Privacy Policy
1. Your data stays on your phone
Metascrub processes every file on your phone only. No file and no metadata field it reads (location, dates, device model or serial, software, author, comments) is uploaded, sent to us or shared with anyone; we operate no servers that receive your files. Metascrub only reads files you allow: songs in your music library, files you pick with the Android photo picker or file picker, folders you grant through the Android folder picker, and files you share to it. It only writes when you tap Scrub, and by default it saves a new clean copy and leaves the original unchanged. If you choose “Replace original”, Android asks for your confirmation first. Clean copies made for sharing are kept in the app's cache and deleted automatically within 24 hours. Location data found inside a file is shown to you and then removed; Metascrub never uses it to locate you and never stores or transmits it. There is no account. Network access is used only for ads, purchases and app usage statistics described below.
2. Permissions
- Music and audio (READ_MEDIA_AUDIO; READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE on Android 12 and older) — asked when you start a Privacy Scan of your music library. Files are read on the device only.
- Media location (ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION) — asked with the scan, so Android shows Metascrub the GPS data stored inside your files instead of hiding it; that is how the app can find and remove it. It does not give access to your current location.
- Photos and videos — Metascrub does not ask for photo or video library access. You choose items with the Android photo picker, choose folders with the folder picker (access you can revoke in Android settings), or share files to the app.
- Notifications — optional: Auto-clean results (Pro), and for free users at most one short reminder a day, which you can turn off.
- Internet — ads, analytics, purchases and consent only. The scrubbing engine never uses the network; your files and their metadata are never sent.
Metascrub does not use the camera, microphone, your location, contacts or “All files access”.
3. Analytics and crash reports (Google Firebase)
With your consent where required, we use Google Analytics for Firebase and Firebase Crashlytics to understand how the app is used and to fix crashes. We log events such as “paywall viewed” or “purchase completed”, plus device model, OS and app version, approximate region and an app-instance identifier. We never log your content, file names, metadata values or coordinates; the app enforces this with an allow-list of event parameters. Crash reports contain the error type and stack trace only. Firebase Remote Config is used to tune paywall and ad settings.
4. Advertising (Google AdMob and Unity Ads)
The free version shows ads: one slim banner on the home and results screens, an occasional full-screen ad after you return from a library scrub, and optional rewarded ads you choose to watch to unlock a Pro tool for a while. Ads never appear while you share a clean copy, while files are being scanned or cleaned, on reports, onboarding or the paywall, and never appear in the first two minutes of first use. Metascrub Pro removes all ads.
Ads are served by Google AdMob, with Unity Ads competing for every ad through AdMob mediation. These partners may collect the advertising ID, device and usage information and approximate location derived from your IP address to serve and measure ads. See Google's and Unity's privacy policies.
5. Your choices (GDPR, UK GDPR, Swiss FADP, US state laws)
In the EEA, the UK and Switzerland, Metascrub asks for your consent through Google's consent message (IAB TCF) before personalised ads or analytics are used. If you decline, ads are non-personalised and analytics stays off. In US states with privacy laws (such as California, Virginia, Colorado), you can opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information and targeted advertising. You can change your choice at any time in Settings → Privacy choices.
Legal bases (GDPR): consent for analytics and personalised ads; performance of a contract for the features you use and for purchases; legitimate interest for crash diagnostics where consent is not required. You may request access, deletion, correction or portability of data we control, object to processing, or lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority. California residents (CCPA/CPRA): we do not sell personal information for money; ad partners may receive identifiers as described above, which you can opt out of in Privacy choices. We do not discriminate against users who exercise their rights.
6. Purchases
Subscriptions and the lifetime purchase are processed by Google Play. We never receive your payment details; Google tells the app whether Pro is active.
7. Retention and deletion
Your files remain on your device; Metascrub keeps only its settings and a small scan cache (file sizes and dates, not contents) until you clear app data or uninstall the app. Analytics data is retained by Google for up to 14 months. See how to delete your data.
8. Children
Metascrub is not directed to children under 13 (under 16 in the EEA) and we do not knowingly collect their data.
9. Changes
We will update this page if our practices change and revise the date above.