Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2026

What data we collect

MicroBreaks stores the following data using Chrome's built-in chrome.storage APIs. Most settings sync automatically across your signed-in Chrome browsers via chrome.storage.sync; session-only timer state stays local to each device via chrome.storage.local:

• Your preferred break interval (e.g. 20 minutes)
• Your settings (notifications, sound, theme, color palette, dark mode, model preference, strict mode, language)
• Your custom stretch order and which stretches are enabled, if you've changed them
• Your work hours, weekend pause schedule, and daily summary preference, if configured
• Your daily break count, minutes moved, streak, and today's break log (time and stretch for each break, cleared at midnight)
• The timer state (running, paused, remaining time)

What we do NOT collect

• We do not collect any personal information
• We do not track your browsing activity
• We do not send any data to any server
• We do not use analytics or third-party tracking
• We do not use cookies

Permissions explained

MicroBreaks requests the following Chrome permissions:

• alarms — to fire break reminders reliably, even when the popup is closed
• notifications — to show you a break reminder notification
• storage — to save your settings and streak locally on your device
• scripting — to inject the break overlay onto your active tab in strict mode
• offscreen — to play the gentle chime sound before a break, since Chrome does not allow background scripts to play audio directly
• windows — to detect when you return focus to Chrome after being in another application, so a pending strict-mode break overlay can be shown on your return instead of being silently missed
• commands — to register keyboard shortcuts (Alt+Shift+B and Alt+Shift+S) that let you trigger or snooze a break without opening the extension popup
• idle — to detect when you've stepped away from the computer, so the timer can auto-pause instead of scheduling breaks against wall-clock time nobody's around for
• host permissions (all URLs) — required by Chrome to allow the strict mode overlay to appear on any webpage you are visiting, and to detect your active tab so the overlay knows where to appear

None of these permissions are used to collect, transmit, or share any data.

Strict mode

When strict mode is enabled, MicroBreaks injects a visual overlay onto your active tab at break time. This overlay is rendered entirely within your browser. No content from your tab is read, captured, or transmitted.

Idle detection

MicroBreaks uses Chrome's built-in idle API to tell whether you're actively using the computer — it only sees a system-level state (active, idle, or locked), based on keyboard/mouse/touch input timing. It does not record what you type, what you click, or what applications you use, and this state is never stored beyond deciding whether to pause or resume the timer, and never leaves your device.

Support links

The extension and its options page include an optional link to a Buy Me a Coffee page for anyone who'd like to support development. Clicking it takes you to a third-party site outside the extension, governed by that site's own privacy policy and terms — MicroBreaks itself doesn't process, store, or see any payment or donation information.

Children's privacy

MicroBreaks does not knowingly collect any information from anyone, including children under 13.

Changes to this policy

If we make changes to this policy, we will update the date at the top of this page. Continued use of the extension after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please open an issue on our GitHub repository or contact us at the email listed on the Chrome Web Store listing.