UniRemote Data & Permissions

LAST UPDATED: AUGUST 2026

Full transparency into hardware access and privileges.

UniRemote requests only the essential hardware permissions required to communicate with your home electronics. Most importantly, it deliberately omits Android's INTERNET permission — ensuring complete offline operation.

1. Minimal Privileges Philosophy

Every permission declared in UniRemote's AndroidManifest is tied directly to a user-facing hardware feature. We believe that privacy begins with architectural restraint: if an application doesn't hold a permission, it cannot abuse it.

2. TRANSMIT_IR Permission

android.permission.TRANSMIT_IR

Purpose: Allows the application to communicate with your phone's internal Consumer IR emitter diode through Android's ConsumerIrManager system service.

Data Accessed: None. Infrared signals are strictly one-way optical pulses modulated between 36kHz and 40kHz. They do not carry user identifiers or telemetry.

3. VIBRATE Permission

android.permission.VIBRATE

Purpose: Triggers your device's vibration actuator to produce instant, tactile haptic feedback whenever a virtual remote button or keypad is tapped.

Data Accessed: None. Vibration strength can be customized or disabled in Settings.

4. POST_NOTIFICATIONS Permission

android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS (Android 13+)

Purpose: Used to display an interactive, pinned media control widget on your lock screen and notification shade so you can adjust volume and power without unlocking your smartphone.

Data Accessed: None. It does not display advertising or promotional alerts.

5. RECORD_AUDIO (Voice Commands)

android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO (Optional)

Purpose: Activated only when you open the voice assistant sheet to transcribe spoken commands (“Mute TV”, “Cool 24”).

Handling: UniRemote uses Android's native SpeechRecognizer. Speech is converted to text in-memory. Audio is never saved to device files and cannot be uploaded because UniRemote has no internet permission.

6. Permissions Deliberately Omitted

UniRemote intentionally excludes the following dangerous permissions:

NO INTERNET: UniRemote cannot connect to remote servers, upload analytics, or transmit telemetry.
NO READ/WRITE STORAGE: UniRemote cannot inspect your personal photos, downloads, or external documents.
NO ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION: UniRemote cannot track your geographical location.
NO CAMERA: UniRemote does not access phone cameras.

7. Contact the Security Team

For technical questions regarding permission compliance or privacy architecture, reach out to us at pmclab.dev@gmail.com.