How to Change App Permissions on Android: Complete Privacy Guide

Last checked: May 21, 2026. Android settings can vary by version, phone brand, region, launcher, carrier, and work profile. The steps below match current Google Android guidance, but Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola, Vivo, Oppo, and other devices may use slightly different labels.

Quick answer

To change app permissions on Android, open Settings > Apps, choose the app, tap Permissions, then select a permission such as location, camera, microphone, contacts, photos, or notifications. Choose the safest option that still lets the app work, such as Allow only while using the app, Ask every time, or Don't allow.

You can also review permissions by category. Open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager, choose a permission type, then review which apps are allowed or denied.

The exact labels may differ on your phone, but the idea is the same: check what each app can access, remove anything unnecessary, and keep sensitive permissions limited to apps that truly need them.

Why Android app permissions matter

App permissions control what an app can access on your phone. These permissions can include camera, microphone, location, contacts, photos, videos, files, notifications, calendar, call logs, SMS, phone, nearby devices, physical activity, health data, and more.

Some permissions are necessary. A camera app needs camera access. A navigation app needs location. A messaging app may need contacts if you want contact discovery. A fitness app may need physical activity or health-related data.

The risk starts when apps keep permissions they no longer need, ask for access that does not match their purpose, or continue collecting data in the background. A simple shopping app does not usually need your microphone. A wallpaper app does not usually need your contacts. A game does not usually need your precise location all the time.

Reviewing permissions is one of the easiest ways to improve Android privacy. It reduces unnecessary data exposure, lowers the impact of a compromised app account, limits background access, and helps you notice apps that behave suspiciously.

How Android permissions work

When an app wants to use a sensitive feature, Android may show a permission prompt. You can allow or deny the request. For some permissions, Android gives more detailed choices.

For location, camera, and microphone, you may see options such as Allow only while using the app, Ask every time, and Don't allow. For location, some apps may also request Allow all the time. On modern Android versions, location may also include a choice between approximate and precise location.

Permissions are not permanent. You can change them later in Settings. This is important because people often tap Allow during setup and forget about it. Months later, the app may still have access even if you no longer use the feature that required it.

Android also includes unused app protection. If you have not used an app for a long time, Android can revoke permissions, stop background activity, remove temporary files, and stop notifications for that unused app. You can still review and manage this behavior manually.

Change permissions for one Android app

Use this method when you already know which app you want to review.

1. Open Settings on your Android phone.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Choose the app you want to change.
4. If you do not see it, tap See all apps.
5. Tap Permissions.
6. Choose a permission.
7. Select the permission setting you want, such as Allow, Don't allow, Ask every time, or Allow only while using the app.

This is the most direct way to check whether one app has too much access. It is useful after installing a new app, seeing a strange permission prompt, noticing unexpected camera or microphone indicators, or reviewing a suspicious app.

If the app breaks after you remove a permission, you can return to the same screen and allow the permission again. A good privacy setup is not about denying everything. It is about matching access to the feature you actually use.

Change permissions by permission type

Sometimes it is better to review all apps that share the same permission. For example, you may want to see every app that can use your location, microphone, camera, contacts, or photos.

On many Android phones, open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager. Choose a permission type, then review which apps are allowed and which are denied. Tap an app to change its permission.

This view is useful because it reveals patterns. You may find that several old apps still have camera access, multiple games have location access, or apps you rarely use can still read contacts. Reviewing by category is faster than checking every app one by one.

Start with the most sensitive permissions:

• Location.
• Camera.
• Microphone.
• Contacts.
• Photos and videos.
• Files.
• SMS.
• Phone.
• Call logs.
• Nearby devices.
• Health, wellness, or fitness data.

If a permission does not match the app's purpose, remove it.

Best Android permission settings

The safest permission setting depends on the app and feature. Still, these rules work well for most users:

When in doubt, deny the permission and test the app. If a real feature stops working, allow the minimum access needed.

Change location permissions on Android

Location is one of the most sensitive permissions because it can reveal home, work, school, travel, religious visits, medical visits, shopping habits, and daily routines.

To check app location permissions:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Location.
3. Tap App location permissions.
4. Review apps under categories such as allowed all the time, allowed only while in use, ask every time, and not allowed.
5. Tap an app to change its location access.

You can also go through Settings > Apps > [app name] > Permissions > Location.

