How to Check Which Android Apps Have Used Your Camera, Microphone, or Location

Giving an app permission once does not mean you have to forget about it forever.

On supported Android phones, the Privacy Dashboard helps you review which apps have been using permissions such as your camera, microphone, and location.

Open Privacy Dashboard

Depending on your Android version and phone manufacturer:

1. Open Settings. 2. Select Security & privacy or Privacy. 3. Select Privacy Dashboard.

You may need to open another Privacy menu before Privacy Dashboard appears.

Choose a permission such as Camera, Microphone, or Location. Android can then show which apps accessed that permission and when.

Google says Android 13 can show activity for the previous seven days, while Android 12 provides a 24-hour view.

What should you look for?

Do not assume every entry is suspicious.

A camera app using the camera is expected. A maps application using your location while you are navigating may also be expected.

Instead, ask: Does this app have a reasonable reason to use this permission?

If the answer is no, select the app and review its permission.

Should you remove every permission?

No.

Permissions allow apps to perform legitimate functions. Removing microphone access from a video-calling app, for example, will prevent normal calling features from working.

The goal is not to disable everything. It is to remove access that you do not need or do not recognize.

Android phones don't all look identical

Google provides the underlying Android guidance, but Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola, and other manufacturers may organize Settings differently.

Android versions also matter. If these exact menu names are not present, search Settings for Privacy, Permission manager, or Privacy Dashboard.

Privacy checks are worth doing periodically

You probably install and remove applications over the lifetime of a phone. Permissions that once made sense may no longer be needed.

The same principle applies to an iPhone. See How to Check Which iPhone Apps Can Access Your Location, Camera, and Microphone.

The bottom line

Open Android's Privacy Dashboard and concentrate on permissions that reveal or capture sensitive information. You do not need to panic when an app appears there. Check whether the access makes sense, and remove permissions that an app no longer needs.

Sources and Further Reading

Google Android Help — Manage permissions from the privacy dashboard