An app may stop working after you deny a permission, or it may have access you no longer want it to keep. Android lets you change those permissions from Settings, review recent access, shut off camera or microphone access across the phone, and manage extra cases like child accounts or special app access. Start with the app-level setting, then use the more specific options below when you need them.
Change the permission for one app
The most common reason to change Android app permissions is that one app has too much access, or it stopped working after you denied a permission.
Open Settings, then tap Apps. Choose the app you want to change; if it is not shown right away, tap See all apps, then select the app. Tap Permissions.
Choose the permission you want to adjust, then select Allow or Don’t allow. For location, camera, and microphone, choose from the options Android shows, such as All the time, Allow only while using the app, Ask every time, or Don’t allow.
Use Permission manager to review a whole category
Permission manager is the better route when you want to see every app that can use one type of data or sensor. Open Settings, then go to Security & Privacy, Privacy, and Permission manager.
Pick a permission type, such as Camera, Contacts, Location, Microphone, Notifications, Photos and videos, or SMS. Your phone may show more categories, including Calendar, Call logs, Files, Music and audio, Nearby devices, Phone, or Physical activity.
Tap an app in that category, then choose the permission setting you want. On Android 15 and below, the health-related category may appear as Body Sensors instead of Health, Wellness, Fitness.
Check recent access in Privacy dashboard
This fixes the case where a permission was used recently and you need to identify the app behind it.
Open Settings, then tap Security and Privacy or Privacy. Tap Privacy dashboard, then choose the permission you want to review. Tap the app listed there, then update the permission.
On Android 13 and newer, Privacy dashboard shows the last 7 days. On Android 12, it shows the last 24 hours.
Adjust location access and precise location
Open Settings, then tap Location. Tap App location permissions, then select the app you want to change. Choose a location setting, such as Allowed all the time, Allowed only while in use, Ask every time or allow when I share, or Not allowed.
To use the app icon route instead, touch and hold the app icon on the Home screen. Tap App info, then tap Permissions. Tap Location, then choose Allow all the time, Allow only while using the app, Ask every time or allow when I share, or Don’t allow. If location is allowed, turn Use precise location on or off to control whether the app gets your exact location.
Handle permission prompts when an app asks
Runtime prompts apply when you open a feature that needs access, such as camera, microphone, location, contacts, photos, or another protected permission. Android asks in the moment, and your choice controls whether that feature can use the requested access.
Open the app and use the feature that needs permission. When the Android prompt appears, tap Allow or Deny, or choose from the available options such as All the time, Allow only while using the app, Ask every time, or Don’t allow.
Some apps ask for precise location after you tap an in-app location button. Tap Use precise location, then tap Allow or Don’t allow. If this method fails, change the permission from the app’s Permissions screen in Android Settings.
Shut off camera or microphone access for the whole phone
These phone-wide controls, the green privacy indicator, and the matching Quick Settings tiles need Android 12 or later, and availability can vary by device and manufacturer.
Open Settings, then tap Security & privacy. Tap Privacy, then tap Privacy controls. Turn off Camera access or Microphone access.
For the Quick Settings route on Android 12 and newer, swipe down twice from the top of the screen. Tap the camera or microphone tile.
If the tile is missing, tap Edit or Add. Touch and drag the tile into Quick Settings. When the green indicator appears, swipe down and tap it once to see which app or service is using the camera or microphone, then tap it again to manage permissions.
Stop unused apps from keeping permissions
Unused apps can keep permissions unless Android is set to pause their activity. Open Settings, then tap Apps. Choose the app, or tap See all apps and then choose it. Under Unused app settings, turn on Pause app activity if unused.
This removes permissions and stops background activity and notifications for that unused app. To review unused apps, open Apps, then tap Unused apps. To keep a specific app from automatic permission removal, open App Info, tap Unused apps, and turn off Pause app activity if unused.
Manage special access settings
Use this method for app powers that sit outside normal camera, location, contacts, or photos permissions. These include drawing over other apps, installing unknown apps, picture-in-picture, notification access, all-files access, and similar controls that vary by Android version and device.
Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Special app access. Choose the special access type, pick the app, and turn that access on or off.
For installing apps from outside app stores, go to Settings, Apps, Special app access, and Install unknown apps. Choose the source app, then turn off Allow from this source.
On Android 13 and newer, some sideloaded apps must first be allowed to expose restricted settings. Open Settings, tap Apps, choose the app, tap More, then tap Allow restricted settings and follow the on-screen instructions; this unlocks the setting but does not grant the final permission by itself.
Control Samsung Galaxy permissions
Open Settings, then tap Apps. Select the desired app, then tap Permissions. Under Allowed or Not allowed, select the permission preference, such as Allow only while using the app, Ask every time, or Don’t allow.
For a category view on Samsung Galaxy, open Settings, then tap Security and privacy, followed by Privacy screen. Tap Permission manager, then choose Camera, Microphone, or another service. Select the app and choose the available setting. Samsung screens can vary by device, so use the app-level path first when you want to change one app quickly.
Set permissions for child accounts and managed devices
Parents can change app permissions for a supervised child’s Android device in Family Link. Open Family Link, select the child, tap Screen time, tap Time limits, tap App limits, choose the app, tap App details, tap Permissions, and switch the permission on or off.
To control one permission across multiple apps for a child, open Family Link, select the child, tap Controls, tap Signed-in devices, choose the child’s device, tap App permissions, select the permission, then switch it on or off below the device.
The Only parents option controls who can grant that permission later, but it does not change permissions already granted. Parents can also use g.co/YourFamily to manage the child’s app-permission controls.
For work profiles, school phones, or company-managed Android devices, an administrator policy may limit what you can change. When a permission control is locked by management, contact the organization that manages the device or profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I change some Android app permissions?
Some controls may be limited by a work or school policy, a supervised child account, or the type of permission. Special access settings also live under Special app access instead of the normal Permissions screen.
Does denying a permission delete my app data?
No. Changing a permission controls access to that feature or data type. Android’s unused-app pause can also stop background activity and notifications for apps you do not use.
What is the difference between app permissions and Chrome site permissions?
Android app permissions control what the Chrome app can use on your phone. Chrome site permissions control what an individual website can use inside Chrome, such as camera, microphone, location, or notifications.
Can Gemini change app permissions for me?
No. Google says the Gemini mobile app can open apps and settings and manage some device settings, but it cannot change app permission settings such as camera, microphone, or location access.