Privacy Policy
Applies to: Candle Timer · Last updated: October 18, 2026
This page is the privacy policy for the Android app "Candle Timer" (package name app.minimalab.candletimer, "the App"). A separate general privacy policy for minimalab is also available, but for matters specific to the App, the contents of this page take precedence.
1. Information We Collect
minimalab, the developer of the App, does not collect any information that directly identifies you, such as your name, email address, phone number or location. The candle names, session history, notes and other records you create in the App are never sent to minimalab. However, when you open the menu, the App makes a network request to fetch the list of minimalab's other apps (see "3. Third-Party Services"; your candle names, records and other data are not sent).
To show ads in the free version, the following information may be handled by the advertising SDK:
- Google Advertising ID
- Device information (general details such as OS version, device model, language and screen size)
- Anonymous statistics about ad impressions and interactions
This information is processed directly by the advertising SDK (Google AdMob) and is not sent to or stored on minimalab's servers. See "3. Third-Party Services" for details.
For users in regions where consent is required, such as the EU/EEA, the UK, Switzerland and California (CCPA jurisdictions), the App shows a consent screen through Google UMP (User Messaging Platform) at launch. Personalized or non-personalized ads are served according to your choice. You can change your choice at any time from "Privacy options" in the menu (shown only in regions where consent is required).
2. Data Stored on Your Device
The following data is stored on your device and is never sent to minimalab's servers (for how Android's standard backup handles it, see "5. Android Auto Backup").
| App settings | Timer duration, the selected candle, appearance (light/dark), mute, flags recording that the first-time hints and the explanations of Drift, Sleep mode and Repeat have been shown, the counts used to decide whether to ask for an in-app review (number of burn-outs and days, and whether it has been requested), the number of tips received through "Support the developer", and the version number used to decide whether to show the "What's new" notice |
|---|---|
| Candles | The names you give your candles, their colors, holders, background designs, ambient sounds and sound levels, Drift (Approximate mode), Sleep mode, Repeat (including rest length and count) and show-time-while-burning on/off, goal (period and count), target days, show-streak on/off, card color, the last duration used, their order, and when a candle was put away |
| Tags | The names of the tags you attach to candles |
| Session history | Date and time of each timer run, configured duration, actual burn time, whether the candle burned out or was put out early, and the candle that was lit (for sessions of a deleted candle, the name and color it had when it was deleted) |
| Habit records | When you lit each candle, and the days you marked as rest or corrected (the basis for the habit grid, calendar and streaks) |
| Notes | Notes you attach to a session, and notes for individual days (free-form text you type) |
| Reminders | The time and days of the week you set for each candle |
| Running timer | Start time, scheduled end time, configured duration, the progress of Repeat (which candle of the series, whether resting) and similar values. Used to notify you and record the session exactly once even when the App is closed, and erased once you leave the screen shown after the candle burns out |
| Purchase status | A cache of the purchase status for Appearance and Habit features (including the subscription state) from Google Play Billing |
| List of minimalab's other apps | Names, descriptions, icons and Google Play links (a cache of what was last fetched; excluded from backups) |
| App update notice | The date until which update prompts are paused after you choose "Later" (or cancel the update on the Google Play confirmation screen; excluded from backups) |
Candle names, session history, notes, reminders and the like are used solely within the App and are not shared externally, including with minimalab. Uninstalling the App removes all of this data from your device. Files you save yourself under "Data that leaves the device when you choose to send it" below stay where you saved them.
Home screen widgets — The home screen widgets (Habit grid and Habit streak) are drawn only from data on your device and make no network requests. The name and records of the candle you choose appear on your home screen, so be mindful if others can see it. Which candle each widget shows is stored on your device.
Data that leaves the device when you choose to send it
Only in the following cases does information from your device leave it, and only through your own action. You choose the destination; minimalab never receives it.
- Saving backups and exporting records: "Back up data (JSON)" and "Export history (CSV)" in the menu save your candles, records, notes, tags, reminders and so on as a file in a location you pick on your device. You choose where the file goes (storage on the device, or cloud storage such as Google Drive), and how the saved file is handled is up to you and that service. The files contain your candle names and notes, so be careful where you save or share them ("Restore from backup" reads a file you pick)
- Share this app: "Share this app" in the menu hands only a short introduction and the Google Play store URL to your device's share sheet. Candle names and records are not included
3. Third-Party Services
The App uses the following third-party services. For how Google handles data, please see the Google Privacy Policy.
