Apps often ask for camera, microphone, location, contacts, and photo access during setup, then keep it long after you stop using the feature. A periodic permission review removes access that no longer makes sense.
Does this affect you?
Use this for iPhone on iOS 16 or later and Android 11 or later. Menu wording varies by phone brand.
Review permissions by type
Checking by permission makes odd access easier to spot.
- On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Tap permission types such as Location Services, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, Photos, and Bluetooth.
- Turn off access for apps that do not need it.
- On Android, open Settings > Privacy > Permission manager, or Settings > Apps > Permissions on some phones.
- Tap each permission type and revoke access from apps that do not need it.
- Pay closest attention to Location, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, and Photos.
- For location, change Always to While Using unless the app genuinely needs background location.
What to look for
Context matters more than the permission name alone.
- Ask whether the permission matches the app’s job. A calculator does not need microphone access.
- Review apps installed for one-time tasks, such as PDF scanners, QR readers, and photo editors.
- On iPhone, check Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and turn off app tracking where you do not want it.
- On Android, review Special app access such as Usage access and Display over other apps. These can monitor activity or overlay other screens.
- If revoking a permission breaks a feature, the app will ask again when you use that feature.
More control
Check every few months
iPhone and Android surface some permission reminders automatically, but a manual review catches old apps and recent installs more reliably.
Slow down during app setup
When a new app asks for access, choose Don’t Allow or While Using the App if the request does not clearly match what you are trying to do.
Sources
- Apple Support – Control the information you share with apps (2025)
- Google Support – Control what information you share with apps (2025)
- CISA – Mobile device cybersecurity checklist for consumers (2025)
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