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Get my free Dashboard →Understanding app permissions on Android
Every Android app must ask your permission before accessing sensitive features like your camera, microphone, location, or contacts. Understanding what these permissions mean (and which ones to grant) is one of the most effective ways to protect your privacy and security.
What app permissions are
Permissions are requests from apps to access hardware or data on your phone. When you install an app, it may ask for permissions at install time or the first time it needs them. Android 6.0 and later uses a runtime permission model; apps must ask each time, and you can revoke access at any time.
- You can always deny a permission and grant it later from Settings if needed
- Denying a permission does not delete the app or stop it working: it just limits what it can access
- Android now includes auto-revoke: unused apps lose their permissions automatically
High-risk permissions to be cautious about
Some permissions give apps significant access to your private information. Think carefully before granting these:
- Camera and microphone: only grant to apps that genuinely need them (video calls, voice notes, scanning)
- Location (especially precise location): limit to navigation and maps; deny for apps that have no reason to know where you are
- Contacts: only grant to apps that handle calls or messaging
- SMS: messaging apps need this; most other apps do not
- Files and storage: required for photo editing apps, but many apps request this unnecessarily
- Accessibility services: powerful access that can read everything on screen, only grant to trusted apps
How to review and change permissions
You can review all permissions at any time from Settings:
- Go to Settings > Apps, select an app, and tap Permissions to see what it can access
- Alternatively: Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager: view all apps with access to a specific permission
- Change any permission to "Only while using the app" rather than "Allow all the time" where possible
- Remove permissions you did not intentionally grant, especially for older apps you rarely use
Quick reference: common permissions explained
A summary of what common permissions actually do:
- Camera: takes photos and videos, grant only to camera, video call, and scanning apps
- Microphone: records audio, grant only to voice, video call, and voice assistant apps
- Precise location: your exact GPS position, grant only to navigation apps; use Approximate location elsewhere
- Contacts: reads your contact list, grant only to dialler and messaging apps
- Calendar: reads and writes calendar events, grant only to calendar and productivity apps
- Physical activity: tracks steps and movement, grant only to fitness apps if you use them
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