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App permissions control what data and hardware features an app can access on your device. Every permission granted represents a potential privacy risk because the app can collect that data and potentially share it with third parties, advertisers, or data brokers. Many apps request far more permissions than they actually need to function. A flashlight app does not need access to your contacts, and a calculator does not need your location. Apps often request excessive permissions to collect data for advertising purposes or to sell to data brokers. Understanding the privacy implications of each permission type helps you make informed decisions. Location permission reveals where you go. Contacts permission exposes your social network. Camera and microphone permissions could theoretically allow surveillance. Storage permission gives access to your files and photos. Each unnecessary permission you revoke reduces your exposure to potential data collection and misuse.
On iPhone, go to Settings, then Privacy & Security. This screen lists every permission category available on your device. Work through each category systematically starting with Location Services. Tap into each category and review every app listed. For Location Services, set most apps to Never or While Using. Very few apps genuinely need Always location access. Tap each app to change its permission. Move to Contacts and revoke access from any app that does not need your address book. Continue through Camera, Microphone, Photos, Bluetooth, Local Network, Nearby Interactions, Health, Motion & Fitness, Focus, and every other listed category. For Photos, use the Limited Access option to grant apps access to only specific photos you select rather than your entire library. Pay special attention to the Bluetooth permission, as many retail and analytics companies use Bluetooth beacons to track your location inside physical stores.
On Android, navigate to Settings, then Privacy, then Permission Manager. This provides a consolidated view of all permissions organized by type. Tap each permission category to see which apps have access. Start with Location and revoke access from apps that do not need it. For apps that do need location, select Allow only while using the app rather than Allow all the time. Continue through Camera, Microphone, Contacts, Phone, SMS, Calendar, Call Logs, Body Sensors, Files and Media, Nearby Devices, and Physical Activity. Android also offers a special permission called Appear on Top, found under Settings, then Apps, then Special App Access. This allows apps to display over other apps and can be used for phishing overlays. Revoke this from any app that does not need it. Under Special App Access, also review Install Unknown Apps, Battery Optimization exemptions, and Modify System Settings. Each of these special permissions should only be granted to trusted apps.
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Some permission combinations are particularly concerning for privacy. An app with both camera and internet access could potentially capture photos and upload them without your knowledge. An app with microphone and internet access could record audio and transmit it. An app with location, contacts, and internet access could map your social network geographically and share that data. Look for apps that have multiple sensitive permissions simultaneously. Consider whether each app truly needs all the permissions it has been granted. Social media apps commonly request camera, microphone, location, contacts, photos, and storage access. While they use some of these for legitimate features like posting photos or making video calls, they also use this access for data collection. For these apps, consider revoking permissions by default and only granting them temporarily when you need a specific feature. Both iPhone and Android show a colored indicator when an app is actively using your camera or microphone.
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Both iPhone and Android offer features that automatically revoke permissions from apps you have not used recently. On iPhone running iOS 16 or later, go to Settings, then General, then Background App Refresh. Disable background refresh for apps that do not need it. iOS also automatically removes permissions from apps that have not been opened in a while and notifies you about it. On Android 11 and later, go to Settings, then Apps, then select an app, and enable Remove permissions if app is unused. When enabled, Android will automatically revoke all permissions from apps you have not opened in a few months. You can also enable this globally on Android 13 and later. This is valuable because many people install apps for one-time use and forget about them, leaving their permissions active indefinitely. These dormant apps continue to have access to sensitive data and device features even though they are not being actively used.
App permissions are not a set-and-forget configuration. Apps frequently request new permissions through updates, and new apps add to the permission landscape. Establish a monthly or quarterly routine to review your permissions. Set a calendar reminder to go through the permission audit process described in this guide. Both iPhone and Android provide privacy reports that summarize permission usage. On iPhone, go to Settings, Privacy & Security, App Privacy Report to see which apps accessed your location, photos, camera, microphone, and contacts, and how frequently. On Android, go to Settings, Privacy, Privacy Dashboard to see a timeline of permission usage over the past 24 hours. Use these reports to identify apps that are accessing permissions more frequently than expected. An app accessing your location hundreds of times per day when you only use it occasionally is a red flag. Use these insights to make informed decisions about revoking permissions or uninstalling offending apps entirely.
By completing this guide, you have successfully worked through 6 steps covering "How to Review and Revoke Unnecessary App Permissions". Here is a summary of what you achieved:
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