- Google Play Billing — Used to process purchases of Appearance (one-time) and Habit features (subscription or one-time) and "Support the developer" tips (optional payments you can make as many times as you like, which unlock nothing), and to check your purchase status. Google Play handles payment processing and receipt management, including billing, renewal and cancellation of the subscription; minimalab never receives your payment details.
- Google AdMob — Used to show a banner ad at the bottom of the screen in the free version. Users who have purchased Appearance or Habit features (including while a subscription is active) are not shown ads, and no ad requests are made for them. However, the advertising SDK is initialized at launch regardless of purchase status, so it may communicate with Google's servers as needed for its own operation.
- Google UMP (User Messaging Platform) — Used to show the ad consent screen required by regional laws such as the GDPR and CCPA. Whether consent is required is checked at launch regardless of purchase status.
- Google Play In-App Review — Used to let Google Play show a rating prompt inside the App. The App decides when to ask; the rating and any review are handled by Google Play and are not sent to minimalab. The App is not told whether you wrote a review or what it says. Your candle names, records and other data are not sent.
- Google Play In-App Updates — Used to tell you about a new version inside the App. Google Play checks for and downloads the update, and your candle names, records and other data are not sent.
- List of minimalab's other apps (minimalab.app) — When you open the menu, the App fetches a list of minimalab's other apps (name, description, icon image and a link to Google Play) from
https://minimalab.app/apps.json, fetches the icon images from the https addresses given in the list (currently all on minimalab.app), and shows them. The list is not fetched again within 6 hours of the last fetch. It is fetched regardless of purchase status. Your candle names, records and other data are not sent. As with any web request, the server (which uses Cloudflare) may log technical information such as your IP address and general details such as your OS and device type. The list and icons are saved on your device and shown offline. Tapping an app in the list opens Google Play (the Play Store app or a browser).
The App does not include Google Analytics for Firebase, Crashlytics or any other analytics or crash-reporting SDK.
4. App Permissions
The App requests the following Android permissions, each used only to the extent required to provide the corresponding feature.
| Internet | To serve ads, process purchases and fetch the list of minimalab's other appsINTERNET |
|---|---|
| Notifications | To show the time left, to let you know when the candle burns out, and to show reminders at the times you set. A reminder notification includes the candle's name (if your device shows notifications on the lock screen, others may see it)POST_NOTIFICATIONS |
| Vibration | To vibrate when the timer finishesVIBRATE |
| Exact alarms | To end the timer at the set time, and to show reminders, even while the App is closedUSE_EXACT_ALARM / SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM |
| Full-screen notifications | So you notice the timer ending while the screen is locked or another app is in useUSE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT |
| Run at startup | To set the reminder alarms again after the device restarts or the App is updatedRECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED |
| Billing | To process Appearance, Habit features and "Support the developer" purchasescom.android.vending.BILLING |
In addition, the advertising SDK (Google Mobile Ads) adds permissions for its own operation: network state (ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE), advertising ID (AD_ID and related), keeping the device awake (WAKE_LOCK) and foreground service (FOREGROUND_SERVICE). The App itself does not use them.
Notification permission is requested via an in-app dialog the first time you ignite the candle. The App's core functionality remains available even if you decline, and you can allow notifications later from the App's settings screen or your device settings.
5. Android Auto Backup
Android's standard cloud backup and device transfer (Auto Backup) is enabled by default. Depending on your device settings, the data the App stores on your device, such as app settings, candles, session history, habit records, notes, tags and reminders, may be saved to the backup storage of your Google account. That storage is managed by Google, and minimalab cannot see its contents.
However, purchase-related data, including purchase status, is explicitly excluded from backup. This is to prevent paid features from being enabled without payment by restoring a backup on another device. The state of a running timer is also excluded, so that restoring on another device does not produce sessions or notifications you did not trigger. The cached list of minimalab's other apps and the date until which update prompts are paused (a per-device value) are excluded as well. The number of tips received through "Support the developer" does not affect any feature, so it may be backed up together with the app settings.
To enable paid features (including the subscription) on a restored device, tap "Restore purchase" in the menu to fetch your purchase state from Google Play again. There is no extra charge if you use the same Google account.
6. Children's Privacy
The App is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
7. Changes to This Policy
This policy may be updated without prior notice as features are added or laws change. When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.