Draft. Review before publishing at https://bloatclear.tinysprout.in/faq

App Bloat Clear: FAQ

What it does

What is App Bloat Clear?

It finds code that uninstalled apps left in your theme, shows what that code costs your store, and gives you two ways to remove it. It is free to install and scan. Unlocking the fixes costs $39, paid once, for a lifetime licence on that store.

How does it decide something is leftover?

It checks your theme against the original theme files, so when the app has the original files for your theme version, code that came with the theme isn't flagged. For custom or unknown themes it doesn't have them, and results show lower confidence. It then matches what is left against a library of known app code. It also looks at your live storefront for signs that an app is gone. Each result carries a confidence label. When the app is unsure, it lowers the confidence rather than guessing.

Does it change my theme?

No. App Bloat Clear never edits your live theme. It asks for three read-only permissions (read_themes, read_online_store_pages, read_products) and cannot write to your store. It also adds no code to your storefront. You apply every change yourself.

Removing code

Why two removal options?

Because themes differ.

• Guided removal: step-by-step instructions on a duplicate of your theme that Shopify makes. Recommended for Theme Store themes.
• Cleaned theme ZIP: a ready-made copy of your theme that you upload. Recommended for custom, uploaded or retired themes.

Both are always shown side by side. A "Recommended for your theme" badge marks the one that suits your theme best, and you can pick either.

What happens to Theme Store updates?

Guided removal edits a duplicate of your theme in Shopify's own code editor. Whether that copy can still receive Theme Store updates is up to Shopify, so check Online Store > Themes for an update notice before you publish it. A ZIP is an uploaded theme, and uploaded themes don't get Theme Store updates. The app warns you about this before you download. If updates matter to you, choose guided removal.

What if an app is still installed?

Code from apps we detect as installed is not offered for removal. It shows under "Still installed" and can't be selected. If the app can't tell whether an app is still in use, it asks: "Do you still use X?" Answer honestly. A "No" raises the confidence of that result. A result can also be marked "Needs care", for example a page-builder template that a live page uses. Those can't be selected either. Detection can miss an app, so if you see an app you still use flagged, don't remove it and tell us at bloatclear@tinysprout.in.

What does "Your own edits" mean?

Code that differs from the original theme but doesn't look like an app: for example, changes you or a developer made. It is shown for information only and can't be selected.

How do I know the cleanup worked?

Use "Check my work". It re-scans your duplicate theme and marks each item Done, Still there, or Broken reference, with steps to fix any problem. You can preview the theme before you publish it in Shopify.

Can I undo it?

Yes. Your live theme is never edited, so rolling back means re-publishing your previous theme. Keep it for at least 14 days.

Stores and themes

Does it work on password-protected stores?

The theme scan works. The live storefront check can't load a password page, so it is marked unavailable. The scan still runs, but results that depend on live evidence are capped at medium confidence, and the app tells you why. You can answer "Do you still use X?" to raise them.

Does it work on retired (vintage) themes and custom themes?

Yes, with less certainty. If the app has no original files for your theme, it can't tell which code came with the theme. It then relies on app code patterns and says so in a badge on your results. Cleaned ZIP is the recommended output for these themes.

Do I need the Online Store sales channel?

Yes. The app scans your Online Store theme.

Price, refunds, data

What does it cost?

Free to install and scan. Unlocking the fixes is $39 one-time, lifetime, for the store. There is no subscription. The charge is shown only if the scan finds at least one high-confidence leftover.

What is the refund policy?

14 days, if a cleanup doesn't work. Email bloatclear@tinysprout.in with your shop domain. Refunds go through Shopify's app billing. See the Refund Policy for what counts.

What happens if I uninstall and reinstall?

Your licence is kept through a minimal billing record, so you aren't charged again for the same store.

What data do you keep?

• No customer or order data. We don't request those permissions.
• Your theme files are read only while a scan or ZIP build runs. We don't keep copies of them, except: the short leftover app-code snippets inside your findings; your fix plans (the planned edits, including replacement text for changed lines, and your theme's file names and checksums); and cleaned theme ZIPs (full copies of your theme), each of which expires 24 hours after it's created; after that it can't be downloaded and is deleted, at the latest within 48 hours. Temporary working copies made during a scan are deleted when the scan finishes, at the latest within 48 hours.
• Scan results, file names and summaries are also kept. The Privacy Policy lists everything we store.
• Anonymised learning data is file names and hosts only, with no shop identity.
• After uninstall, once Shopify sends shop/redact, we delete everything except a minimal billing record (shop domain, purchase ID, status, test flag, date and amount) and the anonymised learning data above, which has no shop identity.

Providers: Cloudflare (hosting, storage, and operational logs) and Shopify (platform and billing). Details are in the Privacy Policy.

Where can I see the exact lines of code?

File names are free. Exact lines and the removal tools unlock with the licence.

Does it keep scanning after the first scan?

Yes. Weekly, it compares your theme's checksums with the last scan. If a file changed, it runs a full re-scan and shows new leftovers as a banner on your next visit. This is covered by the licence.

How do I get help?

Email bloatclear@tinysprout.in.