# Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 1, 2026

Auto Text Expander is a Chrome extension that expands your text shortcuts into
full text as you type. We designed it around one principle: your shortcuts,
expanded texts and settings belong to you and stay on your device. This policy
explains what the extension and this website (<https://pingapps.top>,
collectively, the "service") handle, what they never touch, and the choices
you have.

## Chrome extension data

The extension does not collect personally-identifying information, and it does
not send your data to any server operated by us. To do its job, it stores the
following locally in your browser using Chrome's storage APIs:

- The shortcuts you create — shortcut text, the expanded text (including any
  placeholders such as fill-in fields, date macros or caret positions) and the
  tags you assign.
- Your preferences, such as case-insensitive matching, the Quick search
  toggle, the interface language and the list of sites where you paused the
  extension.
- Display details, such as the floating ball position.

Lightweight preferences are saved in Chrome's sync storage so they can follow
you across your own devices. That sync is performed entirely by your own
Google account through Chrome Sync — it never passes through our servers, and
we have no access to it.

Expansion happens entirely on your device. The text you type is analyzed
locally, in the page you are looking at, to detect a shortcut; it is never
transmitted anywhere.

Clipboard access is limited and user-triggered: the extension reads your
clipboard only when a snippet you insert contains the clipboard placeholder
($^$) and you trigger that expansion. When inserting rich text, the extension
may temporarily use the clipboard and restores your previous clipboard content
afterwards. No clipboard content is stored or sent anywhere.

We have no access to any of your accounts, and the extension never
authenticates with any service.

## Website visitors

Like most website operators, we collect non-personally-identifying information
of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available — browser
type, language preference, referring page and the date and time of each
request. The purpose is to understand how visitors use the website. We may
publish aggregated statistics, but they never include shortcut content,
expanded texts or anything that identifies you personally.

## Personally-identifying information

Certain visitors choose to interact with us in ways that require us to gather
personally-identifying information — for example, when you contact us through
the contact page on <https://pingapps.top> for support or feedback. The amount
and type of information gathered depends on the interaction, and you can
always decline to supply it — some features, such as receiving a personal
reply, simply may not be available. The extension itself is free and requires
no purchase; if paid plans are ever offered, purchases would be processed by
the Chrome Web Store and its payment provider, and we would only receive the
limited order details the store shares with developers.

## What we never do

- We do not sell, rent or trade your data.
- We do not share your shortcuts, expanded texts, tags or usage history with
  advertisers, analytics providers or any third party — because that data
  never reaches us in the first place.
- We do not read the pages you visit or the text you type beyond what is
  technically required for the extension to detect and expand shortcuts on the
  page you opened — and even that processing happens locally in your browser.

## Protection and disclosure

The limited information that does reach us (such as a support conversation) is
only shared with team members and contractors who need it to help you and who
are bound by confidentiality obligations. We may disclose it when we believe
in good faith that disclosure is required by law — for example a subpoena or
court order — or to protect the rights, property or safety of Auto Text
Expander, our users or others.

## Local storage, cookies and background features

The extension relies on Chrome's local and sync storage APIs to keep your data
on your machine, and on an offscreen document for the clipboard operations
described above. It sets no tracking cookies and uses no cloud storage. This
website may use basic cookies to remember preferences such as language; you
can disable cookies in your browser, though some conveniences may stop
working.

## Business transfers

If Auto Text Expander is acquired, merges with another company or sells a
portion of its assets, user information held at that time may be among the
assets transferred. Any acquirer would continue to be bound by this policy.

## Accessing, correcting and deleting your data

Because your shortcuts live only in your browser, you are always in control
of them: the options page offers full export and import, and uninstalling the
extension — or clearing its storage from Chrome's extension settings —
permanently erases your shortcuts and preferences. There is nothing left on
our side to delete. If you would like to access, correct or delete other
personal data we may hold (for example a support conversation), reach out and
we will take care of it.

## California privacy rights

California Civil Code §1798.83 entitles residents to request details about how
personal information is disclosed to third parties for direct marketing; we do
not make such disclosures. Under Business & Professions Code §22581,
registered users who are under 18 may request removal of content they have
posted publicly.

## Children's privacy

The service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly
collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us
personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

## Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time, and we will post any changes on
this page with a new "last updated" date. Your continued use of the service
after a change takes effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

## Contact

If you have questions about this policy, reach us through the contact page at
<https://pingapps.top>.