Tech & Gadgets

The Hidden App Permissions You Should Actually Review

Updated Dec 27, 2023·5 min read
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Smartphone screen showing an app permission request dialog with icons for location and microphone access

In This Article

Key Takeaways

Many apps request permissions far beyond what their core function requires.
Both Android and iOS let you review and revoke individual permissions at any time.
Location, microphone, and contacts are among the most commonly over-requested permissions.
Revoking unnecessary permissions rarely breaks an app's primary features.
Regularly auditing permissions — every few months — is a practical privacy habit.
15–30 min

Summary

18 items · 15–30 minutes

Why App Permissions Deserve a Second Look

When you install an app, a quick tap on "Allow" feels routine. But those permission prompts represent real access to your device's hardware and personal data — your location, camera, microphone, contacts, and more. Many apps request permissions that are genuinely necessary; others ask for far more than their core function requires.

Understanding what each permission category actually does — and auditing which apps hold which access — is one of the most effective, low-effort privacy habits you can build. As our guide on keeping your phone secure without becoming a tech expert notes, app permissions sit alongside PINs and two-factor authentication as a foundational layer of mobile security.

This checklist walks you through the permission categories that warrant the closest scrutiny and gives you a repeatable process for auditing them on both Android and iOS.

Required

iOS Settings App (Privacy & Security)

Provides a per-permission view of every app with access, allowing you to review and revoke individually.

Required

Android Settings App (Privacy > Permission Manager)

Lists all permission categories and shows which apps hold each type of access on Android devices.

Optional

Google Play / Apple App Store Listing

Shows the data safety or privacy nutrition label for an app before or after installation.

Permission Categories Worth Understanding

Not all permissions carry the same weight. Before you start auditing, it helps to know what you're looking at.

  • Location: Can be "precise" (GPS-level) or "approximate." Precise location is rarely needed by apps that aren't navigation or local-search tools.
  • Microphone: Allows the app to record audio at any time it's active. Voice assistants and video call apps need this; most others don't.
  • Camera: Grants the ability to capture photos or video. A QR scanner needs it; a calculator app does not.
  • Contacts: Exposes your entire address book. Messaging apps often have a legitimate need; games rarely do.
  • Bluetooth: Used increasingly for proximity tracking and ad targeting, not just connecting peripherals.
  • Tracking (iOS) / Ad ID (Android): Allows the app to link your activity across other apps and websites for advertising purposes.

If you're also thinking about how connected home devices handle audio data, see our piece on what smart speakers actually do with your audio for related context.

Revoking Permissions May Limit Some Features

Removing a permission won't typically break an app's core function, but it may disable specific features — for example, revoking location from a food delivery app means you'll enter your address manually. Test after revoking to confirm the app still meets your needs. If an app stops working entirely when a seemingly unrelated permission is revoked, that itself is a signal worth noting.

Your App Permissions Audit Checklist

Work through these steps on your device. The exact menu names vary slightly by operating system version, but the paths below reflect the general structure of current iOS and Android settings.

Before You Start

Update your operating system to ensure you have access to the latest permission controls and privacy features. Must
Make a rough mental list of apps you haven't actively used in the past 90 days — these are prime candidates for removal or permission stripping. Should
Open your phone's main Settings app and locate the Privacy or Apps section before proceeding. Must

Auditing Location Access

Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services (iOS) or Settings > Location > App permissions (Android) and review every app listed. Must
Revoke "Always" location access from any app that does not need to track your position in the background — most apps only need "While Using." Must
Switch apps that only need general location (weather, local news) from "Precise" to "Approximate" location where the option exists. Should

Auditing Microphone and Camera

Go to your Privacy settings and review which apps have microphone access; remove it from any app where recording audio is not a core feature. Must
Check camera permissions and revoke access from apps that have no obvious image-capture or video function. Must
On iOS, note that the orange dot indicator in the status bar shows when the microphone is actively in use — pay attention to it after your audit. Nice to have

Auditing Contacts, Bluetooth, and Tracking

Review contacts access and deny it to any app — games, utilities, shopping apps — that has no messaging or communication function. Must
Check Bluetooth permissions; deny access to apps that do not connect to external hardware or peripherals. Should
On iOS, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and disable "Allow Apps to Request to Track" if you prefer a blanket opt-out of cross-app tracking. Should
On Android, go to Settings > Privacy > Ads and reset or opt out of personalized ads to limit ad ID-based tracking. Should

Final Review and Ongoing Habits

Uninstall apps you no longer actively use rather than simply revoking their permissions — removed apps can't accumulate new access. Must
Schedule a permission audit every three months, or after installing a significant batch of new apps. Should
When installing any new app, choose "Don't Allow" by default on first launch and grant permissions only if the app's feature clearly requires them. Should
Read the permission rationale pop-ups carefully — legitimate apps typically explain why they need each access in plain language. Nice to have

Some Permissions Cannot Be Partially Restricted

On older Android versions and some manufacturer skins, the permission controls may be less granular than on stock Android or iOS. If your device doesn't offer "Approximate Location" or "While Using" options for certain apps, consider whether that app is worth keeping. Keeping your OS updated is the most reliable way to access the most current privacy controls.

For a broader look at how iOS and Android differ in their approaches to privacy controls, our comparison of Android vs. iOS real differences covers the key distinctions in daily use.

Tech & Gadgets Editorial Team is the collective byline for our editorial team and contributor network. Articles published under this byline or an editorial pen name are researched, written, and reviewed according to our editorial standards for clarity, consistency, and independence before publication.

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