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Completely Prevent Apps from Accessing Your Camera & Microphone on Android

Feb 27, 2020 11:36 PM

Mobile device displaying a user interface with information about sharing pictures.

Mobile privacy and security spotlight banner with a fingerprint background.

We're thinking more and more about our digital privacy these days. When we first started using smartphones, we'd download apps with reckless abandon, allowing permissions lists as long as novels in order to play free games. Now, we know that apps have access to things like our cameras and microphones, even when they shouldn't. Luckily, taking away these permissions is easy.

It's not just Android users that have this issue. Our iOS friends also have to manage their third-party apps' camera and microphone permissions. Their method for preventing apps from accessing camera and microphone permissions might differ from yours, but yours might differ from another Android user's as well. In this guide, we'll cover the steps for both general Android, as well as Samsung devices, since Samsung does things just a little differently.

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For Most Android Devices

To start, head over to Settings –> Privacy –> Permission manager, then tap on "Camera" or "Microphone," your choice. Underneath each option, you'll see how many apps in total have requested permissions, and how many of those apps you've approved.

Completely Prevent Apps from Accessing Your Camera & Microphone on Android

Privacy settings menu on a mobile device.

Permission manager settings on a mobile device.

Whichever option you choose, Android lists the apps that have requested permissions here. Those apps are sorted into two categories: "ALLOWED," apps that you granted permission, and "DENIED," apps you denied permission. Tap on any app here, and you'll be able to choose whether to Allow or Deny permission to camera of microphone access.

App menu with various applications listed.

Camera permissions settings for Instagram on a mobile device.

For Samsung Devices (Android 10)

First, open the Settings app, choose "Privacy" and tap "Permission manager," then "Camera.

Settings menu on a mobile device displaying options related to security, phone preferences, location, and accounts.

Settings menu displaying preferences for location and diagnostic data.

Permission manager settings on a mobile device, displaying camera permissions.

Here, choose any app, then select "Deny" to prevent it from accessing your cameras in any way.

Camera settings menu with various app options including 'Sticky Vision,' 'Cameras,' 'Messages,' and 'Gallery.'

Camera permissions settings for the Baby Input app.

Now, head back to Settings –> Privacy –> Permission manager and choose "Microphone." Repeat the same process where you select the app, then set it to "Deny" to revoke access to your microphone.

Permission manager with listed app permissions for body sensors, calendar, camera, contacts, location, microphone, and physical activity.

Microphone settings menu with app permissions for Facebook and other applications.

Facebook microphone permission settings screen.

This article was produced during Gadget Hacks' special coverage on smartphone privacy and security. Check out the whole Privacy and Security series.

Cover image and screenshots by Jake Peterson/Gadget Hacks

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.