PocketLinux · Legal

Terms of Service & Privacy Policy

PocketLinux icon PocketLinux Last updated:
Last updated 2026-10-25

Terms of Service

1. Agreement and acceptance

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) are a legally binding agreement between you and the solo developer of PocketLinux (“we”, “us”, “our”) for the PocketLinux Android application, package com.sg.linuxgo (the “app”).

By tapping Agree and continue, or by installing, accessing, or using the app, you represent that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and by the Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the app.

2. The service

PocketLinux provides a rootless Linux environment on Android. Subject to these Terms and to device limitations, the app may include:

  • A Linux desktop session and a terminal
  • The ability to install and run Linux software inside an environment created by the app
  • Operation without device root, dual boot, or a separate computer

The app is not, and must not be treated as:

  • A separate operating system or a replacement for Android
  • A full personal computer, virtual private server, or hosted server
  • A grant of real root privileges, loadable kernel modules, systemd as on a conventional Linux installation, or standard Docker

Intended use is everyday desktop work, coding, package installs, and terminal use. Performance, hardware support, and stability vary by device and by Android. We do not warrant any particular result.

3. License

We grant you a personal, limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to install and use the app on devices you own or control, solely in accordance with these Terms. All rights not expressly granted are reserved. You may not copy, modify, reverse engineer, redistribute, or sublicense the app except to the extent applicable law prohibits that restriction, or except as permitted by licenses of third-party open-source components bundled with the app.

4. Your responsibilities

You are solely responsible for:

  • Software, commands, and services you install or run inside Linux
  • Backing up data you care about
  • Complying with applicable law and with licenses of Linux distributions and packages you install
  • Use of the device network (Linux uses the same network as the app)

You must not use the app to:

  • Attack, scan, or disrupt systems you are not authorized to access
  • Develop or distribute malware
  • Violate Google Play policies or any applicable law

5. Free tier and Premium

Unless we change the offer in the app, the free tier includes:

  • Alpine and Debian with free desktops
  • Unlimited session time
  • One environment
  • Three Linux app windows at once

Premium, as offered in the app from time to time, may include:

  • Other published distributions
  • Additional environments
  • Backup and restore
  • As many Linux app windows as you want

Premium is sold through Google Play as a subscription and/or a one-time purchase. Prices and taxes are shown in the Play purchase flow. You manage, cancel, or request refunds for subscriptions in Google Play. Play’s billing and refund terms apply. We do not store your payment card number.

6. Permissions and storage

The following Android permissions are optional. The Linux environment still runs if you deny them:

  • Notifications — help keep a Linux session alive in the background so Android is less likely to kill it when you switch apps
  • Storage / all-files access — needed to write backups to shared storage and, if you enable Mount phone storage, to expose phone files inside Linux at /sdcard

If you enable Mount phone storage and grant storage access, software you install in Linux can read and write those shared files. You are responsible for that choice.

7. Privacy

Use of the app is also governed by the Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference. The app does not send automatic usage or crash analytics. Crash reports and feedback you submit are sent only when you choose to send them.

8. Backups and data loss

Linux environments are stored in the app’s private storage. They may be permanently lost if you:

  • Uninstall the app
  • Clear the app’s data
  • Experience a failed install, restore, or device failure

Premium backups, when you create them, are written only to shared storage you choose (typically /sdcard/PocketLinux Backup/). The app does not upload backups. Without a password, a backup is an ordinary archive of the environment. With a password, the archive is encrypted on the device before it is saved. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR DATA LOSS.

9. Third-party software

The app incorporates third-party open-source software, including PRoot and related tools, each licensed by its authors. Linux distributions and packages you install are provided by their upstream projects, not by us, and are subject to their own licenses and terms. Google Play Billing is provided by Google under Google’s terms.

10. Disclaimer of warranties

THE APP IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

Linux on Android is best-effort. Without limitation:

  • Hardware support and GPU acceleration depend on the device
  • Sessions may end when Android reclaims memory
  • Sessions are more likely to end in the background if notification permission is denied
  • Experimental features may be unstable or withdrawn

11. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST DATA, LOST PROFITS, LOST BUSINESS, OR COST OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE APP, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER THEORY, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF THE APP SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR PREMIUM IN THE THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM, OR TEN US DOLLARS (US$10), WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

12. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by law, you will defend, indemnify, and hold us harmless from claims, damages, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: (a) your use of the app; (b) software or content you install or run inside Linux; or (c) your breach of these Terms.

