Privacy policy
Sparse is a home screen (launcher) app. This page explains what information it handles, why, and the choices you have. There is no account and we don't sell your personal information.
Information that stays on your phone
To work as a launcher, Sparse reads the list of apps installed on your phone (including work profile apps) so it can show and open them. Your pinned apps, renamed and hidden apps, paused apps, how many times you opened a paused app today, focus sessions and settings are stored only on your device. None of this is sent to us or anyone else. Uninstalling Sparse or clearing its data deletes it.
Screen time (optional)
If you turn on "Screen time on home", Android asks you to grant Sparse Usage access. Sparse then reads today's total time in apps from Android, on your phone, to show one number on the home screen. It is never stored off the phone or sent anywhere. You can revoke it any time in Android settings.
Advertising (Google AdMob)
Sparse is free. It shows rewarded videos only when you choose to watch one, and an occasional full-screen ad when you leave Settings or finish a focus session, through Google AdMob. Ads never appear on the home screen or app list. To show and measure ads and to prevent fraud, Google may collect:
- your device's advertising ID and other device identifiers,
- approximate location derived from your IP address,
- information about how you interact with ads, and basic device and app information.
If you are in the European Economic Area, the UK or Switzerland, the app asks for your consent before personalised ads are shown. You can change your choice at any time under Settings > Ad privacy choices in Sparse. You can also reset or delete your advertising ID in your phone's Android settings.
Google's use of this data is described in How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
No analytics in the app
The Sparse app uses no analytics service. We do not track which apps you open or how you use your phone.
This website
This website uses Google Analytics to count visits: pages viewed, approximate location from your IP address, browser and device type, and the referring page. It sets no advertising cookies. Visitors from the EEA, the UK and Switzerland are counted without analytics cookies. The teaser video is a YouTube embed that loads only when you press play; YouTube may then set cookies under its own policy.
Children
Sparse is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has used the app in a way that concerns you, contact us below.
Data security and retention
Data sent to Google's advertising services travels over encrypted connections and is kept according to Google's policies. Data on your device stays until you delete it or uninstall the app.
Your choices
- Change ad consent in Settings > Ad privacy choices (where offered).
- Reset or delete your advertising ID in Android settings.
- Turn screen time off in Sparse, or revoke Usage access in Android settings.
- Delete all local data by clearing Sparse's storage or uninstalling it.
Changes
If this policy changes, we'll update this page and its effective date.
Contact
Questions about privacy: anithabheesetty@gmail.com