How to Control App Permissions on Android

When you install a new app on your Android phone, it may ask for permission to access your camera, microphone, location, contacts, or other sensitive information. Some of these requests make sense — a navigation app needs your location, a video calling app needs your camera and microphone. But other apps request access they do not actually need, and granting unnecessary permissions can put your privacy at risk.

Understanding the different permission types helps you make good decisions. Location permission allows the app to see where you are. Camera permission lets the app take photos or video. Microphone permission lets it listen through your phone's mic. Contacts permission lets the app read your address book. Storage permission lets the app read and save files on your phone. These are the most sensitive ones to pay attention to.

There are two ways to review permissions on Android. The first is per app: go to Settings, tap Apps, then tap on any app name. Scroll down to find the Permissions section and tap it. You will see a list of every permission that app has, divided into "Allowed" and "Not allowed." Tap any permission to change it.

The second way gives you an overview of all apps that can access a specific resource. Go to Settings, tap Privacy, then "Permission Manager." From here, tap any category — like Location or Microphone — to see every app that has access to it. This bird's-eye view is particularly useful for spotting apps that have access to something they should not need.

Android 12 and later added a Privacy Dashboard (in Settings under Privacy) that shows you a timeline of which apps accessed your camera, microphone, and location over the past 24 hours. If you see an unfamiliar app showing up frequently, that is a signal to review or revoke its permissions.

When reviewing location permissions, you will typically see three options: "Allow all the time," "Allow only while using the app," or "Don't allow." For most apps, "Allow only while using the app" is the right choice — it means the app can only check your location when you are actively using it, not when it is running in the background.

For apps that request camera or microphone access but have no obvious reason to need it — like a flashlight app, a simple game, or a text editor — you should deny that permission.