Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 9, 2026

ChessPause helps you set chess playing limits and earn extra playing time by studying. In local mode, your plan and activity records stay in your browser. When you sign in and connect your account, ChessPause uses server processing to synchronize your playing allowance, settings, and study sessions across your devices.

Information stored in your browser

ChessPause stores the chess usernames you enter, your settings, reminders, selected and custom study resources, and records needed to calculate playing time, study sessions, and earned time. It reads relevant information on Chess.com and Lichess, such as game identifiers and whether a game is in progress, to provide these features.

You can edit your settings in the extension. Removing the extension deletes its local storage; it does not delete information stored with your online account. Existing local history is not automatically uploaded or merged into your account when you connect.

Accounts and synchronization

We use Google Firebase Authentication for sign-in with Google, Apple, or email and password. Firebase processes the account information needed to authenticate you. If you choose Apple's private email relay, the address shared with ChessPause may be a relay address.

When you connect your account, our backend processes your linked public chess accounts, records of games and study sessions, settings, and device information needed to calculate and synchronize playing time. Signing out returns the extension to the configured signed-out behavior; it does not delete your server account or its records. Contact us with questions or requests about your account information.

When enabled, our sign-in and extension verification pages use Firebase App Check with Google's reCAPTCHA Enterprise to help protect requests from abuse. Google processes information needed to verify these requests under its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Requests to chess websites

To check accounts and calculate playing time, ChessPause sends your configured username to that platform's public API and retrieves account information and game history. In local mode, these requests go from your browser to Chess.com or Lichess over HTTPS. For linked accounts in synchronized mode, our backend also retrieves public chess activity and game information. ChessPause does not request your chess password, and its public API requests do not include login cookies.

Configuration and images

ChessPause may download configuration from our hosting service, including study resources and rules for supported pages. These requests include the browser platform, extension version, and supported configuration schema version. They do not include your configured usernames, playing history, study records, or personal settings.

Some study tool icons may load from external image hosts. Our hosting providers and other servers you connect to receive normal request information, such as an IP address and request headers, and may keep operational logs to deliver and secure their services.

External websites and email

Chess websites and study resources you open have their own privacy policies. If you email us, we receive your email address and the information you choose to include, and use it to respond to your request.

How information is used

We use information only to provide and support ChessPause's features. We do not sell personal data or use it for advertising. The extension does not include analytics or advertising trackers. Its use and transfer of user data follow the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

Contact

For privacy questions, email hello@chesspause.com.