Couchpal — Privacy Policy

Last updated: 24 September 2026

This policy explains how Couchpal handles information. It covers the Couchpal app on phones and the Couchpal app on Android TV / Google TV (both se.universalcontrol.remote), published by Rejvomatic Labs ("we", "us"). Couchpal was previously called UniversalControl, and its TV part was previously the separate app UniversalControl Companion (se.universalcontrol.companion); this policy covers those too.

The short version

The remote works locally over your own Wi-Fi, directly between your phone and your TV.
We run no servers, no accounts and no analytics. We don't collect, sell or share your personal data ourselves.
The free version shows ads from Google AdMob. The Google Mobile Ads SDK in the app collects some device data (such as the advertising ID) to show and measure ads — see "Advertising" below. In the EU/EEA, UK and Switzerland you are asked for consent first and can change your choice at any time.
Couchpal Pro (a one-time purchase through Google Play) removes the ads.

What stays on your devices

Pairing keys and certificates, your list of TVs, settings, the language and theme you choose and a custom background image are stored only on your phone (and, for the background you choose to show there, on your TV). Nothing of this is sent to us.

Communication between your phone and your TV

Remote-control commands, text you type, links and files you choose to send, and the app list shown on your phone travel only over your local network between your phone and your TV. They never pass through a server of ours.

Permissions and why they are used

Microphone (phone) — only while you use voice search from the microphone button; the audio goes to your TV's own voice search and is not recorded or sent to us.
Local network and Wi-Fi state (phone and TV) — to find your TV and connect to it.
Accessibility service (TV, "Couchpal Mouse", optional) — draws the mouse pointer and performs clicks and scrolling on the TV when you control it from your phone. It reads what is on screen only to place the pointer and click; that information never leaves the TV.
Notification and usage access (TV, optional) — to show what is playing and your recently used apps on your phone. Nothing else depends on it.
Foreground service (TV) — keeps the TV part reachable on your network while your phone is connected.

Advertising

The free version of the phone app shows ads provided by Google AdMob (Google Ireland Limited in the EEA and Switzerland, Google LLC elsewhere). The Google Mobile Ads SDK built into the app may collect and share with Google:

device identifiers — the Android advertising ID and the app set ID;
your IP address, which can be used to estimate your general location;
information about ads shown and your interactions with them;
diagnostic and performance information about the ad SDK.

Google uses this to deliver and measure ads, to prevent fraud and, where you have agreed, to personalise ads. In the EU/EEA, the UK and Switzerland, Couchpal shows Google's consent message (a Google-certified consent management platform) before any ad is requested, and no ads are shown if consent is not given. You can change your choice at any time in the app under Mer → Annonsval (Ad choices), and you can reset or delete your advertising ID in your phone's settings. Read more in Google's Privacy Policy and how Google uses information from apps that use its services. The TV app shows no ads. Couchpal Pro users see no ads, and the ad SDK then makes no ad requests.

Purchases

Couchpal Pro is sold through Google Play Billing. Google handles the payment; we never see your payment details. The app receives only Google Play's confirmation that your account owns Pro, which stays on your device to unlock it.

If you contact us

If you email us (for example through Föreslå förbättring / rapportera fel in the app), we receive your email address and what you write, and use it only to answer you. App diagnostics are included only if you choose to copy them into your message.

Data sharing

We do not share personal data with anyone. The only third party that receives data from the app is Google, as described under Advertising and Purchases.

Retention and deletion

We don't hold data about you, so there is nothing for us to retain. Uninstalling Couchpal removes everything it stored on your devices. For data collected by Google for advertising, see Google's policy above; you can also reset your advertising ID at any time.

Children

Couchpal is a general-purpose utility and is not directed to children under 13.

Your rights

If you are in the EU/EEA or the UK you have rights under the GDPR, including access, correction and deletion. Because we don't hold personal data about you, requests about ad data are best directed to Google; you are always welcome to contact us.

Changes

We will update this page when the app's handling of information changes, and change the date at the top.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Contact Rejvomatic Labs at henrikrejving@gmail.com.