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Privacy Policy for StepMax

Effective Date: January 2026
Last Updated: March 28, 2026

1. Introduction

StepMax ("we," "our," or "the app") is developed by Cinderhound Studio. We are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our step counter application on Android and iOS.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Activity Data

• Step Count: We track your steps using your device's motion sensors and activity recognition
• Distance & Calories: Calculated based on your step data and personal settings
• Activity History: Stored locally on your device

2.2 Location Data

• GPS Location: Used only for the "Measure Step Length" calibration feature
• This data is processed locally on your device and is not transmitted to our servers
• Location access is only used when you actively use the step length measurement feature

2.3 Account & Social Data

• Google Account (Android): If you sign in with Google, we receive your display name, email address, and profile photo URL from Google Sign-In
• Apple ID (iOS): If you sign in with Apple, we receive your name and a unique identifier from Apple. Your email may be hidden by Apple's private relay
• Display Name: Your name is visible to friends and on public leaderboards
• Referral Code: A unique code generated for your account, used to connect with friends
• Friends List: The list of users you have added as friends
• Referral Data: Which users you referred and their completion status

2.4 Data Shared with Other Users

When you use social features, certain data is visible to other users:

• Leaderboards: Your display name, daily/weekly/monthly step count, level, and selected character are visible on leaderboards (friends, country, continent, or worldwide)
• Friends: Your display name, step count, level, and character are visible to your friends
• Challenges: Your step progress in active challenges is visible to the friend you are challenging
• Country: Your country (derived from device locale) is stored for country and continent leaderboards

2.5 Device Information

• Device model and operating system
• Unique device identifiers (Android Advertising ID or Apple IDFA)
• App usage statistics

2.6 Permissions Required

• Activity Recognition / Motion & Fitness: To count your steps automatically
• Location (GPS): To measure step length accurately (optional feature)
• Notifications: To send you reminders, achievement notifications, and challenge updates
• Internet: Required for social features, leaderboards, cloud backup, and advertisements

3. How We Use Your Information

• Display your step count, distance, and calories burned
• Track your progress over time
• Calculate accurate step length measurements
• Enable social features including friends, leaderboards, and challenges
• Process and display referral rewards
• Send you motivational notifications, reminders, and challenge updates
• Improve app performance and user experience

4. Third-Party Services

4.1 Google Firebase

We use Google Firebase to power social features and cloud data:

• Firebase Authentication: Manages your sign-in securely via Google Sign-In (Android) or Sign in with Apple (iOS). We receive your name and account identifier
• Cloud Firestore: Stores your profile, step data, friends list, leaderboard entries, challenges, referral data, and achievements in the cloud to enable social features
• Data Location: Firebase data is stored on Google's servers. For more information, see the Firebase Privacy Policy

4.2 Google AdMob

We use Google AdMob to display advertisements. AdMob may collect and process:

• Device identifiers (Android Advertising ID or Apple IDFA)
• IP address and approximate location
• Ad interaction data (views, clicks)
• Device information (model, OS version)

For more information about how Google uses data, please review:

• Google Privacy Policy
• AdMob Partner Policy

4.3 Health Data Integration

Google Health Connect (Android)

StepMax integrates with Google Health Connect to share your fitness data with other health apps. When connected:

• Data Shared: Steps, distance walked, and calories burned
• Data Read: We may read step data from other connected apps
• Your Control: You can connect or disconnect Health Connect at any time in Settings
• Permissions: Health Connect access requires your explicit consent

Health Connect data is managed by Google. For more information, see the Health Connect Help Center.

Apple HealthKit (iOS)

StepMax integrates with Apple Health to read and share your fitness data. When connected:

• Data Read: Steps and walking activity from Apple Health
• Data Written: We do not write data to Apple Health
• Your Control: You can enable or disable HealthKit access at any time in iOS Settings → Health → StepMax
• Privacy: HealthKit data is never shared with third parties or used for advertising

4.4 Cloud Backup

• Android: StepMax offers optional backup to Google Drive. Backup data is stored in your personal Google Drive account, not on our servers. Only you can access your backup files
• iOS: StepMax data is included in your iCloud backup if enabled on your device

4.5 In-App Subscriptions

StepMax offers optional VIP subscriptions (Monthly and Yearly) to remove ads, unlock exclusive characters, and gain a permanent 2x XP boost. Subscriptions are processed through Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iOS):

• Payment Processing: All payments are handled securely by Google Play or Apple
• Data Collected: We do not collect or store your payment information
• Subscription Status: We receive confirmation of your subscription status to unlock premium features
• Management: You can manage or cancel subscriptions anytime through Google Play Store → Subscriptions or iOS Settings → Subscriptions
• Refunds: Refund requests are handled by Google Play or Apple according to their respective refund policies

5. Data Storage and Security

• Local Storage: Your step count, activity history, and personal settings are stored locally on your device
• Cloud Storage (Firebase): If you sign in to use social features, your profile, step data, friends, challenges, and referral data are stored in Google Cloud Firestore. This data is necessary to provide leaderboards, friends, and challenges
• Optional Cloud Backup: If enabled, data is backed up to your personal Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iOS)
• Security: We implement reasonable security measures to protect your data, including Firestore security rules that restrict data access to authorized users

6. Data Retention

• Local activity data is stored on your device until you uninstall the app or clear app data
• Firebase data (profile, friends, challenges, leaderboard entries) is retained while your account exists. You can request deletion by contacting us
• Cloud backups remain in your account until you delete them
• Health Connect / HealthKit data retention is managed through your device's health settings
• AdMob retains data according to Google's retention policies

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your data: View it within the app
• Delete local data: Uninstall the app or clear app data in device settings
• Delete cloud data: Contact us at contact@cinderhound.com to request deletion of your Firebase data
• Disconnect health data: Revoke access in Health Connect (Android) or iOS Settings → Health (iOS)
• Delete backups: Remove backup files from your Google Drive or iCloud
• Opt out of personalized ads: Through device settings
• Remove social data: Sign out in the app to stop syncing social data

8. Children's Privacy

StepMax is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

• Email: contact@cinderhound.com
• Website: https://cinderhound.com
• Developer: Cinderhound Studio