Policy updated: October 12, 2026
Effective: October 12, 2026
Please read and fully understand the entire Dev Tools Privacy Policy before using or continuing to use Dev Tools products and/or services, and use or continue to use them after agreeing to its contents. Unless otherwise stated, declining this policy or an update to it (of which we will notify you promptly) may affect your ability to use or continue using our products and/or services normally.
(1) Dev Tools is a development productivity tool provided by CHEN LIN, an individual developer publishing as TimeShining (referred to as “we,” “us” or “our”). Through the app installed on your device, we provide installed-app information, layout inspection, developer-setting automation, device information and related tools. If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, contact us using Section 9, “Contact us.”
(2) This policy applies to the Google Play editions of Dev Tools(Developer)-Decompile (cn.trinea.android.developertools) and Dev Tools Pro(Developer Tools) (cn.trinea.android.developertools.pro) and its related services. We will explain any special features or personal information processing activities in a particular client or app version. If a separate privacy policy or agreement applies to a client, product or service, that separate policy or agreement takes precedence; this policy applies to matters it does not cover.
Third-party products and services that you choose to open are operated by their own providers and governed by their own privacy policies. Please identify the actual provider and read its rules before use. Our integration of third-party SDKs and the related sharing of information are covered by Section 5 of this policy; the providers’ linked policies supply additional details.
(3) We use bold type or other reasonable methods to draw attention to provisions that may materially affect your rights and interests.
(4) Agreeing to this policy means that you understand and agree that we will process relevant personal information in the applicable circumstances to operate a feature. It does not mean that we will process every category described in this policy as soon as you begin using our products or services. We process relevant personal information only when you use a particular feature, to the minimum extent necessary to provide that service.
(5) In specific circumstances, we will separately explain the purpose, method, scope and other rules for processing information, using timely notices such as policy updates, new documents, page notices or dialogs, and obtain your consent before processing it.
This policy covers:
The personal information inventory and purposes of processing are set out below. The permissions list and third-party sharing and SDK directory are included in this policy.
Principles and sources. We collect and use information you provide voluntarily or that is generated through your use of our products or services in accordance with the principles of lawfulness, legitimacy, minimum necessity, openness and transparency.
System permissions. Permissions such as reading and writing device storage are not enabled by default. We request relevant permissions and access associated information, where applicable, only when you trigger the corresponding feature. We request only permissions necessary for that feature, and you can revoke them at any time. Refusing or revoking a permission may prevent the related feature from working but does not affect other features. See the Dev Tools Permissions List.
Features. The types of personal information collected vary with the actual product or service. As we improve our services, we may need new information or change a processing purpose or method. If a feature or situation is not covered here, or if we go beyond the stated purpose and its directly or reasonably related scope, we will notify you again and obtain consent as required by applicable laws and regulations.
We normally collect information or request permissions in the following circumstances.
We collect your IP address to select a nearby server, system language and country code to provide the appropriate language, and device model to adapt the page layout. If project-update notifications are enabled, the app may briefly run in the background after you leave it to check for updates.
We access the installed-app list to show information about apps on your device. The list is used locally. Showing recently used apps uses the accessibility service you enable.
We access installed-app information locally to display app manifests. Recently used app selection uses accessibility access. Saving a manifest uses file or storage access as required by your Android version.
With your authorization, the accessibility service reads the foreground app and Activity information for display and Activity history on your device. Small-window mode requires permission to display over other apps.
With your authorization, accessibility access reads the current screen's view hierarchy and overlay access displays inspection controls. Saving a layout uses file or storage access. Inspected view information is processed locally and is not automatically uploaded.
Installed-app visibility and file or storage access allow you to inspect app code and resources locally. Recently used app selection uses accessibility access. Decompiled files are not automatically uploaded.
Installed-app visibility and file or storage access allow you to save an app's APK on your device. Recently used app selection uses accessibility access. The installed-app list is used locally.
Installed-app visibility and file or storage access allow you to save an app's native libraries on your device. Recently used app selection uses accessibility access. The installed-app list is used locally.
With your authorization through Android's screen-capture prompt, we read screen pixels and display the color picker over other apps. Screen contents are processed locally and are not uploaded by this tool. You can stop capture at any time.
The accessibility service performs developer-setting actions you enable, such as turning on layout bounds or pointer location. You can disable the service in Android Accessibility settings.
Where Android and your permissions allow, the device-ID feature reads identifiers such as IMEI, Android ID and MAC address for local display. It may request phone-state access. Android restrictions may prevent some identifiers from being available. This local inspection is separate from SDK identifiers described in Section 5.
