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.

1. Understand App Permissions on Pixel

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.

2. Access App Permissions from Settings

Steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Tap Privacy → Permission manager.

  3. You’ll see categories such as:

    • Location

    • Camera

    • Microphone

    • Contacts

    • Phone

    • SMS

Here, you can see which apps currently have access to each category.

3. Change Permissions for a Specific App

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → Apps → See all apps.

  2. Select the app you want to modify.

  3. Tap Permissions.

  4. 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.

4. Change Permissions by Permission Category

You can also manage permissions for multiple apps from one category:

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → Privacy → Permission manager.

  2. Tap a category (e.g., Camera).

  3. You’ll see all apps that requested this permission.

  4. 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.

5. Use “Ask Every Time” for Maximum Privacy

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.

6. Revoke Permissions from Unused Apps

Unused or rarely used apps may still have access to sensitive data.

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → Apps → See all apps.

  2. Select the app → Permissions → Deny all unnecessary permissions.

  3. Optionally, uninstall apps you no longer need to improve security and storage.

7. Monitor Permission Usage

Pixel phones provide a privacy dashboard to see how often apps access permissions.

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → Privacy → Privacy dashboard.

  2. Choose Permission usage.

  3. 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.

8. Special Permissions

Some apps request special permissions like:

  • Draw over other apps

  • Modify system settings

  • Install unknown apps

To manage them:

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Special app access.

  2. Tap the desired special permission.

  3. Review apps and toggle access ON or OFF.

✅ Important: Only grant special permissions to trusted apps — they can affect system behavior and security.

9. Reset All Permissions (Optional)

If you want to start fresh and remove all previously granted permissions:

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → Apps → See all apps → ⋮ Menu → Reset app preferences.

  2. Confirm Reset.

✅ Note: This will reset all app preferences, including disabled apps and notifications, not just permissions. Use carefully.

10. Tips for Safer App Permission Management

  • 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.

Final Thoughts

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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