How to Check and Change App Permissions on Android and iPhone

Understanding App Permissions and Privacy

Modern applications often request access to various features and information on a user's device to function properly. These permissions can include access to the camera, microphone, contacts, or location data. Understanding and managing these permissions is an important aspect of maintaining control over personal information.

LookedApp's reviews, along with information on Google Play and the App Store, highlight the importance of this review process. For instance, the Google Play listing for WhatsApp Messenger explicitly details permission groups like device and app history, identity, contacts, location, SMS, phone, photos/media/files, storage, camera, microphone, Wi-Fi connection information, and device ID and call information. WhatsApp Inc. publishes its privacy policy. This level of detail helps users make informed decisions.

While apps like Instagram and TikTok are available at no initial cost, they may include in-app purchases, and their functionality often relies on accessing device features. Instagram, for example, on Google Play, may request access to Identity, Calendar, Contacts, Location, Phone, Photos/Media/Files, Storage, Camera, Microphone, Wi-Fi connection information, and Device ID & call information. Instagram, Inc. publishes its privacy policy. Similarly, the Google Play listing for TikTok indicates it may request access to Contacts, Location, Photos/Media/Files, Storage, Camera, Microphone, and Wi-Fi connection information. TikTok Ltd. publishes its privacy policy. Reviewing these requests before installation helps users understand the app's potential access.

Checking App Permissions Before Installation

Before an application is installed, users can examine the permissions it intends to use. This information is typically found on the app's listing page in the respective app store. Reviewing this information can help users understand the data an application might access on their device. For instance, the Google Play listing for Google Maps specifies that it collects Location, Personal info, and 10 other types of data, and that this data is encrypted in transit. Google publishes its privacy policy.

On Google Play, applications like Zoom Workplace provide detailed lists of permission groups they may access, including Calendar, Contacts, Location, Phone, Photos/Media/Files, Storage, Camera, Microphone, Wi-Fi connection information, and Device ID & call information. These details are presented to the user before the application is acquired. Zoom Communications, Inc. publishes its privacy policy. In contrast, the App Store listings often emphasize broader privacy principles, such as WhatsApp Messenger's focus on end-to-end encryption for personal messages and calls, but do not explicitly detail permission groups in the same manner as Google Play.

• Always obtain applications from trusted sources like Google Play or the App Store.
• Verify the developer name listed on the app store page to ensure authenticity, such as "WhatsApp LLC" on Google Play or "WhatsApp Inc." on the App Store for WhatsApp Messenger, "Google LLC" on Google Play or "Google" on the App Store for Google Maps, or "Instagram" on Google Play or "Instagram, Inc." on the App Store for Instagram.
• On Google Play, pay close attention to the listed permission groups to understand what device functionalities the app intends to use.

Managing App Permissions on Android Devices

Android devices allow users to control app permissions both for individual applications and by permission type. When an app first requests access to a feature like the camera or contacts, a notification appears, and users can choose to Allow or Deny the request. These settings can be adjusted later through the device's settings.

For specific permissions such as location, camera, and microphone, Android offers granular control. Users can select options like 'Allow only while using the app,' which permits access only when the app is actively open, or 'Don't allow,' which completely restricts access. For location, an additional option, 'All the time,' allows the app to use the permission even when it is not in active use. The 'Ask every time' option prompts the user for permission each time the app attempts to use the feature.

1. Open the Settings app on the device.
2. Tap 'Apps'.
3. Tap the app for which permissions need to be changed. If it is not immediately visible, tap 'See all apps', then choose the specific app.
4. Tap 'Permissions'.
5. To modify a permission, tap it, then select 'Allow' or 'Don't allow'.
6. For location, camera, and microphone, select from 'All the time' (location only), 'Allow only while using the app', 'Ask every time', or 'Don't allow'.

Managing Permissions by Type on Android

Android also enables users to manage permissions based on the type of access, providing an overview of which applications have access to a particular feature. This allows users to review all apps that, for example, have access to the microphone, and adjust settings as needed.

Common permission types include Calendar (access to calendar events), Camera (taking pictures and recording videos), Contacts (access to contacts), Location (access to the device's location), Microphone (recording audio), and Photos and videos (access to photos and videos on the device). Other permissions, such as SMS, allow apps to send and check messages, while files permissions allow access to all files on the device.

1. Open the Settings app on the device.
2. Tap 'Security & Privacy Privacy Permission manager'.
3. Tap a specific permission type, such as 'Microphone' or 'Location'.
4. Review the list of apps that have been allowed or denied this permission.
5. To change an app’s setting, tap the app, then choose the desired permission setting.

Advanced Android Privacy Controls

To further enhance privacy, Android devices offer features to automatically remove permissions for applications that are not used frequently. This can help prevent dormant apps from accessing device features unnecessarily. Additionally, users can disable camera or microphone access for the entire device, providing a global privacy safeguard.

• Automatically remove permissions for unused apps:
• Open the Settings app.
• Tap 'Apps'.
• Tap the app. If not found, tap 'See all apps', then select the app.
• Under 'Unused app settings', turn on 'Pause app activity if unused'.
• Disable camera or microphone access for the entire device:
• Open the Settings app.
• Tap 'Security & privacy Privacy Privacy controls'.
• Turn off 'Camera access' or 'Microphone access'.

Managing App Permissions on iPhone

On iPhone, users have control over whether third-party applications can access information from other apps or device features. When an application, such as Google Maps, first requests to use information like location, a request appears with an explanation. After granting or denying access, these settings can be changed at any time through the device's settings.

The App Privacy Report provides a detailed overview of how applications use the permissions granted to them and their network activity. This feature helps users understand the actual usage patterns of their applications, offering transparency into their data access. For example, while the App Store listing for TikTok does not specify individual permission groups, the App Privacy Report can reveal its actual access patterns.

1. Go to 'Settings › Privacy & Security'.
2. Tap a category of information, such as 'Calendars', 'Reminders', or 'Motion & Fitness'.
3. A list of apps that have requested access to that category will appear.
4. Turn access 'on' or 'off' for any application on the list.

Reviewing iPhone App Privacy Reports

The App Privacy Report on iPhone offers users a way to review how applications utilize the permissions they have been granted. This report also details the network activity of applications, providing a comprehensive look at their behavior. This can be particularly useful for understanding the operations of apps like Zoom Workplace, which functions as a communication and collaboration platform.

The report can be turned off and its data deleted if a user wishes to reset or discontinue this monitoring. It can also be reactivated later from the same settings screen.

1. Go to 'Settings › Privacy & Security'.
2. Tap 'App Privacy Report'.
3. Review the report to see how apps are using permissions and their network activity.
4. To turn off the report and delete its data, tap 'Turn Off App Privacy Report'.

Practical Tips for App Permissions

Users are encouraged to always obtain applications exclusively from trusted platforms like Google Play or the App Store. Downloading applications from unofficial third-party websites or altered versions can pose security risks, as these sources may not be authentic or maintained by the genuine developer. LookedApp's reviews consistently advise verifying the developer's name to ensure the legitimacy of the application.

Before acquiring any application, users should always review the permissions it requests. For Android users, this involves checking the detailed list of permission groups provided on the Google Play listing. For iPhone users, while specific permission groups are less explicitly detailed on the App Store, the general privacy statements and the subsequent App Privacy Report offer insights into an app's behavior. Understanding these requests allows users to decide if the app's access needs align with their privacy expectations. For Zoom Workplace, verifying the developer name is crucial; look for the specific developer name listed on Google Play and 'Zoom Communications, Inc.' on the App Store.

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