App permissions decide which parts of your phone an app can use, such as the camera, microphone, location, contacts and photos. Both Android and iPhone let you see every permission you have granted and turn off the ones an app doesn’t need. A full check takes one sitting.
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The steps below use the menu names from Google’s and Apple’s help pages. Some Android phone makers rename menus slightly, so look for the closest match if a label differs on your screen.
What Are App Permissions?
An app permission is your yes or no to an app using a feature or a type of data on your phone. The first time an app wants your location or camera, a pop-up asks you to allow or deny it. That choice is saved, and you can change it later in Settings.
Most permissions fall into a few groups:
| Permission | What it lets an app do |
|---|---|
| — | — |
| Location | See where your phone is, either precisely or roughly |
| Camera and microphone | Take photos, record video and record audio |
| Photos and videos | Read pictures and clips stored on the phone |
| Contacts | Read the names and numbers in your address book |
| Notifications | Send you alerts |
| Nearby devices or Bluetooth | Find and connect to gadgets near you |
How to Check App Permissions on Android
Android lets you check permissions one app at a time or one permission at a time. Google notes that some of these steps need Android 11 or later on Pixel phones.
One app at a time
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps. If the app isn’t listed, tap See all apps and choose it.
- Tap Permissions to see what you have allowed and denied.
- Tap any permission, then choose Allow or Don’t allow.
For location, camera and microphone you get more precise options. “Allow only while using the app” is the sensible middle ground for most apps. “Ask every time” makes the app request access each time you open it, and “All the time” exists only for location.
One permission at a time
Open Settings, tap Security & privacy (or Privacy), then Privacy and Permission manager. Pick a permission type and you’ll see every app that has asked for it. This view is handy for questions like “which apps can see my location?”
The privacy dashboard
On Android 12 and later, the privacy dashboard shows which apps actually used a permission and when. Google says it covers the last 24 hours on Android 12 and the last 7 days on Android 13 and later. You’ll find it under Settings, then Security & privacy or Privacy.
How to Check App Permissions on iPhone
On an iPhone, all permissions live in one place: Settings, then Privacy & Security. Apple’s steps are:
- Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap a category, such as Location Services, Contacts, Photos, Camera or Microphone.
- A list shows every app that has asked for access.
- Turn access on or off for each app.
An app only appears in a list after it has asked for that permission. You can also scroll down the main Settings screen, tap an individual app and see all of its permissions together.
Choose approximate location
For location, tap an app under Location Services. Leave Precise Location on for maps and ride apps. Turn it off for apps like weather or shopping, which only need a rough idea of where you are.
Share only some photos
For photos, many apps can be given access to only the pictures you choose instead of your whole library. Check the options under Privacy & Security, then Photos. On recent versions of iOS, the iPhone also reminds you from time to time about apps that have full access to your library.
Which Permissions Should You Turn Off?
Turn off any permission that doesn’t match what the app does. A torch app has no reason to read your contacts, and a photo editor has no reason to know your location. Ask yourself what the app is for, then compare.
Good candidates to review:
- Location set to always or all the time, for apps other than maps or family location sharing.
- Microphone access for games and shopping apps.
- Contacts access for apps you don’t use to message people.
- Full photo library access, where a few chosen photos would do.
- Bluetooth or nearby devices for apps that don’t connect to any gadget.
If an app stops working properly after a change, turn the permission back on. Some features genuinely need access, such as a video call needing the camera.
Pick a regular date, such as the first day of each month, to open the permission lists. Apps update often, and a quick look keeps old access from piling up.
Tools That Do Some of the Work for You
Android has camera and mic indicators, privacy switches and unused-app settings, and iPhone has status bar dots, the App Privacy Report and Safety Check, so both systems keep an eye on permissions between your manual checks.
Android
- Camera and mic indicator: On Android 12 and later, a green dot appears at the top right of the screen when an app uses the camera or microphone. Swipe down and tap it to see which app it is.
- Camera and microphone switches: Quick Settings tiles let you block camera or microphone access for every app at once.
- Unused app settings: Under each app’s settings, turn on Pause app activity if unused. Android then removes permissions from apps you haven’t opened in a while.
iPhone
- Status bar dots: A green dot means an app is using the camera, and an orange dot means the microphone is in use without the camera.
- App Privacy Report: Under Privacy & Security, this report shows how apps use the permissions you granted, along with their network activity.
- Safety Check: On iOS 16 and later, Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Safety Check lets you review sharing app by app and person by person, or stop all of it at once.
FAQ
Does denying a permission break an app?
Usually it only switches off the feature that needs it. A messaging app without contacts access still works, but you have to type numbers by hand. If something stops working, turn that permission back on.
Do app updates add new permissions?
An app has to ask before using a permission it hasn’t been given. On both Android and iPhone, a new request shows as a pop-up, so you always get to decide.