Your launcher stays personal.

Information stored on your device

MinkLauncher stores launcher preferences, shortcut choices, to-dos, the last five successful plain-text queries, approved document-folder references, widget configuration, messaging and app-bubble preferences, MinkSpace preferences, and onboarding state locally. MinkSpace Calculator keeps a clearable local history. Media Lab stores references, display names, MIME types, order, and Android read grants only for media you explicitly select; it does not copy or upload the original files.

The Music mini-app reads Android's active media-session metadata, artwork, playback state, provider identity, and supported controls while in use. It does not record audio, request microphone permission, or retain listening history.

MinkLauncher OpenSource disables Android cloud backup. The Google Play build may participate in Android backup and device-to-device transfer when enabled by your Android and account settings; Katoa Apps does not receive that backup.

Virtual Contact Card

The optional Virtual Contact Card stores its details, selected links, order, and optional processed photo in encrypted app-private files backed by Android Keystore. It is a contact card—not an app account or tracking profile—and is not sent to Mink servers or used for account management. QR codes are generated entirely on-device and omit the photo and fallback Mink icon.

Portable backup

A backup you explicitly export is readable JSON. It can include portable settings, launcher layout, MinkSpace order and enablement, to-dos, and Virtual Contact Card details and links. It excludes permissions and roles, accessibility and notification access, widgets, document-folder grants, wallpapers, recent queries, calculator history, selected MinkSpace media and URI grants, active media sessions, Work and Privacy Space state, device-specific private-area gateways, active bubble notifications, and the card photo.

Optional permissions and special access

• Contacts: searches names and phone-number types when you use Text or Call. Results are not sent to Katoa Apps.
• Phone: places a call only after you select a contact and confirm it.
• SMS: sends carrier SMS only after you choose a contact and message action. Direct SMS is available only while MinkLauncher is the selected Android assistant. Carrier charges may apply.
• Photos, video, and audio: searches MediaStore filenames and loads thumbnails locally when file search is enabled. Media Lab separately uses Android's picker for specific images, GIFs, and videos.
• Selected folders: searches filenames only inside folders you explicitly approve through Android’s folder picker. MinkLauncher does not request broad All files access.
• Notification access — Conversations: identifies active message and email notifications and supports provider-owned inline replies. Conversation content is transient and is not kept as a separate history.
• Notification access — Music: authorizes MinkLauncher to query Android's active media sessions and send only controls advertised by the current provider. It does not inspect unrelated notification contents for music control.
• App-bubble notifications: publishes a local notification only after you request an app bubble or choose an automatic app. The notification names the app but contains no Magic Box text or message content.
• Usage access: calculates Mink’s Day screen-time observations locally. Katoa Apps does not receive this activity.
• Accessibility: performs Android’s Lock screen action only after you double-tap the launcher. It does not read window content, observe typing, or perform gestures.
• Assistant role: lets you open the Magic Box over another app. MinkLauncher does not request microphone input or screen context.
• Android 15 hidden profiles: lets the active Home app show Private Space in a separate container. MinkLauncher reads only labels, icons, launch targets, and lock state exposed by Android; Android owns authentication.

Apps, Work profiles, and Privacy Space

As a launcher, MinkLauncher reads launchable app labels, icons, package identities, and developer-published shortcuts that Android makes available. Work Apps are displayed in a separate badged drawer. Android and the managing organization control that profile and its contents. Android Private Space apps remain outside regular search, shortcuts, and See All. A manufacturer-specific private-area gateway stores and opens only the device-owned target; MinkLauncher cannot inspect the apps inside it.

Network access and update checks

When optional GitHub update checks are enabled, MinkLauncher reads the latest public release tag from GitHub at most twice a day. GitHub receives ordinary connection metadata, but no launcher content is included. MinkLauncher does not download or install an APK and the check can be disabled in Settings. Opening a website or handing a query to Web, AI, weather, messaging, or another provider is a user-requested handoff governed by that provider's privacy terms.

Handoffs to other apps

When you choose Web, AI, a messaging provider, a calling provider, a note app, calendar, weather, selected media, or another installed app, Android hands the information you selected to that provider. Sharing or displaying a vCard QR also gives its selected details to anyone who scans or receives it. The recipient's privacy terms apply after the handoff. MinkLauncher does not receive the provider's response.

Sharing and deletion

Katoa Apps does not sell or share personal data from MinkLauncher. You can delete saved to-dos, queries, calculator history, Media Lab selections, card details, and supported settings inside the app; remove approved folders; revoke access through Android Settings; or clear local app data by uninstalling MinkLauncher or using Android's Clear storage.

Contact

Questions can be sent to contact@katoaapps.com.

Effective October 1, 2026