Ever since Android 6.0 Marshmallow launched, Android has granted users control over app permissions, dictating what our apps can and cannot do. This level of control seems more important now than ever so let’s dive into what app permissions do and how to use them.
Requesting Permission. Users must grant permission for an app to access personal information, including the current location, calendar, contact information, reminders, and photos. Although people appreciate the convenience of using an app that has access to this information, they also expect to have control over their private data. I bought this app called Xee from the Mac app store. It can open files perfectly fine but when I try to browse through a folder from within the Xee app, it has to request permission. (See the screenshot below.) I have to do this for every folder the first time I browse it. I assume that this is a limitation imposed by the app store. A permission request from an app pops up, and it’s on the smartphone user to decide whether to open that door. Sometimes they come with explanations; in fact, the app platforms encourage this. Open the Play Store app. Go to an app's detail page. To review permissions before installing, scroll to 'Developer' and tap Permission details. Some apps will install right away. When you use an app, you can allow or deny individual permission requests before the app uses that type of data. Oct 10, 2018 From the Settings screen, you can head to Settings Apps Apps & Features, click an app, and click “Advanced Options.” Scroll down, and you’ll see the permissions the app can use under “App Permissions.” Toggle the app permissions on or off to allow or disallow access. Only permissions for which the app asks appear here.
As the name suggests, app permissions govern what your app is allowed to do and access. This ranges from access to data stored on your phone, like contacts and media files, through to pieces of hardware like your handset’s camera or microphone. Granting permission allows the app to use the feature. Denying access prevents it from doing so.
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Applications cannot automatically grant themselves permissions, they have to be confirmed by the user. Apps will ask you to accept each of their permissions the first time you launch them via a popup that asks you to “allow” or “deny” each request.
Well maintained modern apps will continue to function if you deny it a permission, although some features obviously won’t work. Often if you try to use a feature requiring a previously denied permission, you’ll see the permission popup appear again. There’s often no problems with denying app permissions you feel uncomfortable with, they always be changed later.
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Older apps that haven’t been updated might crash or fail to work correctly if you deny some permissions.
Most of Android’s app permissions are self-explanatory, but here’s a breakdown of what each one actually means.
App permissions explained
Adjusting app permissions
An App will always ask you to confirm its permissions the first time you run it, but you can always go back and readjust app permissions after installation by digging through your phone’s settings menu. There are two ways to view app permissions, either by sorting apps by permissions or by viewing each app individually.
The first place to start for either method is to head to the Apps & notifications page in the Android Settings menu.
Toggle permissions by app
If you want to see the permissions that you’ve enabled for a specific app, then head into the Apps section of the Apps & notifications. Select your desired app and scroll down until you find the option labeled Permissions.
This option will present you with a quick overview of the permissions that you’ve already granted the app (see the image above). Clicking on the option will display a list of all the possible permissions that the app has requested along with which ones you’ve allowed or denied. Clicking the toggle will allow or deny the associated permission, allowing you to make changes to apps without reinstalling them.
Toggle permissions by type
If you prefer an overview of all the apps granted a certain permission, such as those that can record from your microphone for example, then you can sort apps by this criteria too.
Head to the Apps & notifications menu in settings, and find the Permissions option. If this isn’t displayed on the main menu, it might be tucked away in the hamburger icon in the top right. From here, you can browse through all of the available permissions on your phone, as well as a quick overview of how many apps have been granted each permission.
Clicking on any of the permissions will display just the apps that have requested this particular feature. You can make changes here too, by using the toggles in this menu to allow or deny access for individual apps (see the image below).
Which permissions to allow and deny?
Denying permissions to dodgy apps is one of the best ways to keep your phone and data safe from malicious applications. The go-to case study is the plague of flashlight apps that requested contact data, microphone access, and often even more just to toggle a light on and off. No doubt many of these apps were requesting access for data collection purposes and perhaps worse.
Broadly speaking, reputable app developers usually only request the permissions their application requires, but this isn’t a green light to allow anything a popular app requests. You might not want to use certain features tied to data extraction, either for diagnostic or advertising purposes.
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Generally, consider whether the requested permission is appropriate for the given app and be wary of those that don’t seem to make sense. Messaging apps will certainly need your contacts, SMS, and probably camera and microphone too for video calls. They probably don’t need your health information.
Remember, you can always check out all the permissions an app requests before you install it by checking out the description in the Google Play Store. A good app developer will always divulge what each permission is needed for too, which can help with peace of mind.
Mac App Store Not DownloadingRequesting Permission
Users must grant permission for an app to access personal information, including the current location, calendar, contact information, reminders, and photos. Although people appreciate the convenience of using an app that has access to this information, they also expect to have control over their private data. For example, people like being able to automatically tag photos with their physical location or find nearby friends, but they also want the option to disable such features.
Mac App Permission Not Opening App Free
Request personal data only when your app clearly needs it. It’s natural to be suspicious of a request for personal information, especially if there’s no obvious need for it. Make sure permission requests occur only when people are using features that clearly need personal data. For example, an app might only request access to the current location when activating a location tracking feature.
Explain why your app needs the information. Provide custom text (known as a purpose string or usage description string) for display in the system's permission request alert, and include an example. Keep the text short and specific, use sentence case, and be polite so people don't feel pressured. There’s no need to include your app name—the system already identifies your app. For developer guidance, see Protecting the User's Privacy.
Mac App Permission Not Opening Apps
Request permission at launch only when necessary for your app to function. Users won’t be bothered by this request if it’s obvious that your app depends on their personal information to operate.
Don’t request location information unnecessarily. Before accessing location information, check the system to see whether Location Services is enabled. With this knowledge, you can delay the alert until a feature truly requires it, or perhaps avoid the alert altogether. To learn how to implement location features, see MapKit and Location and Maps Programming Guide.
Use the system-provided alert. You can customize text in the standard permission alert, but avoid adding custom prompts that replicate the standard alert’s behavior or appearance.
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