Your Apps Ask for Permission. What Should You Allow?
You download an app, open it for the first time, and almost immediately a question appears:
Allow access to your location?
Then another one asks for your contacts. Another wants your camera or microphone.
It is easy to tap "Allow" just to get on with what you were doing. But taking a few seconds to understand these requests can help you decide what information you really want to share.
Why are people paying more attention to app permissions?
Apps use permissions to access certain features and information on your device. Some requests make perfect sense. A navigation app needs your location to provide directions, while a video-calling app needs camera and microphone access to let you talk to people.
Other requests deserve a closer look.
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority's 2026 Internet Trends report surveyed 2,000 adult internet users in Canada. It found that 41% had declined app permissions because of privacy concerns, while 34% had deleted apps for similar reasons.
The findings reflect Canadian respondents, not all internet users worldwide. Still, they highlight a useful habit: think about what an app needs before giving it access.
What do app permissions actually mean?
Here are some common permissions and what they allow.
Location: An app may use your location to provide directions, show nearby places or offer local information. Some apps need location access only while you are using them.
Camera: This allows an app to take pictures or record video. It is useful for video calls, scanning documents and taking photos inside an app.
Microphone: Apps may need microphone access for calls, voice messages, recordings or voice commands.
Contacts: This gives an app access to information about people in your address book, depending on the permission and operating system.
Photos and files: An app may need access to photos you want to edit, documents you choose to upload or files you want to share.
Notifications: This lets an app send alerts to your device. It can be useful for messages and reminders, but you may not need notifications from every app.
A permission is not automatically a warning sign. The important question is whether the access makes sense for what the app does.
A simple rule before tapping "Allow"
Ask yourself one question:
Does this app need this permission for the feature I am trying to use?
A map app requesting location access makes sense. A photo editor asking to access the picture you want to edit also makes sense.
But if an app requests sensitive access without a clear reason, pause before agreeing. You can deny the request and see whether the app still works for your intended purpose.
Some features will not work without permission, and that is normal. You can decide whether the feature is worth sharing that information.
How to review app permissions on Android
Android provides settings for reviewing and changing what individual apps can access.
Step 1: Open your phone's Settings
Open Settings, then look for Apps. Select the app you want to review and tap Permissions.
You should see the permissions that have been allowed or denied. Tap one to change its setting.
Depending on your Android version and the permission, options may include allowing access only while using the app, asking every time, or denying access.
Step 2: Check the Privacy Dashboard
On supported Android versions, open Settings, then look under Security and privacy or Privacy for Privacy dashboard.
This dashboard can show which apps have accessed sensitive permissions, such as your camera, microphone and location, and when that access occurred. The available history depends on your Android version.
If something looks unexpected, select the relevant permission and review the apps listed.
Step 3: Check location access
Some apps genuinely need your location, but they may not need continuous access.
Where available, choose Allow only while using the app rather than allowing access all the time. You may also be able to share approximate rather than precise location.
For more details, use Google's official guides:
Menu names can differ between Android devices and manufacturers.
How to review app permissions on iPhone
Apple also lets you decide which apps can access sensitive information and hardware features.
Step 1: Open Privacy & Security
Open Settings, then tap Privacy & Security.
Choose a category such as Location Services, Camera, Microphone, Contacts or Photos. You can review the apps that have requested access and change their permissions.
Step 2: Review location access
Tap Location Services and select an app.
Depending on the app and your iPhone's software version, you may be able to allow location access only while using the app or disable it entirely. Some apps also support approximate location.
Step 3: Review camera and microphone access
Open the Camera or Microphone category under Privacy & Security. Review which apps have permission and turn off access where it is not needed.
On supported iPhones, a green indicator appears when the camera is in use, while an orange indicator appears when the microphone is being used without the camera.
You can find more details in Apple's official guide to controlling what you share on iPhone.
What if you already gave an app access?
There is no need to panic. You can usually return to your phone's settings and change the permission later.
Keep in mind that turning off access does not automatically erase information the app may have collected in the past. If you are concerned about data already shared, review the app's privacy policy and contact the provider about its data deletion options.
If an app behaves strangely or repeatedly demands permissions that do not make sense, consider whether you need it at all. You can also check the information supplied by the relevant app store before installing or reinstalling it.
Your 10-minute privacy check
You do not need to review every setting on your phone today. Start with the most sensitive ones.
- Review which apps can access your location.
- Check camera and microphone access.
- Remove contact or photo access that you no longer need.
- Turn off notifications that do not provide value.
- Review apps you have not used in a long time and remove those you no longer need.
Do not disable everything automatically. Some permissions are essential for the services you rely on. The goal is to make deliberate choices rather than approve every request without thinking.
The takeaway
Your phone is personal, and the apps on it should not automatically receive more access than you are comfortable sharing.
A quick permissions review can help you understand which apps can access your information and make changes that suit your needs.
You do not need to stop using apps. You just need to be more intentional about what you let them access.
Sources and further reading
- CIRA: 2026 Canadian Internet Trends
- Google Android Help: Change app permissions
- Google Android Help: Manage permissions from the Privacy Dashboard
- Apple Support: Control what you share on iPhone
Settings and permission options can vary by device, operating system and app. Follow the instructions shown on your device.
Good information should help you ask better questions, not stop asking them.
