Since Android 6, apps ask for sensitive permissions when they first need them, and you can change your answer at any time.
Check one app's permissions
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps (on some phones, Apps & notifications or Applications).
- Choose the app. You may need to press See all apps first.
- Open Permissions. You'll see what is allowed and what isn't.
- Choose a permission to change it.
A quicker route on most phones: press and hold the app icon, choose the i (App info) option, then open Permissions.
See every app with a given permission
On Android 10 and later, go to Settings > Security & privacy > Privacy > Permission manager (the path varies; search Settings for "Permission manager"). Pick a permission such as Location to see every app that has it.
What the main options mean
- Allow all the time (location only): the app can use your location in the background.
- Allow only while using the app: access stops when the app is closed or in the background.
- Ask every time: a one-time grant that ends when you leave the app.
- Don't allow: no access. The app may lose features that depend on it.
Android 12 added an approximate location option, which is enough for weather apps. Map apps such as Google Maps or Organic Maps need precise location for turn-by-turn directions.
Permissions to look at closely
Be wary when an app asks for something unrelated to what it does: a torch app wanting your contacts, or a game wanting SMS access. Accessibility access and "Display over other apps" are powerful because they let an app read or cover the screen. Only grant them to apps that clearly need them, such as password managers like Bitwarden for autofill.
Android also removes permissions from apps you haven't used for a few months. You can switch this off per app with Pause app activity if unused or Remove permissions if app is unused.
