Frequently Asked Questions¶
General¶
What is SafeCam?¶
A personal-safety app for Android that starts recording your camera, microphone or screen almost instantly, using a floating icon, a gesture on your notch or status bar, a shake, a home screen shortcut or a Quick Settings tile, instead of you having to open the app and find a record button.
Which Android versions are supported?¶
Android 7.0 and later.
Is there an iOS version?¶
No. SafeCam is Android only.
Does recording keep going with the screen off?¶
Yes. Once a recording starts, turning off the screen or locking your phone doesn't stop it. Screen Recording always shows a notification while it runs. Camera and audio recordings show SafeCam's own notification unless you've turned it off in that action's settings, and on Android 12 and later Android also shows its camera or microphone indicator, which SafeCam can't hide.
Do I need an account?¶
No. There's no sign-in.
Recording¶
What happens if I fire the same trigger twice?¶
The first time starts the action; the second time stops it. The same floating icon tap, gesture, shortcut or tile both starts and stops a recording.
Where are my recordings saved?¶
On your device, in SafeCam's own folder in your phone's shared storage, with a time-stamped filename. Open the Media tab to play, share, rename or delete them, or to save a copy into a SafeCam folder inside your phone's DCIM, Pictures or Music folder. See the Privacy Policy for the full picture.
Can I move a recording into my phone's regular gallery?¶
Yes. From the Media tab, saving a file copies it into a SafeCam folder inside your device's standard DCIM, Pictures or Music folder, where your normal gallery and media apps can see it.
Does SafeCam hide Android's recording indicators?¶
No, and it can't. On Android 12 and later, a status bar indicator appears whenever an app uses the camera or microphone, and screen recording shows a notification the whole time it runs. Android controls these, not SafeCam. Android 11 and earlier don't show a camera or microphone indicator.
Does Screen Recording capture audio?¶
You choose in that action's settings: no audio, your device's own audio, or your microphone.
Triggers and permissions¶
Why does SafeCam need Accessibility Service?¶
It's what actually runs your chosen action when a trigger fires, whether that's the floating icon, a notch or status bar gesture, a shake, a volume key, a shortcut or a Quick Settings tile. Without it turned on, none of them work. See the Privacy Policy for exactly what the service does and doesn't do.
What if I deny a permission an action asks for?¶
That action won't work until you grant it. You can grant it later from the action's setup screen or from Android's own app settings.
A trigger isn't doing anything. Why?¶
Almost always because Accessibility Service has been turned off, often by your phone's battery manager. See Troubleshooting.
Why does Disable on Call ask for a Phone permission?¶
SafeCam needs to know when you're in a call to pause triggers while Disable on Call is turned on. It only reads the call state; it doesn't access your call history or contacts.
Privacy¶
Is anything I record uploaded anywhere?¶
No. SafeCam has no server of its own. Photos, video, audio and screen recordings are saved only on your device and are never uploaded by the App.
Does the Accessibility Service read my screen?¶
No. It checks which app is in the foreground, to compare it against your own Blacklisted Apps list; it watches for a long press of Volume Up or Volume Down when you've assigned an action to one; and it runs the action you've assigned to whatever you triggered. It doesn't read, log or send the content of your screen or the keys you press. Full detail is in the Privacy Policy.
What does SafeCam collect about me?¶
Ads (Google AdMob), analytics and crash reports (Firebase). Firebase can see which of the App's screens you open, but none of them receives the content of anything you record. See the Privacy Policy for the complete picture.
Recording responsibly¶
Is it legal to record someone without telling them?¶
It depends on where you are. Some places only require your own consent to record a conversation you're part of; others require everyone involved to agree first, and recording anyone in a place where they expect privacy, such as a bathroom or changing room, is illegal in many places, including every US state, whatever the consent rules. This is general information, not legal advice. See Your Responsibility When Recording in the Terms, and check the rules that apply where you are before you rely on a recording.
Can I use SafeCam to secretly record another person?¶
SafeCam is built as a personal-safety and self-documentation tool, for recording your own situation, not for secretly monitoring someone else. It doesn't and can't hide Android's camera and microphone indicators (Android 12 and later), and you're responsible for complying with the recording and consent laws that apply to you.
Pro¶
What does Pro unlock?¶
Silently Capture Back Image, Record Audio, Screen Recording, the volume key triggers, and it removes ads.
Are there ads?¶
Yes, on the free plan: a banner at the bottom of the main screen, an ad when you switch back to the app, and a full-screen ad after you view a recording. Buying Pro removes them.
How do I restore a purchase?¶
Purchases are tied to your Google account. Sign in to Google Play with the same account and SafeCam recognises it automatically.
Still stuck?¶
See Troubleshooting or email support@androxus.com.