Android Tablet · Privacy & Security

Control what data and hardware each app can access

Android's permission manager lets you see and revoke which apps can use the camera, microphone, location, and other sensors, and offers a Privacy Dashboard showing recent access.

What you should know

  • Found under Settings > Privacy (or Apps > Permission manager) to browse permissions by type, such as Camera, Microphone, or Location.
  • The Privacy dashboard shows a timeline of which apps accessed sensitive permissions in the last 24 hours.
  • Tap any permission category to see every app granted it, and switch individual apps to Allow, Ask every time, or Deny.
  • Location can be set to precise or approximate per app under Settings > Location > App permissions, separate from the global location toggle.
  • Camera and microphone have quick physical-style toggles in Settings > Privacy on many tablets to cut access to all apps at once.

Why it matters

Apps request broad permissions by default, and an app with unnecessary microphone or location access is both a privacy risk and, on background apps, a hidden drain on battery.

Best practices

  • Set location and microphone permissions to "Ask every time" for apps that only need occasional access, like a scanning or camera app.
  • Review the Privacy dashboard monthly to spot apps accessing sensors more often than expected.
  • Deny background location for apps that don't need to track you when closed, keeping it limited to "only while using the app."

Common problems and fixes

An app stopped working after a permission was denied
Reopen the app and it should prompt for the permission again, or manually re-enable it under Settings > Apps > [app name] > Permissions.
Unsure which app is using the microphone or camera indicator
Tap the green dot indicator in the status bar, or check Settings > Privacy > Privacy dashboard for the exact app and timestamp.

Tips and tricks

  • Settings > Apps > [app name] > Permissions > Remove permissions if app isn't used automatically revokes sensitive permissions from apps you haven't opened in months.

Frequently asked questions

Does denying a permission break the app entirely?

Usually not — most apps degrade gracefully and just disable the specific feature that needed the permission, rather than crashing.