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Terms of Service

Nötkey Terms of Service

Effective date: 2026-03-03 Version: 1.0 Last updated: 2026-03-03

Introduction

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Nötkey mobile application ("the App"). By installing or using the App, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not install or use the App.

Please read these Terms carefully before proceeding with provisioning or purchasing a subscription.

1. What Nötkey is and is not

1.1 Description of the service

Nötkey is a mobile application for Android that uses Android's Device Owner capability to create and manage two separate device environments — a Public Profile and a Private Profile. It also includes features such as profile switching and an emergency wipe function, depending on your subscription tier.

1.2 What Nötkey is not

Nötkey is not:

  • A guarantee of privacy or security in any specific situation
  • A forensically undetectable solution
  • A product that protects against all forms of coercion, legal process, or device examination
  • A replacement for legal counsel, operational security training, or professional risk assessment
  • A product that can protect you from someone who has physical, prolonged access to your unlocked device

Nötkey provides tools that may reduce certain risks in certain situations. The degree of protection depends on how you use the product, your device, and circumstances outside Nötkey's control.

2. Eligibility and account requirements

You must be at least 18 years of age to use Nötkey. By using the App, you represent that you are 18 or older.

Nötkey does not require account registration as part of the core application. Subscription purchases are managed through the Google Play Store, which has its own eligibility and terms requirements.

3. Subscription tiers and features

3.1 Available tiers

Nötkey offers the following subscription tiers:

  • Free: Basic app access without Device Owner or profile separation features.
  • Guardian: Full Device Owner provisioning, Public Profile and Private Profile separation, profile switching, and emergency wipe.
  • Sentinel: Includes all Guardian features, plus additional monitoring and enforcement capabilities such as structured logging, tamper detection visibility, and related security controls as described in the Google Play listing.
  • Sentinel Pro: Includes all Sentinel features, plus advanced automation and profile-preparation capabilities as described in the Google Play listing.

Feature details and pricing for each tier are displayed in the Google Play Store listing and may change over time.

3.2 Subscription billing

Subscriptions are managed and billed through the Google Play Store. Nötkey does not process payments directly. Billing disputes, refund requests, and payment method changes must be handled through the Google Play Store.

Your subscription is subject to the Google Play terms of service in addition to these Terms.

3.3 Subscription renewal

Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing period unless cancelled before the renewal date. To cancel, use the Google Play Store subscription management interface.

3.4 Downgrade consequences

If your subscription expires or is cancelled, your account reverts to the Free tier. When this occurs:

  • Features exclusive to your previous tier will no longer be accessible.
  • The data in your Private Profile is not deleted by the tier change alone.
  • Profile switching and certain enforcement features will be restricted or unavailable.

If your subscription lapses while you are relying on higher-tier features, those features stop functioning until the subscription is renewed. Nötkey is not responsible for consequences arising from a subscription lapse.

3.5 Refunds

Refund eligibility is determined by the Google Play Store refund policy. Nötkey does not issue refunds independently of Google Play.

4. Device Owner and irreversible changes

4.1 Factory reset requirement

Enabling Device Owner mode requires a factory reset of your Android device. A factory reset permanently erases all data on your device. By proceeding with provisioning, you acknowledge that you:

  • Have backed up all data you wish to retain.
  • Understand that the factory reset is irreversible.
  • Accept responsibility for any data lost during the reset.

4.2 Device Owner removal

Once Nötkey is installed as Device Owner, removal of that status may require another factory reset. Nötkey will disclose this limitation before you complete provisioning. By completing provisioning, you acknowledge and accept this constraint.

4.3 PIN loss

Nötkey requires you to set separate PINs for your Public Profile and Private Profile. If you forget a PIN, access to that profile and its data may be permanently lost. Android does not provide an account-based recovery mechanism for Device Owner-managed PINs in all configurations. Nötkey is not liable for data lost due to forgotten PINs.

4.4 Panic feature

The emergency wipe feature, where available, initiates a complete device wipe. This action is irreversible. Once triggered, all data on all profiles is permanently erased. Nötkey will confirm your intent before executing a panic wipe, but is not responsible for consequences of an accidental or unauthorized panic trigger.

5. Limitation of liability

5.1 No guarantee of protection

Nötkey does not guarantee that use of the App will protect you from any specific threat, legal process, coercion, or harm. The App is provided as a tool that may improve certain aspects of device privacy. It does not provide absolute security.

5.2 No warranty of fitness for high-risk environments

Nötkey makes no warranty that the App is suitable for use in high-risk environments, including but not limited to: situations involving state-level actors, active legal proceedings, physical threat situations, or any circumstance where device security is critical to personal safety or legal outcome.

You are solely responsible for assessing whether the App is appropriate for your specific situation.

5.3 Limitation of damages

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Nötkey's total liability to you for any claim arising from your use of the App shall not exceed the amount you paid for your current subscription in the 12-month period preceding the claim.

Nötkey is not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages, including but not limited to: loss of data, loss of privacy, harm resulting from device seizure, or harm resulting from reliance on the App in a high-risk situation.

5.4 Data loss

Nötkey is not liable for data loss resulting from:

  • Factory reset performed during or after provisioning
  • Forgotten PINs
  • Panic feature activation
  • Device malfunction or failure
  • Actions taken by third parties with physical access to your device

5.5 Third-party actions

Nötkey is not liable for actions taken by governments, law enforcement, employers, device manufacturers, carriers, or other third parties that affect your device, your data, or your use of the App.

6. Acceptable use

You agree to use Nötkey only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree not to:

  • Use the App to facilitate illegal activity
  • Attempt to reverse-engineer, modify, or circumvent the App's security features
  • Use the App in any way that violates the rights of others
  • Use the App to harm, defraud, or deceive others

Nötkey does not monitor your use of the App or the content of your device profiles.

7. Intellectual property

The Nötkey application, its design, and its underlying technology are proprietary. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the App for personal use in accordance with these Terms. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from the App.

8. Termination

You may stop using Nötkey at any time by uninstalling the App. Note that uninstalling the App does not automatically remove Device Owner status. Removing Device Owner status may require a factory reset.

Nötkey may update or discontinue the App at any time. If the App is discontinued, your subscription obligations will be governed by the terms of your Google Play subscription agreement.

9. Updates and changes to the App

Nötkey may update the App to improve functionality, address issues, or change features. Updates may change how features work. Material changes that affect your obligations or rights under these Terms will be disclosed in advance where practicable.

Your continued use of the App after an update constitutes acceptance of the updated functionality.

10. Changes to these Terms

If these Terms change, the effective date at the top of this document will be updated. For significant changes, you will be notified within the App. Continued use of the App after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

11. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which Nötkey's developer is incorporated, without regard to conflicts of law principles.

Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the App will be resolved in the courts of that jurisdiction, unless other dispute resolution mechanisms are mutually agreed upon.

12. Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Nötkey regarding your use of the App. They supersede any prior agreements or representations.

13. Contact

For questions about these Terms, use the in-app support option.