The short version
- Your photos never leave your device. Photo Cleaner looks at your photo library on your iPhone or iPad, and all analysis (duplicates, similar shots, blurry photos) runs there. We never upload, receive or store your photos or videos. There is no account.
- Nothing is deleted without you. Photos are removed only after you review them and confirm, and iOS moves them to Recently Deleted.
- Free users see ads from Google AdMob. To show and measure ads, Google may collect device identifiers, your IP address (and an approximate location from it), and ad, usage and diagnostic data. Never your photos.
- You choose. iOS asks whether Photo Cleaner may track you, and where the law requires it, a Google consent form asks before any ad loads. Any Pro plan removes ads. Payments are handled by Apple.
This Privacy Policy explains how Apexa Pambhar ("we", "us") handles information in the Photo Cleaner app for iPhone and iPad (the "App") and on this website. By using the App you agree to this policy.
1. Your photos stay on your device
- Viewing. The App shows your photos and videos one at a time, or in a grid, so you can keep or delete them. Photos stored only in iCloud Photos are downloaded by iOS when you open them, under Apple's privacy policy.
- Smart cleanup. To find duplicates, similar shots, blurry photos, screenshots and large videos, the App analyses small thumbnails using Apple's on-device frameworks (such as Vision). This happens entirely on your device; no photo, thumbnail or result is sent anywhere.
- Deleting. When you confirm, the App asks iOS to delete the photos you chose. iOS shows its own confirmation and moves them to Recently Deleted, where you can recover them for about 30 days. Swiping a photo into an album changes only your own library.
- App data. Your swipe decisions, deletion receipts, streaks, daily goal and settings are saved on your device. Widgets show your streak and progress on your Home Screen, from data stored on your device. Reminders are local notifications scheduled on your device.
2. Permissions
| Permission | Why the App uses it |
|---|---|
| Photos (full or limited access) | To show your photos and videos so you can keep, move or delete them, and to find duplicates and similar shots. With limited access, the App works only with the photos you chose to share. |
| Notifications | To remind you to keep your streak going, if you turn reminders on. |
| Tracking (App Tracking Transparency) | To ask whether Google may use your device's Advertising Identifier (IDFA) to personalise and measure ads across apps and websites owned by other companies. Your photos are never used for ads. |
You can change these at any time in Settings › Photo Cleaner.
3. Advertising (Google AdMob)
If you don't have Pro, the App shows ads provided by Google AdMob, through the Google Mobile Ads SDK: a banner on content screens, and a full-screen video ad after every 50 delete swipes. To show, measure and improve ads, Google may collect:
- Device identifiers: the Advertising Identifier (IDFA) only if you allow tracking, and other identifiers limited to the App or its developer
- Your IP address, which may be used to estimate your general (coarse) location
- Advertising data, such as which ads you have seen, and your interactions with them, such as views and taps
- App usage, performance and diagnostic data, such as app launches and crash logs
The App never gives Google or any advertiser your photos, videos, thumbnails or information about what is in them. This data is collected and processed by Google, not by us, and Google may use it for advertising and analytics, including with other companies that display ads. See How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services and Google's Privacy Policy.
4. Your choices
- Tracking. If you choose Ask App Not to Track, your IDFA is not used to personalise ads. You can change this at any time in Settings › Privacy & Security › Tracking.
- Consent (UK, EEA, Switzerland and some US states). Where the law requires it, a Google consent form asks for your choice before any ad is loaded. You can change it later in the App under Settings › Privacy › Ad privacy choices.
- No ads. Any Pro plan removes all ads.
- Data held by Google. See My Ad Center.
5. Legal basis (UK GDPR / EU GDPR)
Personalised advertising relies on your consent, which you can withdraw at any time as described above. Non-personalised advertising relies on our legitimate interest in keeping the App free. Your photos are processed only on your device, so we process no personal data for them.
6. Network use
Swiping, reviewing and smart cleanup work without an internet connection. The App goes online only to load ads and the consent form from Google, when Apple processes an App Store purchase, and when iOS downloads a photo that is stored only in iCloud Photos. Your photos are never sent to us or to advertisers.
7. Purchases
Pro plans are sold through the Apple App Store, and payments are handled entirely by Apple. We never receive your name, payment card or billing details. The App checks with Apple, on your device, whether you have an active Pro plan so that it can remove ads.
8. Crash reports
If you have turned on Share With App Developers in iOS Settings (Privacy & Security › Analytics & Improvements), Apple may share anonymous crash reports and usage statistics with us. These do not identify you and never include your photos. We use them only to fix bugs, and you can turn this off at any time.
9. This website and support emails
If you contact us by email or through a form on this website, we receive your name, email address and whatever you choose to tell us. We use this only to reply to you and help with your request. We keep it no longer than needed (normally up to 24 months), and never sell it or use it for marketing. Please don't send us private photos. Our web host may keep standard server logs (such as IP address and browser type) for security. This website sets one essential session cookie to protect forms from abuse, and uses no tracking cookies.
10. Data retention and deletion
We do not keep any data from the App. Deleting the App removes its settings, streaks and receipts from your device; your photo library is not affected. Photos you deleted stay in Recently Deleted for about 30 days, where you can recover or remove them. For data held by Google, use the choices above. To have support emails you sent us deleted, email us.
11. Security
Your photos stay protected by iOS: the App can only see what you allow in Photos access, and every deletion needs your confirmation. App data is protected by iOS app sandboxing and your device's passcode encryption.
12. Your rights
Depending on where you live (for example under the GDPR in the EU/UK, the CCPA in California, or India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023), you may have rights to access, correct or delete personal data about you, to withdraw consent, and to complain to a data protection authority. For data we hold, which is mostly support emails, email support@devappstudio.tech and we will respond within 30 days. For advertising data held by Google, use the choices in section 4 or contact Google.
13. Children
The App is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
14. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy, for example when we add features. We will change the effective date above and, for significant changes, mention them in the App's release notes. Continued use of the App after an update means you accept the new policy.
15. Contact us
Questions about privacy? Email support@devappstudio.tech or use our support page.
Apexa Pambhar
India