Last updated: August 2026
SideContacts is designed to help you manage secondary and temporary contacts privately and securely. This policy explains what data the app accesses, how it is used, and how it is protected.
Data We Store
Contacts you create inside SideContacts are stored locally on your device in an app-only database. This includes:
- Name
- Phone number
- Notes
- Tag/category
- Favorite and archive status
This data remains on your device unless you explicitly enable cloud backup.
Cloud Backup (Optional)
Cloud backup is entirely optional and disabled by default.
If you choose to enable it:
- You sign in using your Google account via Firebase Authentication
- Your contact data is encrypted with AES-256 before upload
- Data is never stored in plain text in cloud storage
- Backups are securely stored using Firebase Firestore
Backed up fields include contact names, phone numbers, notes, and contact metadata.
You can disable backup, delete your cloud backup, or permanently delete your account and associated cloud data at any time from within the app settings.
Phone Permission (READ_PHONE_STATE)
SideContacts requests READ_PHONE_STATE to identify incoming calls from numbers saved in the app.
- On Android 9 and below: if an incoming number matches a saved contact, a local notification is shown
- On Android 10 and above: the incoming number is not accessible to apps; this feature silently does nothing
- No call data is recorded, stored, or transmitted
- This feature can be disabled in Settings
The app uses the system dialer (ACTION_DIAL) for outgoing calls. No CALL_PHONE permission is requested or used.
SideContacts requests access to your phone’s Contacts to power the optional Import from Contacts feature, which lets you select existing numbers from your phone’s contacts app to add as secondary contacts inside SideContacts.
- Access is requested only when you choose to use Import from Contacts, and only after an in-app explanation screen — never on app startup
- You select which contacts to import; nothing is imported automatically
- Imported contacts are copied into SideContacts’ own local database (and, if cloud backup is enabled, your encrypted backup) — your phone’s system Contacts app is never modified
- Your phone’s contacts book itself is never uploaded, sold, or shared with any third party — only the specific contacts you choose to import are stored, as SideContacts data
WhatsApp Integration
The app can open a WhatsApp chat using a saved phone number via a standard system URL. No WhatsApp messages are read, stored, or transmitted by the app.
Data Sharing
SideContacts does not sell your data.
Your data is not shared with third parties except as required for the features you explicitly use:
- Firebase Authentication — used only for Google Sign-In when backup is enabled
- Firebase Firestore — used only to store your encrypted backup data
Your Control
You are in full control of your data:
- Delete any contact at any time
- Disable cloud backup in Settings
- Delete your cloud backup at any time
- Permanently delete your account and associated cloud data — from within the app (Settings → Privacy & Backup → Delete account & cloud data), or without the app installed via our account deletion page
- Sign out from backup services at any time
- Uninstall the app to remove all local data from your device
Changes to This Policy
This policy may be updated to reflect app changes or legal requirements. The “Last updated” date at the top will always reflect the most recent revision.
Questions or support requests:
sidecontacts.app@gmail.com