Tides & Tails Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 15, 2026

Tides & Tails is an iPhone word game by John C. Mu. You do not need an account to play. Game progress stays on your device. The free version includes Google AdMob advertising, which involves data processing described below.

Game Data on Your Device

The app saves rounds, word history, streaks, Life Ring balances, purchase entitlement information, and preferences locally. The developer does not operate a server that receives your saved games or a separate gameplay analytics service.

Apple may include app data in device or iCloud backups, depending on your settings. Tides & Tails does not provide its own cloud account or game-sync service.

Advertising

Google AdMob supplies banner ads. Google's advertising software may collect IP addresses and infer approximate location, process device or app identifiers, record ads displayed and interactions, and collect crash and performance information. Google and its advertising partners may use this information to deliver and measure advertising, diagnose problems, and prevent fraud.

In versions that include Apple's tracking permission request, the app asks for that permission before contacting Google's consent service or starting advertising. With Apple authorization and the applicable regional permissions, Google and its advertising partners may use the advertising identifier and activity across other companies' apps and websites to personalize ads and measure their performance. If Apple permission is denied, restricted, or unresolved, ads may still appear when Google's regional consent service permits them, but Google Mobile Ads does not receive Apple's advertising identifier. Google's consent signals determine whether personalized, non-personalized, or limited ads are permitted. Google's publisher first-party identifier feature remains disabled.

Earlier versions that do not include the Apple tracking prompt request non-personalized ads. Non-personalized and limited advertising can still involve data processing and storage for purposes such as measurement or fraud prevention.

Read Google's advertising privacy information, Google's Privacy Policy, and Google's Mobile Ads data disclosure for more information about Google's practices.

Your Advertising Choices

The app uses Google's User Messaging Platform to present applicable consent forms before requesting ads when required. Open Settings → Privacy Choices to review or change the advertising privacy options available in your region. In versions with Apple's permission flow, Settings → Apple Tracking Permission opens Apple Settings to review the app's permission. Turning off tracking prevents subsequent use of Apple's advertising identifier but does not by itself stop UMP-permitted ad requests. Changing permission does not delete information already processed by Google.

The one-time Remove All Ads purchase removes banners and stops further ad requests once ownership is verified. It does not delete information already processed by Google. For Google's retention and privacy controls, see the policies linked above.

Purchases

Apple processes purchases through the App Store. The developer does not receive your payment card details. The app uses verified transaction information to deliver Life Rings and recognize ad-removal ownership.

Remove All Ads can be restored using Settings → Restore Purchases with the Apple Account that made the purchase. Life Rings are consumable purchases; finished purchases are not replayed by Restore Purchases, and their balance does not transfer between devices.

Reminders and Permissions

Optional daily reminders are scheduled locally through Apple's notification system. You can turn them off in the app or in iOS notification settings. The app does not request access to your camera, microphone, contacts, photos, or precise location.

Deletion and Support Requests

Deleting the app removes its locally stored game data, including unused Life Rings. Offloading an app is different from deleting it. Backups and App Store purchase records are managed by Apple and your device settings.

If you choose to contact support, the name, email address, and message you submit are used to respond to your request. Do not include passwords or payment card information. You can use the same contact form to ask about or request deletion of information you have sent directly to the developer.

Changes and Contact

Updates to this policy will appear here with a new date. For privacy questions, including questions from parents or guardians, contact John C. Mu. For purchase and gameplay help, visit Tides & Tails Support.