DocShade Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 12, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how the «Dark Mode for Google Docs, Sheets & Slides: True-Color Images | DocShade» (DocShade) browser extension ("we", "us", "our") handles information when you use the extension (the "Service").

The short version: your documents never leave your device, and DocShade never reads them. It only changes the colors your screen uses to show Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, locally in your browser. We never see, upload or store your documents, their titles or their addresses. We collect only anonymous usage statistics to improve the product, plus whatever you choose to send us through the feedback form.

Our Principles

• Privacy policies should be human-readable and accurate.
• We collect the minimum needed to improve the product.
• Your documents are yours: DocShade changes how they look on your screen and nothing else.

Information We Do NOT Collect

• The content of your documents, spreadsheets or presentations, their titles, their web addresses (URLs), comments, or anything you type. DocShade does not read, store or transmit any of it.
• Your name, email address (unless you choose to give it in the feedback form), Google account details, account credentials, or payment information: the extension requires no account.
• Your browsing history. DocShade runs only on Google Docs, Sheets and Slides pages (docs.google.com/document, /spreadsheets and /presentation) and has no access to other websites.

How DocShade Works on Docs, Sheets and Slides

On those pages only, DocShade:

• adds a stylesheet that darkens the editor around the page (title bar, menus, toolbar, sidebars, dialogs);
• changes the colors of the drawing commands the page uses to paint the document on screen, so the page turns dark while pictures are drawn as they are. It swaps color values only; it does not look at, keep or send the text or pictures being drawn;
• marks the page with the look you chose (Dark, Dim or Sepia), so the stylesheet knows what to show.

Nothing is changed in your files. Printing from the document's File menu, PDF export and downloads are produced by Google from the file itself and are not affected.

Information We Collect

Anonymous Usage Analytics

To understand how the extension is used and to improve it, we collect anonymous usage statistics through an analytics service that processes them on our behalf. Analytics are never sent from development installs. This includes:

• A randomly generated anonymous identifier stored in your browser. It is not linked to your identity and contains no personal details.
• Product events: look changed (which look, and in which app: Docs, Sheets or Slides), keyboard shortcut used (app, on or off), an app opened with the dark look on (app and look, at most once per day per app), and "match system" turned on (app). We never send document content, titles or URLs, only these categories.
• Cumulative usage statistics computed on your device: the number of distinct days on which the dark look was shown, and your plan type (free or paid), attached to the anonymous identifier.
• Technical information: browser type and version, operating system, device type, and browser language, derived from your browser's user-agent string.
• Approximate location (country/city level) and time zone, derived by our analytics service from your IP address when events are received. We do not collect precise location.

Locally Stored Data

DocShade stores data in your browser. It stays on your device:

• Settings (Chrome extension storage): the look (Dark, Dim, Sepia or Off), which of Docs, Sheets and Slides it is on for, when it applies (always, match system, or your schedule hours), plus the analytics identifier and the per-day counters described above. Removed when you uninstall the extension.
• A copy of the settings on docs.google.com (that site's local storage in your browser, key `docshade:v1`): the same look, apps and schedule values, so the dark look can appear before the page first paints. It contains settings only, never document data. Because it belongs to the docs.google.com site, it stays until you clear that site's data in Chrome, even after uninstalling.

Information You Provide Voluntarily

If you choose to submit our feedback form (in the extension, or the short survey that opens after you remove the extension), we receive the reasons you tick, what you write, the extension version and browser language, your approximate country (derived from your IP address, which we do not store) and, only if you choose to provide it, your email address. When analytics are on, the form also carries the anonymous analytics identifier, so we can relate your answer to the anonymous usage statistics described above. Answers are stored by our hosting provider and, when analytics are on, also by our analytics service. Contacting us by email naturally shares your email address with us.

Chrome Web Store Limited Use

DocShade's use of information received from Chrome APIs adheres to the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

How We Use Information

We use the collected information to: understand which looks and apps are used and improve the product; and analyze aggregate usage trends.

We do not sell your information. We do not use it for advertising. We do not combine it with data from other sources to identify you.

Who We Share Information With

• Analytics service: processes the anonymous analytics described above on our behalf.
• Hosting provider: hosts our feedback form page (feedback.web-extensions-hub.com) and stores the answers you submit there.
• Legal requirements: we may disclose information if required to do so by law or valid legal process.

Your Choices and Rights

• Stopping data collection: analytics are an integral part of the Service. If you do not wish usage statistics to be collected, you can stop using and uninstall the extension: no data is collected when it is not installed. Extension storage is removed on uninstall; the settings copy on docs.google.com is removed when you clear that site's data.
• Turning it off: set the look to Off, or switch off Docs, Sheets or Slides individually in the popup.
• EEA/UK rights: subject to applicable law, you may request access to, correction of, or deletion of data, object to or restrict processing, and lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority. Because our analytics identifier is anonymous and not linked to your identity, we generally cannot single out which stored analytics relate to you.
• To exercise these rights, email [email protected].

International Transfers

These service providers may process data on servers outside your country, including in the United States. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards for such transfers in accordance with applicable data protection law.

Data Retention

Anonymous analytics are retained only as long as needed for the purposes above. Settings remain on your device until you clear them or uninstall the extension (and clear docs.google.com site data for the settings copy).

Security

Analytics data is transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS). Since DocShade never reads or transmits your documents, the most sensitive data is protected by not being touched at all.

Children

The Service is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 where GDPR applies). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children; the analytics we collect is anonymous for all users.

Trademarks

DocShade is an independent extension and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google. Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides are trademarks of Google LLC.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy as the Service evolves. We will post changes on this page and update the "Last Updated" date above. Material changes will be highlighted as required by law.

Contact

Questions about this Privacy Policy: [email protected]