Knobelpause privacy notice

1. Controller and scope

This notice applies to Knobelpause by Y4nku.DE, including optional Google Drive synchronisation in app versions that offer it. Older versions without this function store progress exclusively locally or through separate operating-system backups. Website processing is explained in the website privacy notice.

2. Playing and local storage

Knobelpause can be played offline without a separate account. The app stores game saves, running games, completions, results, playing times, progress values, and game, display, and input settings locally in app storage on your device, where relevant to the game.

These records provide the game, resume supported games, and display progress. Local storage or access strictly necessary for the game functions you expressly request is based on section 25(2)(2) TDDDG. Where personal data is involved, Article 6(1)(b) GDPR applies because processing is necessary to provide the requested game functions.

The app does not transmit this game information to me or a player database I operate. Knobelpause does not synchronise progress unless you activate it. When synchronisation is enabled, the data described below is sent to Google Drive.

Local data normally stays on your device until deleted using available app functions, Android settings, or uninstalling the app. Uninstalling usually removes local app data. Existing operating-system backups may remain independently or restore data on reinstallation.

3. No advertising or built-in tracking services

Knobelpause contains no advertising and no built-in analytics, tracking, or external crash-reporting services. It creates no advertising profiles and sends no app-generated usage statistics to me.

Playing Knobelpause requires no access to contacts, location, camera, or microphone. For optional sync, the app uses the network status reported by Android to avoid Drive requests when known to be offline and synchronise pending progress when connectivity returns. Knobelpause operates no separate external connectivity-test service. Processing independently performed by Android, Google Play, or the device manufacturer is separate.

4. Google Play, Android, and device backups

When buying, downloading, and updating through Google Play, Google processes data under its own responsibility, such as account, payment, device, and transaction information. Knobelpause does not process payment data for its own payment processing. As developer, I may receive order/refund information, reviews you submit, and platform technical-quality reports through Google Play. The app has no analytics or crash-reporting service of its own for this purpose.

I use order information where necessary for contract fulfilment or refunds (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR) and legal obligations (Article 6(1)(c) GDPR). The legitimate interest for technical-quality reports and feedback is troubleshooting and supporting the app (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR). Applicable statutory retention duties apply to personal records; other records are needed only as long as their purpose requires.

Depending on device, account, and backup settings, Android or your device manufacturer may back up app data, transfer it to another device, or restore it. This system function is not cross-device sync provided by Knobelpause. Manage these backups using your device or backup provider's settings.

For Google services in the EEA, the provider is generally Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Processing outside the EU or EEA may occur. Google's Privacy Policy and your device/backup provider's information apply.

5. Optional Google Drive synchronisation

Your choice: Connection and synchronisation activate only when you explicitly choose “Connect Google & enable sync” in Settings and authorise Google access. You can decline or cancel and play completely offline. Declining does not cause repeated automatic sign-in prompts. You can start later in Settings. The purpose and legal basis are the cross-device progress synchronisation you voluntarily choose and consent under Article 6(1)(a) GDPR. Disconnecting withdraws that consent for the future.

Storage and access: The app reads and writes only its own hidden app-data area in your selected Google Drive account. It requests only https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.appdata. It receives no general access to other Drive files and does not request your email address or Google profile through a separate profile permission. The developer operates no central player database and receives neither your sync files nor your access token.

Transfer and encryption: HTTPS provides transport encryption between the app and Google Drive; data is not transmitted openly over the internet. Sync files contain structured JSON progress data. Knobelpause does not additionally encrypt their contents with its own key. It therefore provides no end-to-end encryption against Google as storage provider. The hidden app-data area and Google authorisation limit access but do not replace additional content encryption.

Transferred data: completed puzzle/tutorial identifiers, results, stars, playing times and completion histories, including completed-attempt statistics; attempt counters and selected puzzle options. Random installation/attempt and Drive-area association identifiers, version and change metadata support correct merging. These can be personal data when associated with your Google account. They are not advertising or hardware identifiers.

Stays local: running puzzles, boards, notes, undo/redo, hints and timers, layouts, language, sound and general device settings. Completed-attempt statistics do not restore a running puzzle.

Google connection: The app uses Google's Android authorisation through Google Play services. Google processes the selected account association and necessary technical connection, device, app, and access information, including the IP address involved in network connections, for authorisation, security, and service delivery. The app keeps short-lived access tokens only in memory; Google manages its own authorisation/token storage. Existing authorisation can be renewed without a dialog. If renewed consent is needed or the account does not match the stored connection, sync pauses. No separate Knobelpause account is created.

Operation and retention: enabled sync runs on start/resume, progress changes and “Synchronise now”; transmission while the app is closed is not guaranteed. Pending progress, merged data, sync metadata and a backup made before the first import remain local. Cloud progress and history, including older file parts, are retained until deleted; there is no automatic age-based cleanup.

Disconnecting and deleting differ: Disconnect stops further sync on this device and discards the access token. Imported progress, the local backup, and cloud files remain. Disconnect other connected devices separately. You can additionally revoke Google authorisation under Connections in your Google account; revocation does not delete existing cloud files. In Google Drive in a browser, use Settings → Manage apps → Knobelpause → Options → Delete hidden app data to remove the hidden area. Disconnect every device first so it cannot upload again. Uninstalling the Android app does not delete the Drive app-data area. Android → Apps → Knobelpause → Clear storage removes local app data, including imported achievements and backups; this is irreversible and separate from Android/Google backups. I have no remote access to delete your private local or Drive files for you.

Google receives sync data as provider of your chosen account and Drive service. In the EEA, the provider is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Processing outside the EU/EEA is possible. Google's Privacy Policy and the Google Drive terms explain worldwide processing and retention. Knobelpause uses Google API data only for the described synchronisation, not advertising, sale, profiling, or AI training. Its use and transfer comply with the Google API Services User Data Policy, including Limited Use requirements.

International Google transfers: The described services may involve processing by Google LLC in the USA. Google explains that, within their respective scope, it relies on adequacy decisions, including the EU-US Data Privacy Framework for appropriately certified US companies. Where adequacy decisions do not cover transfers, Google uses standard contractual clauses where needed. Its transfer-framework information explains the applicable grounds, certification, and how to request copies of clauses. This information also applies to the Google Play processing described above and the Gmail mailbox below.

Contact form and email

For support, I process your sender address, message and information you choose to send, using Gmail, to answer your enquiry. The basis is Article 6(1)(b) GDPR for contract-related enquiries, otherwise Article 6(1)(f), with the legitimate interest of providing support. Correspondence is deleted when no longer needed for the enquiry and follow-up, unless legal retention duties or legal claims require storage. Contact is voluntary; sufficient information and a reachable address are needed for a reply. No game save or device report is attached automatically. The website privacy notice explains the shared form, email providers and spam protection.

Your rights

Where the legal conditions are met, you have rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction and data portability. You may object to processing based on Article 6(1)(f) GDPR on grounds relating to your particular situation. You may withdraw consent for the future without affecting earlier lawful processing. Contact Rau.Onlinebusiness@gmail.com. You may complain to a data protection authority, including the Baden-Württemberg authority.

8. Changes to this notice

The notice is updated when app processing changes. The date above records the last substantive update.