Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy -
# Privacy Policy

**Last updated: 17th April 2026**

Pupsteps is a gentle self-care and habit-tracking app. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, where it is stored, and what choices you have.

1. Information We Collect

Account information
If you create or sign into a Pupsteps account, we may collect:
- your email address
- your account authentication details through our authentication provider
- profile information you choose to add, such as a display name and display icon

App progress and settings
Pupsteps may store information needed to save and restore your experience, including:
- self-care progress
- journey progress
- streaks
- titles
- step totals
- completed tasks
- pup care activity
- diary or journal entries
- in-app coins and owned items
- preferences such as reminders, themes, Calm Mode, Holiday Mode, Moon Mode, and supporter palette choices

Support information
If you contact support through the app, we may collect:
- your name
- your email address
- your support message
- your subject line
- your platform
- your app version
- any details you choose to include in your message

Device permissions and optional features
If you enable certain features, Pupsteps may access:
- notification permission, to schedule optional daily reminders
- step count or pedometer data, if your device supports it and you grant permission for walkies or step tracking features

Ads and subscriptions
If ads are enabled, the app may request ads through Google Mobile Ads.
If you purchase support or ad-free access, purchases are handled through the relevant app store.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:
- create and manage your account
- save, restore, and sync your progress
- personalise your in-app experience
- show your streaks, journey, titles, pup state, and settings
- respond to support requests
- schedule optional reminders
- process and restore subscriptions through the app store
- show non-personalized ads when ads are enabled
- maintain and improve app functionality

3. Local Storage

If you use Pupsteps without an account, your progress is stored locally on your device.

If you sign in, Pupsteps may keep a local copy on your device and also link saved progress to your account so it can be restored and synced.

Authentication sessions are stored securely on-device using secure storage where supported.

4. Cloud Storage and Service Providers

Pupsteps uses third-party services to operate core features.

These include:
- **Supabase** for authentication, account-linked profile data, saved progress, and support-related functions
- **Google Play / Apple App Store** for subscription billing and restore support
- **Google Mobile Ads** for ads when ads are enabled
- **Expo Notifications** for local reminder scheduling

When you are signed in, account-linked data may be stored in secure backend tables used to save things such as:
- your profile details
- your saved progress
- your app preferences
- your support tickets

5. Ads

Pupsteps may show ads unless you have an active ad-free or supporter subscription.

Pupsteps requests **non-personalized ads only**.

We do **not** sell your data or share it for marketing.

6. Step Tracking and Notifications

Step tracking is optional and only used if:
- your device supports it
- you grant permission

Daily reminders are optional and can be turned off in Settings at any time.

7. Support Messages

If you send a support request through the app, we may store the information needed to respond to you, including:
- your account ID
- your name
- your email address
- your subject
- your message
- support ticket status and replies
- your platform and app version

We use this information only to provide support and manage your request.

8. Deleting Your Data

You can delete your data at any time from within the app.

If you are signed in:
- your saved account data can be deleted
- your local device data can be cleared

If you are using Pupsteps as a guest:
- deleting data clears saved progress from that device only

Pupsteps may also send a confirmation email after account data deletion.

9. Signing Out

Signing out does not delete your account-linked progress.

Your saved data remains linked to your account unless you choose to delete it.

10. Age Guidance

Pupsteps is intended for users aged **13 and over**.

11. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data.

We do not share your data for marketing.

We only share data with service providers that help us operate Pupsteps, such as authentication, cloud storage, app store billing, support delivery, notifications, and non-personalized ads.

12. Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your information, including secure local session storage and authenticated account access.

However, no method of storage or transmission can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

When we do, the latest version will appear in the app and on our website with an updated revision date.

14. Contact

If you have any questions about privacy or your data, you can contact:

**support@pupsteps.co.uk**  
**https://pupsteps.co.uk**