For most apps, choose Allow only while using the app or Ask every time. Use Don't allow for apps that do not need location. Be very strict with Allow all the time, because it lets the app use location even when you are not actively using it.

Maps, delivery, ride-hailing, weather, safety, and fitness apps may need location. Games, shopping apps, editing apps, wallpaper apps, and random utilities usually do not need constant location access.

Approximate vs precise location

Modern Android versions let you choose whether an app can use approximate or precise location. Approximate location gives the app a general area. Precise location can reveal your exact position.

Use approximate location when the app only needs city-level or area-level information. Weather apps, local news apps, shopping apps, and some social apps may work fine with approximate location.

Use precise location only when exact positioning is necessary. Navigation, ride-hailing, food delivery, emergency, fitness tracking, and maps often need precise location to work properly.

To change this, open an app's location permission screen and look for Use precise location. Turn it off if the app does not need exact GPS-level access.

This one setting can make a big privacy difference. Many apps ask for location because it improves convenience or advertising, not because they truly need your exact position.

Manage Location Accuracy

Android devices with Google Play services can use Location Accuracy to improve location results. This may use signals such as GPS, Wi-Fi access points, mobile network towers, and device sensors to estimate location more quickly and accurately.

Location Accuracy is separate from an individual app's permission. If Location Accuracy is on, apps that have location permission may receive better location results. If it is off, your device may rely more on GPS and device sensors, and some location features may be slower or less accurate.

To review it on Android 12 and above, open Settings > Location > Location Services > Location Accuracy. Then turn Improve Location Accuracy on or off based on your preference.

For most users, keeping Location Accuracy on is convenient for maps and safety features. Privacy-focused users should still limit which apps can access location and use approximate location wherever possible.

Change camera permissions

Camera access should be limited to apps that clearly need it. Examples include camera apps, video call apps, scanner apps, banking apps for document verification, social apps, and QR code tools.

To review camera permission, open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager > Camera. You can also open Settings > Apps > [app name] > Permissions > Camera.

Remove camera access from apps that do not need to take photos, scan codes, record videos, or verify documents. A calculator, wallpaper app, coupon app, keyboard app, or simple game usually does not need camera access.

Android may show a camera indicator when the camera is active. If you see the indicator unexpectedly, close the app and check camera permissions immediately.

Change microphone permissions

Microphone permission lets an app record audio. It is needed for voice messages, video calls, audio recording, voice search, language learning apps, and some accessibility features. It is not needed by most shopping apps, wallpaper apps, calculators, and simple games.

To review microphone access, open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager > Microphone. Remove access from apps that do not clearly need audio.

You can also disable microphone access at the device level on supported Android versions. Open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Privacy controls, then turn off Microphone access. This blocks microphone use broadly until you turn it back on.

This device-level control is useful when you want a quick privacy lock, but it can break calls, voice recording, assistant features, and video meetings while disabled.

Disable camera or microphone access for the whole device

Some Android phones include global camera and microphone toggles. These controls are useful when you want to temporarily block all apps from using these sensors.

Open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Privacy controls. Turn off Camera access or Microphone access.

This is different from changing permission for one app. A global toggle blocks access across the device. If you turn off camera access, even trusted apps may not be able to use the camera until you turn it back on.

Use this option when you want stronger temporary privacy, such as during a sensitive meeting, while troubleshooting suspicious app behavior, or when you do not want any app to access sensors for a period of time.

Change photos and videos permissions

Photos and videos can reveal private life details, screenshots, receipts, IDs, addresses, family images, documents, school work, and work files. Do not give broad media access to every app that asks.

To review access, open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager > Photos and videos if available. You can also check a specific app under Settings > Apps > [app name] > Permissions.

Many modern Android versions allow more limited photo selection for some apps. If an app only needs one image for a profile picture or one document for upload, avoid granting full library access when a limited picker is available.

Photo editors, gallery apps, cloud backup apps, and trusted social apps may need broader media access. A random utility app does not.

Change contacts permission

Contacts permission can expose information about other people, not just you. It can include names, phone numbers, email addresses, workplaces, relationships, birthdays, notes, and saved labels.

To review it, open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager > Contacts.

Messaging apps may use contacts to find friends. Calling apps may use contacts to show names. Some social apps use contact upload for discovery. But many apps ask for contacts because it helps growth, recommendations, or advertising.

