Android Permissions Reference
These are the user-granted permissions on Android — the ones that require explicit approval from the user before an app can access sensitive data or device features. Click "Open in App" to see which apps on your phone have been granted each permission.
Quick Links
User Granted Permissions (by group)
Browse permissions organized by category — Camera, Location, Contacts, etc. — and see which apps have access to each group.
All Permissions (full list)
Every individual dangerous permission on your device, alphabetically sorted, with the count of apps that have been granted each one.
Individual Permissions — A
ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION
Allows an app to access your precise or approximate location even while it's running in the background — not just when you're actively using it.
ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
Allows an app to access your approximate location derived from cell towers and Wi-Fi networks. Less precise than GPS but still reveals your general area.
ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
Allows an app to access your precise GPS location. Required for turn-by-turn navigation, location tagging in photos, and similar features.
ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION
Allows an app to read GPS coordinates embedded in photos and videos stored on your device. These coordinates reveal where pictures were taken.
ACTIVITY_RECOGNITION
Allows an app to detect your physical activity — walking, running, cycling, being in a vehicle, etc. Used by fitness and health apps.
ADD_VOICEMAIL
Allows an app to add voicemail messages to the system voicemail inbox. Used by visual voicemail apps from carriers.
ANSWER_PHONE_CALLS
Allows an app to answer incoming phone calls programmatically without user interaction. Used by car mode, accessibility, and call-screening apps.
Individual Permissions — B
BLUETOOTH_ADVERTISE
Allows an app to advertise itself to nearby Bluetooth devices without needing your location. Added in Android 12 to separate Bluetooth from location access.
BLUETOOTH_CONNECT
Allows an app to connect to paired Bluetooth devices — headphones, speakers, smartwatches, etc. Required on Android 12 and above.
BLUETOOTH_SCAN
Allows an app to discover nearby Bluetooth devices. On Android 12+, this no longer requires location permission if the app doesn't derive location from scan results.
BODY_SENSORS
Allows an app to access data from body sensors like a heart rate monitor or wearable fitness tracker while the app is in the foreground.
BODY_SENSORS_BACKGROUND
Allows an app to access body sensor data (heart rate, etc.) even while running in the background. Requires separate approval from BODY_SENSORS.
Individual Permissions — C
CALL_PHONE
Allows an app to initiate a phone call without going through the dialer. An app with this permission can call any number without your confirmation.
CAMERA
Allows an app to access the device camera to take photos and record video. One of the most sensitive permissions due to privacy implications.
Individual Permissions — G
GET_ACCOUNTS
Allows an app to see the list of accounts (Google, email, etc.) registered on your device. Often used to auto-fill login forms or sync contacts.
Individual Permissions — M
MANAGE_MEDIA
Allows an app to modify or delete media files (photos, videos, audio) created by other apps without prompting the user for each file.
Individual Permissions — N
NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES
Allows an app to find, connect to, and determine the relative position of nearby Wi-Fi devices without requiring location permission. Added in Android 13.
Individual Permissions — P
POST_NOTIFICATIONS
Allows an app to show notifications. Added as a user-granted permission in Android 13 — users must now explicitly allow apps to send notifications.
PROCESS_OUTGOING_CALLS
Allows an app to see the number being dialed when you make a call and optionally redirect or abort it. Deprecated in Android 10.
Individual Permissions — R
READ_CALENDAR
Allows an app to read your calendar events, including titles, times, locations, and attendees. Can reveal personal schedule information.
READ_CALL_LOG
Allows an app to read your call history — who you called, who called you, when, and for how long. Considered highly sensitive by Google Play.
READ_CONTACTS
Allows an app to read your address book. This includes names, phone numbers, emails, and any other data stored in your contacts.
READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Allows an app to read files from shared storage (photos, documents, downloads). Replaced by more granular media permissions in Android 13.
READ_MEDIA_AUDIO
Allows an app to read audio files (music, podcasts, recordings) from shared storage. Introduced in Android 13 as a replacement for READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE.
READ_MEDIA_IMAGES
Allows an app to read photos and images from shared storage. Introduced in Android 13 to let users grant photo access without exposing other file types.
READ_MEDIA_VIDEO
Allows an app to read video files from shared storage. Introduced in Android 13 alongside READ_MEDIA_IMAGES and READ_MEDIA_AUDIO.
READ_MEDIA_VISUAL_USER_SELECTED
Allows an app to access only the specific photos and videos the user selected from the photo picker — a privacy-preserving alternative to full media access. Added in Android 14.
READ_PHONE_NUMBERS
Allows an app to read the phone number(s) of your SIM cards. Separate from READ_PHONE_STATE — specifically for reading the device's own phone number.
READ_PHONE_STATE
Allows an app to access phone state information including active calls, network info, and device identifiers. Broad permission that has been progressively restricted since Android 10.
READ_SMS
Allows an app to read all SMS messages on the device. Heavily restricted — Google Play only allows this for apps that are set as the default SMS app.
RECEIVE_MMS
Allows an app to receive and process MMS (multimedia) messages. Only meaningful for apps that serve as the default SMS/MMS app.
RECEIVE_SMS
Allows an app to intercept incoming SMS messages before they reach the standard inbox. Can be used for two-factor authentication auto-fill.
RECEIVE_WAP_PUSH
Allows an app to receive WAP push messages — a legacy mobile messaging format used by carriers for over-the-air configuration.
RECORD_AUDIO
Allows an app to record audio using the device microphone. Required for voice calls, voice search, audio recording, and speech-to-text features.
Individual Permissions — S
SEND_SMS
Allows an app to send SMS messages. An app with this permission can send texts that may incur charges on your phone bill without your confirmation.
Individual Permissions — U
USE_SIP
Allows an app to use the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) service to make and receive internet-based voice calls.
UWB_RANGING
Allows an app to use Ultra-Wideband radio to determine the precise distance and direction of nearby UWB-capable devices. Used for spatial awareness features.
Individual Permissions — W
WRITE_CALENDAR
Allows an app to create, edit, and delete calendar events. An app with this permission can modify your entire calendar.
WRITE_CALL_LOG
Allows an app to add, modify, or delete call log entries. Like READ_CALL_LOG, Google Play restricts this to default dialer apps.
WRITE_CONTACTS
Allows an app to create, edit, and delete contacts in your address book. Combined with READ_CONTACTS this gives full access to your contact list.
WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Allows an app to write files to shared storage. No-op on Android 10+ for most apps; superseded by the MediaStore API and more specific media permissions.