Data Deletion
Effective Date: May 11, 2026
Podling is an Android app for listening to audiobooks and podcasts from your self-hosted AudioBookShelf (ABS) server. This page covers what gets deleted automatically when you stop using the app, and how to request deletion of anything that’s left.
Where your data lives
Section titled “Where your data lives”Podling has no user accounts, so there is no central record of “you.” Your data sits in three places:
- On your device. Server address, display name, username, auth token, library cache, progress, bookmarks, sessions, and downloaded audio files. Stored in app-private storage that other apps cannot read.
- On your ABS server. Playback progress, sessions, bookmarks, and device info synced from the app. You self-host that server, so the data is under your direct control.
- With our diagnostics services. Crash reports and anonymous usage data, tied to a random anonymous ID generated by the app. We use these to fix bugs and understand how the app is used.
The diagnostics data is the only data we can act on for a deletion request. Everything else is on your device or your server, so deleting it is something you do directly.
What you can delete yourself
Section titled “What you can delete yourself”On your device. Uninstall Podling. That removes credentials, library cache, progress, bookmarks, sessions, and downloaded files. You can also wipe just the app’s data without uninstalling: Android Settings → Apps → Podling → Storage → Clear storage.
On your ABS server. Sign in to your AudioBookShelf server and delete your user account, sessions, or progress through the server’s admin interface.
Future crash reports and analytics. Open Podling, go to the Privacy section of the settings page, and turn off Share anonymous usage data and crash reports. You also have this option during sign-in when you first set up the app. Once it’s off, nothing further is sent.
Requesting deletion of diagnostics data
Section titled “Requesting deletion of diagnostics data”To delete crash reports and usage data already collected, we need your anonymous ID so we can find them.
- Open Podling and go to Settings → Privacy.
- Scroll to Request data deletion at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the copy button next to Your anonymous ID to copy your UUID.
- Email privacy@podl.ing and include the anonymous ID. A subject line like “Data deletion request” is enough.
If you’ve already uninstalled the app and no longer have your anonymous ID, email us anyway with whatever you remember (approximate dates of use, device type). We will do our best to locate the data, but without the anonymous ID we may not be able to identify it.
We will confirm receipt within 7 days and complete deletion within 30 days.
What gets deleted and what stays
Section titled “What gets deleted and what stays”Deleted on request:
- Crash reports tied to your anonymous ID, including stack traces, device info, and IP address
- Usage events tied to your anonymous ID, including session data and device properties
Not handled by this request, because Podling doesn’t hold it:
- Data on your AudioBookShelf server. Manage it through your server.
- Data on your device. Uninstall Podling or clear its storage.
Backups held by our diagnostics providers may keep deleted records for a short retention window under their standard policies before purging.
Contact
Section titled “Contact”Data deletion requests and any questions about your data: privacy@podl.ing.