If an app's main function does not require your address book, deny contacts permission. Be especially careful with shopping apps, games, editing apps, loan apps, unknown utilities, and apps installed from links.

Change notification permissions

Notifications are not just alerts. They can become a channel for spam, urgency, scams, unwanted sales, fake security warnings, and attention manipulation.

On Android, you can usually manage notification permission from Settings > Apps > [app name] > Notifications. On supported Android versions, apps must ask before sending notifications.

Allow notifications for apps where alerts matter: banking, messaging, email, calendar, security, delivery, travel, work, school, and important services. Disable notifications from apps that push repeated promotions, fake urgency, irrelevant reminders, or suspicious links.

If an app uses notifications to pressure you into opening it constantly, turn them off. The app can still work when you open it manually.

Change nearby devices permission

Nearby devices permission can allow apps to find, connect to, and determine the relative position of nearby devices. It is commonly used for Bluetooth accessories, smartwatches, earbuds, speakers, casting, car systems, smart home devices, and file sharing.

To review it, open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager > Nearby devices if available.

Allow it for apps that clearly manage nearby hardware. Deny it for apps that do not need Bluetooth or device discovery.

This permission matters because nearby device access can reveal what devices are around you, what accessories you use, and sometimes physical proximity patterns.

Change SMS, phone, and call log permissions

SMS, phone, and call log permissions are highly sensitive. They can expose messages, one-time passwords, phone numbers, call history, and communication patterns.

Only your default phone app, default SMS app, trusted messaging tools, carrier apps, or specific services with a clear need should have these permissions.

Review them in Permission manager:

• SMS: Send and read text messages.
• Phone: Make and manage phone calls.
• Call logs: Read and write call history.

Be suspicious of apps that request SMS access for no clear reason. SMS access can be abused for account takeover, fraud, or intercepting verification codes.

Change files permission

Files permission can be risky because your phone storage may include downloads, documents, screenshots, PDFs, IDs, invoices, backups, and private work files.

Review file access in Settings > Apps > [app name] > Permissions or through Permission manager if your device shows a Files category.

Allow broad file access only for trusted file managers, document tools, backup apps, cloud storage apps, or productivity apps that genuinely need it. Avoid giving file access to unknown utilities, games, wallpaper apps, and apps from untrusted sources.

If an app only needs one file, use Android's file picker where possible instead of granting broad storage access.

Health, fitness, and physical activity permissions

Health and fitness data can be deeply personal. It may reveal steps, workouts, heart-related information, sleep patterns, wellness records, sensor data, and daily routines.

Review health, wellness, fitness, body sensor, and physical activity permissions carefully. Allow them only for trusted fitness apps, health apps, wearable apps, medical apps, or apps where the feature is clearly needed.

If you stop using a fitness app or wearable, remove its permissions. Old health apps can keep sensitive access longer than necessary if you never review them.

For devices running newer Android versions, labels may differ. Google notes that health, wellness, and fitness may appear as Body sensors on Android 15 and below.

Automatically remove permissions for unused apps

Android can automatically protect you from apps you no longer use. When an app has not been used for a long time, Android may revoke permissions, stop background activity, delete temporary files, and stop notifications.

To turn this on for a specific app:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Choose the app.
4. Look for Unused app settings.
5. Turn on Pause app activity if unused.

This is a strong privacy setting for apps you rarely open but do not want to uninstall yet. It reduces the chance that forgotten apps keep sensitive access indefinitely.

If you rely on an app in the background, such as a health device app, work app, authenticator, security app, or automation app, review before enabling unused app restrictions.

Archive or delete apps you no longer use

Changing permissions is useful, but deleting unused apps is often better. If an app is no longer installed, it cannot keep permissions, run background tasks, send notifications, or collect fresh app activity.

You can delete apps through the Play Store by opening Google Play Store > Profile icon > Manage apps & devices > Manage, selecting the app, then tapping Uninstall. You can also uninstall from your launcher or app info screen on many phones.

Some Android versions support app archiving. Archiving removes the app software, permissions, temporary files, and notifications while keeping the app icon and personal data so you can restore it later.

If you do not use an app and do not need its data, uninstall it. If you may need it later, archive it where available.

Samsung and other Android phones may use different labels

Android brands often customize Settings. A Google Pixel may show Security & Privacy, while a Samsung Galaxy may use labels such as Security and privacy, Privacy, Permission manager, Apps, or Permissions in slightly different places.

