Cookie Policy
1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that websites store on your device (computer, tablet, or phone) when you visit them. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide information to the site's owners.
In addition to traditional cookies, AncestorOS also uses browser local storage — a similar mechanism that stores data locally on your device. Local storage data persists until explicitly cleared, unlike session cookies which expire when you close your browser.
This policy explains which cookies and local storage entries AncestorOS uses, why we use them, and how you can manage or disable them.
2. How AncestorOS Uses Cookies & Local Storage
AncestorOS uses a minimal set of cookies and local storage entries, grouped into the following categories:
Essential — Authentication
Firebase Authentication stores your session token in local storage under the key firebase:authUser:*. This is required to keep you logged in across page navigations and browser sessions. Without this, you would be logged out every time you navigate to a new page.
Functional — UI Preferences
Your interface theme preference (light or dark mode) is saved in local storage under the key aos-theme. This is a convenience feature that remembers your display preference between visits so you don't have to re-set it each time.
Analytics — Firebase & Google Analytics
We use Firebase Analytics (powered by Google Analytics) to collect anonymous, aggregated data about how users interact with AncestorOS. This includes page views, feature usage patterns, and error events. No personally identifiable information is included in these analytics reports. The cookies used are _ga and _gid.
Functional — Stripe (Payment Flow Only)
When you initiate a subscription or payment, Stripe sets cookies prefixed with __stripe_ on their domain to help detect and prevent fraud during the transaction. These cookies are only active during the payment flow and are set by Stripe, not by AncestorOS directly.
3. Cookie & Local Storage Reference
The table below lists all cookies and local storage entries used by AncestorOS:
* Local storage entries are not technically "cookies" but function similarly and are disclosed here for full transparency.
4. Managing Cookies
You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to view, delete, and block cookies from specific sites. You can also clear local storage through your browser's developer tools.
firebase:authUser:* local storage entry will log you out of AncestorOS and you will need to sign in again. Disabling essential session storage will prevent the app from functioning correctly.
Disabling analytics cookies (_ga, _gid) will not affect your ability to use AncestorOS. It simply means we will have less data to understand how the product is being used.
5. Do Not Track
Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) setting that signals to websites that you prefer not to be tracked. Currently, there is no universal standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals, and AncestorOS does not alter its behavior in response to them.
Essential cookies and local storage entries required for authentication and core functionality will always be used. Analytics collection via Firebase Analytics is used to improve the product; if you wish to opt out, you may do so by disabling analytics cookies in your browser.
6. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of tracking technologies, please contact our privacy team:
Email: privacy@ancestoros.com
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please review our Privacy Policy.