Controlling app permissions on your Google Pixel phone is essential for maintaining privacy, security, and device performance. Apps can request access to sensitive data like your location, microphone, camera, contacts, and storage, and granting unnecessary permissions can expose your information or drain battery.
This guide will show you how to change app permissions in Pixel phone settings step by step, so you can take full control over your apps.
Android categorizes permissions into two main types:
Normal permissions: Basic access that doesn’t threaten privacy, like connecting to the internet.
Dangerous permissions: Access to sensitive data such as camera, microphone, location, contacts, SMS, etc.
✅ Tip: Only grant dangerous permissions when necessary.
Open Settings.
Tap Privacy → Permission manager.
You’ll see categories such as:
Location
Camera
Microphone
Contacts
Phone
SMS
Here, you can see which apps currently have access to each category.
Open Settings → Apps → See all apps.
Select the app you want to modify.
Tap Permissions.
Review all requested permissions and choose:
Allow all the time
Allow only while using the app
Ask every time
Deny
✅ Example: You can allow Google Maps to access location only while using the app, preventing it from tracking you in the background.
You can also manage permissions for multiple apps from one category:
Open Settings → Privacy → Permission manager.
Tap a category (e.g., Camera).
You’ll see all apps that requested this permission.
Tap each app to select: Allow, Deny, or Ask every time.
✅ Tip: This method is useful for seeing which apps have access to critical data like your microphone or contacts.
For sensitive permissions like microphone, camera, or location, select Ask every time:
This ensures apps only access these features when you approve it manually.
Reduces background data collection and battery drain.
Unused or rarely used apps may still have access to sensitive data.
Open Settings → Apps → See all apps.
Select the app → Permissions → Deny all unnecessary permissions.
Optionally, uninstall apps you no longer need to improve security and storage.
Pixel phones provide a privacy dashboard to see how often apps access permissions.
Open Settings → Privacy → Privacy dashboard.
Choose Permission usage.
You can see recent accesses to:
Location
Camera
Microphone
Contacts
✅ Tip: If an app is accessing a permission too frequently, consider restricting or uninstalling it.
Some apps request special permissions like:
Draw over other apps
Modify system settings
Install unknown apps
Open Settings → Apps → Special app access.
Tap the desired special permission.
Review apps and toggle access ON or OFF.
✅ Important: Only grant special permissions to trusted apps — they can affect system behavior and security.
If you want to start fresh and remove all previously granted permissions:
Open Settings → Apps → See all apps → ⋮ Menu → Reset app preferences.
Confirm Reset.
✅ Note: This will reset all app preferences, including disabled apps and notifications, not just permissions. Use carefully.
Grant temporary permissions: Only allow access when actively using the app.
Review permissions monthly: Periodically check apps and revoke unnecessary access.
Use the Privacy Dashboard: Monitor which apps access sensitive data in real time.
Avoid granting unknown apps unnecessary permissions: Especially for SMS, location, and microphone.
Managing app permissions on your Google Pixel phone is crucial for privacy, security, and battery optimization.
By regularly checking Permission manager, using Ask every time, and reviewing the Privacy dashboard, you can keep your personal data safe while still enjoying app functionality.
Proper permission management prevents apps from accessing sensitive data unnecessarily and ensures that your Pixel runs securely and efficiently.
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