PlayCounterCheck your download
Use the official release page for the Windows installer, release notes and the verification information attached to that release. Avoid repackaged installers from unrelated download sites.
A checksum can confirm that a downloaded file matches the published file. A signature identifies the publisher; it does not guarantee that software is harmless. Security scan results are additional evidence at a particular point in time.
If Windows shows a warning
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen considers download and publisher reputation as well as security signals. An unfamiliar app may trigger a warning, but a warning should not automatically be dismissed as a popularity issue.
Check the download source and file details, read the warning, and inspect the release verification information. If Windows or another security product reports a specific threat, stop and investigate before running it. This page is not an instruction to disable protection.
What is open source?
The public desktop repository includes the app, process scanner and shared data contracts. The current production API, database migrations and deployment code are maintained privately. The repository boundary explains that split.
Open source gives you code to inspect. It is not a substitute for checking the installer you download.
What the app sends online
PlayCounter keeps recorded sessions and history locally. Normal Windows matching sends executable filenames rather than full paths. Emulator matching can send extracted content identifiers or titles. The app automatically sends a pseudonymous installation ID at startup and roughly hourly, including while in the tray; these presence reports do not contain game names or history.
Steam import reads local files and resolves game IDs online. Optional Xbox import temporarily processes Microsoft authorization and Xbox account game data through the API. Feedback and match submissions are sent when you choose those actions. The privacy policy covers these flows and retention.