If you cannot find the exact path, use the Settings search bar. Search for:

• Permission manager.
• App permissions.
• Location permission.
• Camera permission.
• Microphone permission.
• Notifications.
• Unused apps.

You can also long-press an app icon, tap App info, then open Permissions. This shortcut works on many Android phones and is often faster than navigating through Settings.

The wording may differ, but the privacy decision is the same: only allow access that matches the app's purpose.

Permission review checklist

Use this checklist once a month:

1. Open Permission manager.
2. Review location access first.
3. Remove Allow all the time unless truly needed.
4. Turn off precise location where approximate location is enough.
5. Check camera and microphone access.
6. Review contacts, photos, videos, files, SMS, phone, and call logs.
7. Disable notifications from spammy apps.
8. Review nearby devices and physical activity access.
9. Turn on unused app protection for apps you rarely open.
10. Delete or archive apps you no longer need.

This review usually takes 10 to 15 minutes and can prevent long-term privacy exposure.

Common mistakes to avoid

The first mistake is tapping Allow on every permission prompt. Apps often ask during setup when you are trying to move quickly. Slow down and ask whether the permission is truly needed.

The second mistake is allowing location all the time. Background location should be rare. Use it only for apps where the benefit is obvious.

The third mistake is giving precise location when approximate location would work. Weather, news, shopping, and many social apps often do not need exact GPS.

The fourth mistake is ignoring contacts access. Your contacts include other people's data, so treat it carefully.

The fifth mistake is letting old apps stay installed forever. Old apps may keep permissions, send notifications, and receive updates that change behavior.

The sixth mistake is trusting every free utility app. Flashlight, scanner, cleaner, wallpaper, keyboard, and file apps should be reviewed carefully because they may request broad access.

FAQ

How do I change app permissions on Android?

Open Settings > Apps, choose the app, tap Permissions, select the permission, then choose the setting you want. You can also use Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager to review permissions by category.

Where is Permission manager on Android?

On many Android phones, it is under Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager. If you cannot find it, use the Settings search bar and search for Permission manager.

Should I deny all app permissions?

No. Deny unnecessary permissions. Some permissions are required for core features. The goal is to allow the minimum access needed for the app to work.

How do I stop apps from using my location?

Open Settings > Location > App location permissions, choose an app, then select Don't allow, Ask every time, or Allow only while using the app. Turn off precise location if approximate location is enough.

Can I block camera and microphone for all apps?

On supported Android phones, yes. Open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Privacy controls, then turn off Camera access or Microphone access.

What happens if I deny a permission?

The app may lose the feature that requires that permission. For example, a camera app cannot take photos without camera access. You can allow the permission again later if needed.

Are unused app permissions removed automatically?

Android can revoke permissions and pause activity for unused apps. You can review this under an app's settings and turn on Pause app activity if unused where available.

Which Android permissions are most sensitive?

Location, camera, microphone, contacts, photos and videos, files, SMS, phone, call logs, nearby devices, and health or fitness data are among the most sensitive.

Bottom line

The fastest way to change app permissions on Android is to open Settings > Apps > [app name] > Permissions and adjust access for that app. For a broader privacy check, open Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager and review permissions by category.

Start with location, camera, microphone, contacts, photos, files, SMS, phone, and notifications. Use Allow only while using the app, Ask every time, approximate location, and limited access wherever possible. Turn on unused app protection for apps you rarely open, and delete or archive apps you no longer need.

Android gives you strong permission controls, but they only help if you review them. A few minutes of cleanup can reduce tracking, protect private data, and keep apps from accessing more than they need.

Sources

• Google Android Help: change app permissions on your Android phone: support.google.com
• Google Android Help: manage location permissions for apps: support.google.com
• Google Android Help: manage unused apps on your Android device: support.google.com
• Google Android Help: how Location Accuracy improves location: support.google.com
• Google Android Help: delete apps on your Android device: support.google.com

Reader protocol

Before you move on

Personal privacy controls. Use this short checklist to turn the article into action.

• Review location, camera, microphone, contacts, and photo access.
• Remove apps and connected services you no longer use.
• Protect your main email because it controls account recovery.

HacksByte editorial standard

This guide is written for practical user safety. For account, platform, or legal decisions, confirm critical steps with the official help center or your service provider.