Privacy policy

2048 Merge by Expert Hire is a puzzle game made by Expert Hire. This page says what data we collect, why we collect it, how long we keep it, and what you can do. If you have a question about privacy, email success@experthire.io.

Playing on your phone

Some things are saved only on your phone: your levels, daily and weekly puzzles, One phone games, progress, coins, stars, awards, themes and settings. Names you type for a One phone game also stay on your phone. You do not need an account for any of this.

When you are online, the app asks our server for new levels. It does this at most every 6 hours. This does not need an account. Our server does not save who asked.

Your account

We make an account for you only when you play online, turn on new level messages, or buy something in the shop. We use Firebase Authentication, a Google service, to make it. The account is a random code. It is not your name, email or phone number. Firebase uses this code with some device and network data, like your IP address, to keep the account safe.

Our server saves:

• your account code
• a random billing code, to match store purchases to your account
• the name you choose for online play
• the players you block
• your online points and wins
• when you made the account and when you last used it

Playing online

To play online, you choose a name of 1 to 20 letters. We check names for bad words.

For each room we save the room code, the players, the round settings, and each player's results. Results are: solved or not, score, moves, time, and a short record of the moves. We use the move record to check fair play. We also save the scores and the reactions.

Reactions are a fixed set of emoji. There is no chat. Everyone in the room sees your name, results, scores and reactions. We delete a room 24 hours after it was last used.

Report and block

You can report and block a player in a room. We save the report, the reason you chose, the room code, and what we need to check it: the player's name, recent reactions, and last round result with its move record.

When you block a player, you do not see their name or reactions. You also cannot be in the same room. We delete reports after 30 days. We may stop accounts that break the terms.

Purchases

Apple or Google takes every payment. We never get your card or bank details.

We save the store's purchase code, what you bought, how many hints it added, and if it was refunded or canceled. We use this to turn on what you bought, to add hints, to bring things back on a new phone or account, and to stop fraud. Each purchase code adds hints only 1 time. When you restore a purchase, we move it to the account that restored it, and we keep a record of the move.

Hints you buy are saved on your phone, like your coins.

Messages (notifications)

Daily puzzle and "days in a row" reminders are made on your phone. They never go through our server.

If you turn on new level messages, the app sends our server a Firebase Cloud Messaging code, your phone type (Android or iOS) and your time zone. We use them to tell you about new levels. We send at most 1 message a day and 3 a week, only between 10:00 and 20:30 your time.

When you turn this off, we delete your codes. We also delete codes that stop working or are not updated for 90 days.

Game stats

The setting "Share game stats" is on at first. When it is on, the app sends us level events: start, win, lose, quit and hint, with the level and the time. It also sends events for ad screens, the shop, purchases, and new levels the app could not open.

Our server only keeps daily totals for each level, for example "how many players solved level 40 today". The totals have no account or device code. We do not keep each event. If you have an account, the request includes your account code only to stop abuse. We do not save it with the totals. You can turn this off in Settings at any time.

Ads

The free game shows ads from Google AdMob between levels. Ads never show while you play a level.

Before we ask for any ad, the app asks for your consent where the law needs it. This uses Google's User Messaging Platform. You can change your choice in Settings, under Privacy choices.

On iPhone and iPad, the app asks your permission (App Tracking Transparency) before it uses the advertising ID. Ads are personal only if you agree. If you do not agree, Google shows ads that are not personal.

The Google Mobile Ads SDK may collect your advertising ID (if allowed), IP address, rough location from the IP address, how you use the app, and error data. Read more in How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.

Cards that show other Expert Hire games do not use the advertising ID. No ads and 2048 Merge Plus turn off ads between levels and banners. Reward ads stay your choice.

Who helps us, and where data is kept

Our game server runs on Google Cloud in Mumbai, India. Its database runs on Amazon Web Services in Mumbai, India. Google gives us Firebase Authentication, Firebase Cloud Messaging and AdMob. Apple and Google run the app stores and take payments. These companies may handle data in other countries, with their own protections.

Data travels over encrypted connections. Only the people who run the service can see our systems. Our servers and these companies keep request logs with IP addresses for safety and to fix problems. We usually keep logs for up to 30 days.

How long we keep data

• Account, online name, billing code, block list, online points and wins: until you delete your account.
• Rooms and round results: 24 hours after the room was last used.
• Reports: 30 days.
• Message codes: until you turn messages off, the code stops working, or 90 days without an update.
• Purchase records: as long as we need them for what you bought, for our accounts, and to stop fraud. When you delete your account, they are no longer linked to you.
• Daily level totals: up to 400 days. They do not show who you are.
• A note that an account was deleted: 30 days, so an old sign-in cannot make it again.

Your choices and rights

You can play without an account. You can turn off messages and game stats. You can change ad consent in Settings. You can delete your account and server data in the app at any time. Read how to delete your account.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights over your data. Examples are India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, the GDPR, and US state privacy laws. You may ask to see, fix, delete or move your data. You may take back your consent. You may complain to a regulator. To do this, email success@experthire.io. We do not sell your personal data.

Children

2048 Merge by Expert Hire is for everyone aged 13 and over. It is not made for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you think a child used online play, email success@experthire.io and we will delete the data.

Changes

When we change how we use data, we will update this page and its date. We will tell you in the app about big changes.