Block access: Manage app permissions

You can change app permissions. In some cases, you should block access and remove some of the permissions...

Apps have access to the camera or microphone of your smartphone thanks to certain permissions. Other apps send SMS or copy your contacts. To prevent this, you can modify app permissions and withdraw them later. Do this in the interest of privacy and data protection.

Change permissions since Android 6.0 Marshmallow

With the update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, users were given better control over app permissions. This is already apparent when using apps: If you want to send a voice message in WhatsApp for the first time, you must first allow the app to access the microphone. However, if you no longer want WhatsApp to use your microphone, you can revoke it at any time.

The path to permissions is the same for all apps. / © CoolAndroidTips

To do this, go to Settings under Apps to the app, then to Permissions and turn off the microphone. Now WhatsApp has to ask again if it is allowed to use the microphone.

Authorization management of smartphone manufacturers

Some smartphone vendors give additional visions to app permissions. In the example of Huawei (for Mate 9), we see a reversed view. Instead of apps you can sort by permissions. This is how you see all the apps that can access your phone.

Huawei's authorization overview (left and center) is great. / © CoolAndroidTips

CyanogenMod Privacy Policy

CyanogenMod and some other third party firmwares come with the Privacy Guard therefore. In German you can find him in the settings appropriately under Privacy. If you re-register the custom ROM, you should enable it. It is an opt-in system, so you have to set the checkbox "Default enabled".

Links the Marshmallow permissions, right the CyanogenMod data protection. / © COOLANDROIDTIPS

The privacy of CyanogenMod is more intelligently programmed than the factory data protection in Android Marshmallow. If you remove an app from your contacts with the Privacy Guard, the App will give the app an empty list instead of no data. This avoids error messages and crashes, and makes apps remain functional. In addition, cyanogen protection also works with apps whose permissions you can not change.