How to Review and Clean Up App Permissions on Android
Most apps on your phone hold permissions you granted months ago and have forgotten. A ten-minute review, done every few months, removes access that apps no longer need and makes it harder for a misbehaving app to see more than it should. You do not have to understand every permission; you just have to ask whether each app really needs what it has.
- Start with the sensitive permissions: location, camera, microphone, contacts, SMS, call logs and files.
- Where Android offers "Only while using the app" or "Ask every time", choose them over "Allow all the time".
- Android 11 and later can reset permissions of apps you have not used for a while, and offers one-time permissions.
- If an app stops working after you remove a permission, you can switch it back on; nothing is permanent.
Why a review is worth doing
Android makes apps ask before using sensitive features, which are grouped as runtime permissions.[1] Over time you say "allow" many times: for a map, a video call, a photo filter. The access stays until you change it. Apps also change, and an update can add features that use more than the version you first trusted.
A ten-minute routine
- Open the permission manager. In Settings, search for "Permission manager" (or look under Privacy). It lists each permission type and which apps use it.
- Go through the sensitive ones first. For each of Location, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, SMS, Call logs and Files, read the list of apps with access.
- Ask one question per app: does this app need this to do its job? A navigation app needs location; a calculator does not.
- Tighten rather than remove where you can. For location, pick "Only while using the app" instead of "Allow all the time". For the camera or microphone, "Ask every time" is a good default.
- Remove what does not fit, and uninstall apps you no longer use. An app you do not have is an app that cannot collect anything.
Wording and menus vary by manufacturer and Android version, so use the Settings search box if a path differs.
Which permissions deserve the most attention
| Permission | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Location (all the time) | Builds a record of where you go. Most apps only need it while open. |
| Microphone and camera | Can capture audio and images. Allow only for apps that call or record. |
| SMS and call logs | Can expose one-time codes and who you talk to. Few apps legitimately need them. |
| Contacts | Lets an app copy your address book, including other people's details. |
| Files and media | Controls access to photos and documents; some apps can be limited to selected items. |
Our permissions guide covers normal, dangerous and special permissions in more detail.
Features that help
- One-time permissions. Android 11 added the option to allow access just for the current session.[2]
- Auto-reset of unused apps. Android 11 and later can automatically reset the permissions of apps you have not opened for a while.[2]
- Special access. Some powerful abilities, such as accessibility services and installing other apps, live in separate settings. Check them too; see accessibility services and Install unknown apps.
Doing it with your child
Going through the list together turns a rule into a skill. Ask your child why a game would want the microphone, and let them decide whether to keep it. Before a new app goes on the phone, you can compare its requests with similar apps in our App Directory.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I review app permissions?
Every few months is a reasonable habit, and again after installing something new. Android's auto-reset for unused apps helps in between.
Will removing a permission break the app?
Sometimes a feature stops working, but the app usually asks again or explains what it needs. You can switch the permission back on at any time.
What does "Only while using the app" mean for location?
The app can read your location only while it is open or running visibly, not in the background. For most apps that is all they need.
Where is the permission manager?
Search for "Permission manager" in Settings, or look under Privacy or Security. The name and location vary by manufacturer.
Do I need to check permissions for apps from Google Play?
Yes. Store apps are reviewed, but an app can still ask for more than it needs, so the choice to grant each permission is still yours.
- Permissions on Android — Android Developers — how runtime permissions work.
- Permissions updates in Android 11 — Android Developers — one-time permissions and auto-reset of unused apps.