Privacy Policy

Effective: April 29, 2026 · Last updated: April 29, 2026

Mahjong Zen Garden Solitaire ("the app", "we") is built with privacy as a default. This page explains, in plain language, what happens to data while you use the app.

Short version: We don't collect any personal data ourselves. The app does include Google AdMob to show optional rewarded ads (for free hints) and occasional interstitial ads. AdMob may use your device's advertising identifier (IDFA) for ad personalization — we'll ask first via Apple's standard tracking prompt, and you can decline. Game Center and in-app purchases are handled directly by Apple. You can also remove all ads forever with a one-time in-app purchase.

What we don't do

We don't ask for or collect your name, email, phone number, or location.
We don't use third-party analytics. There is no Google Analytics, no Firebase, no Mixpanel.
We don't run servers. We have no database of users, scores, or activity.
We don't sell or share any data ourselves.
We don't show full-screen ads on app launch or while you're playing a game — only between games, and only every few rounds.

What stays on your device

The following data is created and stored entirely on your device, in iOS's standard UserDefaults. It never leaves your phone or iPad:

Game progress — best times per layout, win counts, daily streak, completed daily challenges
App preferences — sound on/off, haptics on/off, currently selected theme
Purchase status — which theme packs and "Remove Ads" upgrade you've bought (verified against Apple's receipts)

Uninstalling the app removes all of this. You can also reset stats at any time via Settings → Data → Reset Stats.

Advertising (Google AdMob)

The free tier of Mahjong Zen Garden shows two kinds of ads via Google AdMob:

Rewarded ads — optional, opt-in. After your three free hints per game, you may choose to watch a short ad in exchange for one more hint. You're never forced to watch.
Interstitial ads — full-screen ads that may appear briefly between games (roughly every third game). Never during gameplay, never at app launch.

Google AdMob may use your device's advertising identifier (IDFA) to personalize ads if you grant permission via Apple's standard tracking prompt on first launch. If you decline (or if you're under 18 in some regions), ads will still appear but be non-personalized — which means they're less relevant, not absent.

What AdMob may collect when serving ads (per Google's own disclosure):

The device's advertising identifier (IDFA), only with your tracking consent
Crash and performance data for the SDK itself, never tied to your identity
The fact that an ad was served and viewed

Google's full advertising privacy policy lives at policies.google.com/technologies/ads. You can opt out of personalized advertising at the iOS level via Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking, or by declining the prompt the first time the app shows it.

Removing ads forever

If you'd prefer no ads at all, the Remove Ads in-app purchase ($3.99) disables every ad — rewarded and interstitial alike — permanently. It also unlocks unlimited free hints. The purchase is tied to your Apple ID, so it carries over to future devices and survives reinstalls (use Restore Purchases in Settings).

Apple-handled features

Game Center

If you choose to sign in to Game Center, Apple manages everything: your nickname, your authentication, your friends list, and your leaderboard scores. We never see your Apple ID or personal information. The app submits your best times to per-layout leaderboards hosted by Apple, but those submissions go directly from your device to Apple's servers. We have no servers and we receive no copy.

Game Center is entirely optional. The app is fully playable without signing in.

In-App Purchases

All purchases (theme packs, Remove Ads) are processed by Apple's StoreKit. Apple handles payment, billing, and receipt verification. We never see your credit card, billing address, or App Store account details. The app stores only a verified receipt token from Apple, locally on your device, to confirm you own what you've bought.

Permissions we request

Mahjong Zen Garden requests one permission, only on first launch:

App Tracking Transparency — Apple's standard prompt asking whether AdMob may use your IDFA for ad personalization. Decline and ads still serve, just non-personalized. You can change your mind later in Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.

We do not request camera, microphone, photos, contacts, calendar, location, motion, health, or push-notification permissions.

Children's privacy

The app is rated 4+ and is suitable for all ages. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from children — or, for that matter, anyone. Because we collect no data, COPPA, GDPR-K, and similar children's-privacy regulations are satisfied by default.

Future changes

We won't add new data collection or new third-party SDKs without first updating this page. Material changes will be reflected by an updated "Last updated" date at the top.

Contact

Questions, concerns, or curiosities about privacy? Reach out via the support page.