13. Changes and termination

We may update the app and these Terms. The copy in the app is the current version. Material changes are reflected by updating the Last updated date (2026-10-25). Continued use after an update constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

We may stop offering the app or particular distributions at any time. You may stop using the app at any time by uninstalling it. Provisions that by their nature should survive (including disclaimers, limitation of liability, and indemnification) survive termination.

14. Contact

Questions about these Terms: sanket1biz@gmail.com

Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

PocketLinux is developed by a solo developer (“we”, “us”, “our”). This Privacy Policy describes information the Android app (package com.sg.linuxgo) may send off the device, how that information is used, and how Linux on your phone relates to privacy.

Contact: sanket1biz@gmail.com

2. Scope

This policy covers the PocketLinux Android app. It does not cover:

  • Google Play, Google billing, or other Google services
  • Websites or software you open or install inside Linux
  • Third-party services you choose to use from a desktop or terminal session

3. Crash reports and feedback

The app does not send automatic usage analytics or automatic crash pings. Nothing leaves the device unless you tap Send.

The following are sent only when you choose to send them:

  • A crash report (optional note, short stack, recent session log)
  • Feedback and suggestions (rating, category, message)

Each submission also includes:

  • A random install id stored on the device (not your Google account)
  • Device maker and model, Android version, and app version
  • Distro id (for example debian or archlinux) if a desktop session was involved

Crash reports also include hardware that helps diagnose the failure:

  • RAM (total and available) and free/total storage
  • CPU type (ABI and core count)
  • GPU/GLES version, Vulkan if advertised, SoC name when Android reports it, and the GPU driver mode selected in the app

Feedback does not include that hardware snapshot.

We process this based on your choice to send it. Reports are stored in a database the developer controls (hosted on Supabase).

Your choices:

  • You can decline a crash-report prompt; nothing is sent
  • You can tap Don’t ask again to stop crash-report prompts
  • Copy or reset the install id in Settings → Help & about → Legal and others
  • Resetting the install id replaces it on this device. Reports already sent stay on the server until deleted as described below

4. Information we do not collect

We do not collect:

  • Automatic app opens, distro boots, session length, or permission outcomes
  • Hardware specs except as part of a crash report you send
  • Whether Premium is active
  • Name, email, phone number, or Google account (unless you email us yourself)
  • Linux files, shell history, SSH keys, or browser profiles
  • GPS / location coordinates
  • Advertising identifiers for ads — the app does not show ads and does not sell your data

The hosting provider sees the IP address of the request at the network edge. That address is not stored in the app’s event table.

5. Payments

Premium purchases and subscriptions are processed by Google Play. We receive an entitlement (whether Premium is active). We do not receive your full payment card number. Google’s privacy policy applies to Play Billing.

6. Backups

Premium backups you create are written to shared storage (/sdcard/PocketLinux Backup/). They are not uploaded by the app.

  • Without a password, a backup is an ordinary archive and can contain anything inside the environment
  • With a password, the archive is encrypted on the device before it is saved
  • Anyone with access to that shared-storage file can read an unencrypted backup

7. Linux isolation

PocketLinux is rootless (PRoot). Linux processes run as the app’s Android user.

  • They can use the same network as the app
  • If you turn on Mount phone storage and grant All files access, they can use the same shared storage
  • Other apps’ private data stays protected by Android
  • Software you install inside Linux may collect its own data; that is outside this policy

8. Permissions

  • Notifications help keep a Linux session alive in the background
  • Storage access is optional and is used for backups and for mounting phone files inside Linux if you enable that
  • Both can be denied; Linux still runs

9. Children

The app is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided information, contact sanket1biz@gmail.com and we will delete associated crash reports or feedback where reasonably identifiable.

10. Retention, access, and deletion

Crash reports and feedback are kept so the developer can fix problems. They are not used for advertising.

To request deletion of reports tied to your install id:

  • Copy the install id from Settings → Help & about → Legal and others
  • Email sanket1biz@gmail.com with that id

Resetting the install id or uninstalling the app does not by itself delete reports already stored.

11. Processors

We use Supabase to host crash reports and feedback. Supabase acts as a processor on our instructions, not as an advertising partner. We do not sell your information and we do not share it with other companies for their own marketing.

12. Changes

We may update this policy. The copy in the app is the current version. Material changes are reflected by updating the Last updated date (2026-10-25). Continued use of the app after an update constitutes acceptance of the updated policy for new reports you choose to send.

13. Contact

Privacy questions and deletion requests: sanket1biz@gmail.com