How to Check and Manage App Permissions on Android

Permissions decide what an app can reach on your phone: camera, microphone, location, photos, contacts and more. Android lets you review and change them at any time, and doing so is one of the easiest privacy wins available.

See every permission an app has

1. Open Settings and tap Apps.
2. Choose the app you want to check.
3. Tap Permissions. You'll see what's allowed and what's not.
4. Tap any permission to change it to Allow, Ask every time or Don't allow.

See which apps use a permission

Go to Settings → Security & privacy → Privacy → Permission manager (names vary slightly by phone maker). Pick a permission such as Location to see every app that has it. This is the fastest way to spot an app that shouldn't be there.

Use the Privacy dashboard

On Android 12 and later, the Privacy dashboard shows which apps used your location, camera or microphone in the last 24 hours. If a game accessed your microphone at 3 a.m., you'll know.

Let Android clean up for you

Android automatically removes permissions from apps you haven't opened for a few months. Make sure Pause app activity if unused is on in each app's settings page.

Sensible defaults

• Location: "While using the app", and turn off Use precise location for apps that only need your city.
• Photos: on Android 14+, choose Select photos instead of granting the whole gallery.
• Camera and microphone: "Ask every time" for anything that isn't a camera or calling app.
• Contacts and SMS: only for messaging and dialler apps you trust.