PRIVACY POLICY

Provider and scope

Zen Mode is provided by Maximilian Mauroner (Lab4Code), Italy. Questions or privacy requests can be sent to support@lab4code.com.

Zen Mode lets people aged 13 and older create screen-time, feed, app, and website rules on their own Android device. It does not require or provide a Zen Mode account. It has no advertising and does not sell personal information.

Zen Mode uses an Android Accessibility service only after the user accepts the in-app disclosure and enables the service in Android Settings. Android allows the user to return to Accessibility Settings and disable the service.

Information processed on the device

When the Accessibility service and protection are enabled, Zen Mode processes the following information locally:

• Accessibility screen data exposed by YouTube, Instagram, and X, including view identifiers, selected state, and limited visible text or descriptions, to recognize supported feed surfaces.
• The current address exposed by exact, known address-bar fields in supported browsers while website blocking is enabled, to compare its hostname with local website rules.
• Foreground-app events and app identifiers to apply user-selected whole-app limits.
• The list of launchable apps, including package names and labels, while the user chooses an app for a rule.
• The rules and local state described below.

Zen Mode does not take screenshots, record typing, inspect browser page content, or save accessibility screen text, visited addresses, or the complete launchable-app list. Accessibility screen data, browser addresses, and the app inventory are not sent to Lab4Code or another server.

Information stored on the device

Zen Mode stores the following in Android app-private storage:

• Feed, app-limit, timed-visit, rolling-window, and website rules.
• Selected app package names and user-added blocked hostnames.
• Consent, setup, protection, observation, browser-readiness, and settings-lock state.
• Daily and rolling usage totals, timed-visit end times, and rolling timestamp slices.
• Privacy-reduced detection summaries such as timestamps, counters, fixed surface or reason values, and observed-signal flags.

The settings lock and setup completion are stored using Expo SecureStore. Other guard state is stored in Android SharedPreferences. Active enforcement state also exists in memory while the Accessibility service runs.

Optional GitHub feedback

If the user selects Send feedback, Zen Mode asks Android to open an editable issue draft on GitHub. The draft URL contains the Zen Mode version and platform, such as Android, so GitHub receives those details when the draft opens. Nothing is submitted automatically.

If the user submits the issue, the issue and any text added are public. GitHub processes this information under the GitHub Privacy Statement (opens in a new tab). Users should not include personal or sensitive information in a public issue. Feedback can instead be sent privately to support@lab4code.com.

Use and sharing

Zen Mode uses locally processed information to recognize supported surfaces, apply the user's rules, show usage and protection status, complete setup, and enforce the settings lock. Lab4Code does not receive accessibility content, browser addresses, installed-app inventory, rules, or usage records from the app.

The audited app does not include analytics, advertising, an app-owned backend, or an upload path for guard data. Its Android package includes framework-level internet and network-state permissions, but Zen Mode's release code does not use them to transmit guard data. The optional GitHub feedback action is the external transmission described above.

Retention and deletion

Rules and configuration remain until the user changes them, clears Zen Mode's storage, or uninstalls the app. More specifically:

• Daily usage and stop or continue counts apply only to the recorded local day. Fields from an older day can remain in private storage until later writes or deletion, but are not counted as current-day usage.
• Rolling usage slices are pruned as they leave the configured rolling window and are capped by the app. Removing a rolling rule removes its saved slices.
• Removing a timed-visit rule removes its saved visit-end time.
• Removing a daily-limit rule does not currently remove that app's saved usage field, although it no longer enforces without a rule.
• Detection summaries and other settings remain until overwritten, app storage is cleared, or the app is uninstalled.

Zen Mode does not currently have a single in-app erase button. Android's Clear storage control or uninstalling Zen Mode removes its app-private data. The app opts out of Android cloud backup. Device-to-device transfer behavior can still depend on Android and the device manufacturer.

User choices

Users can leave consent unchecked, pause protection, change or remove rules subject to an active settings lock, disable the Accessibility service at any time in Android Settings, clear app storage, or uninstall Zen Mode.

Disabling the Accessibility service stops accessibility processing and enforcement while saved local rules remain until deleted.

Security

Zen Mode limits its processing to the functionality described above and stores guard state in Android app-private storage. No method of storage is guaranteed to be perfectly secure. Users should keep Android and device security updates current and should not put private information in public GitHub issues.

Children

Zen Mode is intended for people aged 13 and older and is not directed to children under 13. The app does not create user profiles or knowingly collect personal information from children through an app-owned service. A parent or guardian with a concern can contact support@lab4code.com.

Changes and contact

Material changes will be reflected in this public document with a new effective date.

For privacy questions, deletion requests concerning direct support communications, or other requests, contact support@lab4code.com.

Maximilian Mauroner (Lab4Code)
Italy