, widgets and dock, along with your preferences (icon shape, gestures, appearance and similar). This is stored privately on your device. Android's automatic cloud backup is turned off for Parallel, so this data is not copied to any cloud by the app.

### Your wallpaper
Parallel reads your current wallpaper and its colours so the home screen, blur and glass effects can match it. If you choose a photo in Parallel, it is set as your wallpaper using Android's wallpaper system, and a reduced copy is kept on your device for these effects.

### Device status
To show the time, battery level, Wi-Fi and mobile signal beside the dock, Parallel reads your battery state and network signal strength. It does not read the name of your Wi-Fi network or any network traffic.

## Optional features and permissions

You can use Parallel without granting any of these. Each can be turned off at any time in Android's settings.

### Notification access (notification badges)
If you turn on notification badges, Android asks you to allow Parallel notification access. Parallel uses it only to **count** how many notifications each app currently has, so it can show a badge on that app's icon. Parallel **does not read, store or share the content** of any notification: no titles, messages, senders or images.

### Accessibility service (lock screen and recent apps gestures)
If you set a gesture such as double-tap to lock the screen or open recent apps, Parallel may ask you to turn on its accessibility service. It is used **only** to perform those actions on your request (locking the screen, opening recent apps, notifications or quick settings). The service is configured so that it **cannot read the content of your screen or other apps**, and it does not observe what you type or do.

### Location (sunrise-to-sunset appearance)
If you choose the "Sunrise to Sunset" appearance and ask Parallel to use your device's location, it requests approximate location once to work out local sunrise and sunset times. Parallel stores only the approximate coordinates on your device for that calculation. You can type a place in manually instead, or clear the location at any time in Settings.

### Wallpaper snapshot (glass and blur effects)
On devices that do not blur the wallpaper natively, Parallel can use a single snapshot of your wallpaper for its glass and blur effects. When you choose this, Android asks for permission to capture the screen. Parallel takes **one still frame** while its own home screen is hidden, keeps it on your device only for these effects, and stops capturing immediately. You can delete the snapshot at any time in Settings ("Use Colours Instead").

### Widgets
Widgets you add to your home screen are provided and controlled by the apps that make them. Those apps handle their own data under their own privacy policies.

### Web search
If you tap "Search the web" in Parallel's search, your search text is passed to the search app on your device (for example, your browser or search app), which handles it under its own privacy policy. Parallel itself does not store or send your searches.

### Backup and restore
If you use Backup & Restore, Parallel saves your home screen layout to a file **that you choose** using Android's file picker, and reads a file you select to restore. Parallel does not upload these files anywhere. A backup file lists your installed apps, folder names and layout preferences (it contains no photos), so review it before sharing it with anyone. Backup files you save remain where you saved them after Parallel is uninstalled.

### Uninstalling apps
When you choose to uninstall an app from Parallel, the request is handed to Android, which asks you to confirm.

## Sharing and selling of data

Parallel does not sell, share, rent or transfer any personal information to anyone. Because the app has no internet access, no data leaves your device through Parallel.

## Children's privacy

Parallel does not knowingly collect any personal information from anyone, including children under 13.

## Data retention and deletion

All data Parallel uses is stored on your device. You can remove it at any time by clearing Parallel's storage in Android's app settings, or by uninstalling the app, which deletes all of it.

## Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, the updated version will be published at the same address with a new effective date. Significant changes will also be noted in the app's release notes.

## Contact

If you have any questions about this policy or your privacy, contact us at:

**Email:** hello@boringrobot.studio