Where Android requires them, phone-state, location, network-state and Wi-Fi-state permissions allow us to display network, Wi-Fi and mobile-carrier details locally, including ICCID and IMSI where available. Availability depends on system restrictions and your authorization.
We use the app version to check for updates. Google Play manages updates obtained through the store. If you choose an available direct-download update, file access and installation authorization may be needed to save and install the package.
On the activation-code entry screen, we may read the clipboard to recognize and fill an activation code. This clipboard reading is local; unrelated clipboard contents are not uploaded.
When you purchase products or services, we process the information needed to complete or restore the transaction, verify entitlements and provide support: product or service details, amount, order and transaction time, order identifier, purchase token, order and payment status, payment method and entitlement-use records. Google Play processes its checkout, account and payment information; we do not receive your full bank-card details. If you choose an available external payment or donation service, that provider processes the information you submit under its own policy.
The ad-supported app may display Google Mobile Ads (AdMob) on the home page, detail pages or other screens. Ad availability depends on the edition, paid-feature status and configuration. See the third-party sharing and SDK directory for data used to deliver, measure and protect advertising.
To maintain stable service, improve features and prevent abuse, we process IP addresses for network delivery, usage events and app/device information for analytics, and crash reports and logs for fault investigation. Firebase and Bugly processing is described in the SDK directory.
When you contact us, we may use your email address, correspondence and the device model, system/app version, purchase records or attachments you choose to provide to investigate and resolve the issue. Please do not send passwords or unrelated personal information.
The app requests restricted access when needed for a feature. You may refuse or revoke it; features needing that access may then be unavailable.
Manage runtime permissions in Android Settings → Apps → Dev Tools → Permissions. Accessibility, overlays and notification settings have their own system controls. Clipboard access is governed by Android's clipboard rules.
We may receive personal information indirectly from third parties, for example through sharing, only after confirming that the third party obtained your consent to share it with us, or is legally permitted or required to disclose it.
We require third parties to undertake that their information sources are lawful and compliant, and require them to bear the applicable legal responsibility for violations. We establish the scope of consent they obtained, including purposes and consent for transfers, sharing, public disclosure and deletion.
We use this information to provide services and keep our records accurate. If processing would go beyond the consent the third party obtained, we will obtain your consent directly or through that third party within a reasonable period after receiving the information or before processing it.
Only to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, we may collect and use personal information without consent where:
Cookies and similar technologies are commonly used on the internet. When you use our products or services, we may use them to collect preference-related data, such as login information, device information and browsing records, to keep the platform operating, simplify repeated actions such as login, protect information and account security, and improve our services.
We do not use these technologies for purposes outside this policy. If your browser supports it, you can manage, reject some or all cookies and similar technologies, or delete those already stored on your computer, mobile device or other device through browser settings. Consult your browser's settings documentation. Some services depend on these technologies; refusing or deleting them may prevent normal use, reduce the quality of your experience, or affect information and account protection.
Information described as processed locally remains on your device unless you choose to export, share or back it up. Our online services and support process information on their servers. Google and Tencent services described in Section 5 process information using their infrastructure; processing may take place outside your country or region. Their linked privacy policies explain their processing arrangements.
Where cross-border processing requires safeguards, notice or separate consent under applicable law, we will meet those requirements and provide the necessary recipient, purpose, information-category and rights information. We do not represent that all Google Play data is stored only in China.
We retain information for the shortest period necessary to achieve its processing purpose, subject to your exercise of deletion rights, account deletion or other legal requirements. After the applicable retention period, we delete or anonymize the information.
If our products or services cease operating, we will notify you through an announcement or similar means and delete or anonymize personal information within a reasonable period, unless laws or regulations require otherwise.
We work to protect personal information against disclosure, alteration, loss, misuse and unauthorized access. We use multiple safeguards to maintain a reasonable level of protection, including necessary technical measures such as firewalls, encryption (for example SSL), de-identification or anonymization, and access controls. We also work to strengthen the security of software installed on your device, including performing some encryption locally to support secure transmission.
If personal information is or may be leaked, altered or lost, we activate our incident response plan to prevent the incident from expanding.
Unless our measures effectively prevent harm from the disclosure, alteration or loss, we will promptly notify you by email, notice or similar means about the incident, measures taken or planned, remedies, and recommended actions. If individual notification is impractical, we will issue a public announcement or warning.
External service providers may provide some platform features. For example, we may engage professional data-processing organizations for data-analysis support.
We enter into agreements with organizations or individuals processing information on our behalf, specifying the purpose, duration, methods, information types, safeguards and each party's rights and obligations. We supervise their processing activities.
This provision does not apply: the Google Play edition is operated by an individual developer, and we do not share information within a corporate group. Third-party services are described below.
