How to Check App Permissions on Android

Review recent access

1. Open Settings and search for Privacy dashboard or Permission manager.
2. Choose the permission that concerns you.
3. Review which apps accessed it recently.
4. Open an app and change the permission where appropriate.

Prefer limited access

• Allow only while using the app where available.
• Use approximate rather than precise location when sufficient.
• Choose selected photos instead of the full library where supported.
• Remove access from apps you no longer use.

Check powerful special access

Also review accessibility services, notification access, device-admin apps, VPNs, install-unknown-apps permission and display-over-other-apps access. These can be more powerful than ordinary runtime permissions.

Verify the app still works

Change one permission at a time. A camera app needs camera access; a basic calculator normally does not. Remove the app if its requests are disproportionate to its purpose.

Review sideloaded and accessibility apps first

Apps installed outside Google Play and apps with Accessibility, device-admin, notification or VPN access deserve extra scrutiny because these permissions can expose more than ordinary camera or location access.

Review access by data type and by app

A permission can be legitimate for one feature and excessive for another. Check both the permission manager and the app’s actual role.

• Remove location, microphone or camera access that has no clear current purpose.
• Prefer “while using the app” or one-time access where available.
• Reopen the app and confirm that essential functions still work without restoring unnecessary access.