In some circumstances we need to share information with outside companies, organizations or individuals to provide our services. We share only necessary information for lawful, legitimate and minimally necessary purposes stated in this policy. If a third party changes processing or exceeds your original consent, we require it to obtain consent again.
We require recipients to comply strictly with our privacy and security measures, including applicable data-protection agreements, commitments and policies, to avoid identification of individuals and protect privacy.
See the Third-Party Personal Information Sharing List and Third-Party SDK Directory for details.
We may need to share personal information to perform our contractual obligations to you or provide requested services. The sharing list identifies relevant third parties. Main circumstances include advertising and other sharing necessary to provide our features or services.
We may share information with third-party SDK providers or similar service providers to maintain platform stability and implement features. See the SDK directory. We strictly monitor the security of SDKs and APIs that obtain information and require them to process it under this policy and other applicable confidentiality and security measures.
The following services process data for the stated purposes when used. Network transmission uses HTTPS. Local processing by the utility features is separate from these services.
We do not transfer personal information to other companies, organizations or individuals except with your express consent or where transfer is necessary because of a merger, division, dissolution, bankruptcy or similar event. In the latter case, we will notify you of the recipient's name and contact details and require the new holder to remain bound by this policy; otherwise, we will require it to seek your consent again.
We do not publicly disclose collected personal information. If disclosure is necessary, we will explain the purpose, the types of information and any sensitive information involved, and obtain your separate consent.
Only to the extent permitted by applicable law, we may share, transfer or publicly disclose information without consent where:
Dev Tools provides settings to help you revoke authorization, as described below, and channels for complaints and reports. We will handle your feedback promptly. If you cannot exercise your rights using these methods, contact us using the details in this policy and we will respond as required by law.
You can revoke permissions under System settings → Apps → Dev Tools → Permissions. Each feature needs certain information to operate; revoking authorization prevents us from providing the related service.
You can also request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information held by us using Section 9. Clearing app storage or uninstalling removes local app data, but not necessarily exported files, backups, purchase records or provider-managed data. We will explain any lawful retention or limits. Google-managed purchases and data may also require a request to Google.
Contact us using Section 9 to request an explanation of this policy.
For security, we first verify your identity as the person concerned before handling a request under this section.
We respond within fifteen (15) working days or the period required by law. If you have questions or are dissatisfied, contact us using Section 9.
We generally do not charge for reasonable requests. We may charge a cost-based fee for repeated requests beyond reasonable limits. We may refuse requests that are technically impractical, that laws or administrative regulations do not require us to fulfill, or whose fulfillment would violate them, and will explain why.
We may revise this policy. When terms change, we will bring the updated policy to your attention when the version is updated and explain its effective date. For material changes, we will provide a more prominent notice describing them.
Material changes include:
Please read the revised policy carefully. Continuing to use Dev Tools indicates agreement to processing under the revised policy. If the purpose, method or categories of processing change, we will obtain consent again.
We attach great importance to protecting minors' personal information. If you are under 18, please read this policy with your parent or guardian. Where applicable law requires consent from you or your guardian, we will obtain that consent before processing your personal information. Guardians with questions about a minor's information should contact us using Section 9.
CHEN LIN, the individual developer publishing as TimeShining, is responsible for personal information protection. For questions, complaints, suggestions, or requests concerning your personal information, contact us below. We will review your request and respond within 15 working days or the period required by applicable law.
TimeShining — CHEN LIN
Support and privacy requests: timeshining.com@gmail.com
Personal information: Information recorded electronically or otherwise concerning an identified or identifiable natural person, excluding anonymized information (Article 4 of the Personal Information Protection Law of the People's Republic of China).
Sensitive personal information: Information whose disclosure or unlawful use can readily harm a person's dignity or personal or property safety, including biometrics, religious beliefs, specific identities, medical and health information, financial accounts, location history, and personal information of minors under 14 (Article 28 of that law).
Anonymization: Processing that makes it impossible to identify a particular natural person and cannot be reversed (Article 73 of that law).
De-identification: Processing that makes it impossible to identify a particular natural person without additional information (Article 73 of that law).
Children: Minors under 14.
Processing personal information: Collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure and deletion of personal information.
Cookies: Small files containing strings, sent to and stored on your computer, mobile device or other device, generally encrypted, when you log in to and use websites or other online content. Similar technologies serving comparable purposes include web beacons, proxies, embedded scripts and pixel tags.
SSL: Secure Sockets Layer, a security protocol implemented over communication protocols (TCP/IP). It supports various networks and provides three basic security services using public-key and symmetric-key technologies to protect confidentiality.