Questions tagged [permissions]

The access that apps advertise that they need to function. Example: Full internet access, send SMS messages, etc. Please use this tag for app-permissions only. For file permissions, use 'file-permissions' instead.

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4 votes
1 answer
2k views

Insufficent rights for npm install in Termux on Android

I'm trying to install a Node.js module in a folder, for example, /data/data/com.termux/files/home/storage/shared/documents/projects/code/js/test-npm, from Termux on rooted Android 6 running npm ...
1 vote
1 answer
9k views

Google play constantly asks for permissions

A few weeks ago my Xiaomi phone (MIUI 8) started showing a permission error, stating that more permissions are necessary. After enabling all of them, the error reoccurred after a few minutes, this ...
3 votes
1 answer
4k views

Is it possible to restrict an app's permissions to a specific folder(s) (and subfolders)?

When installing an app, depending on the app, access to the filesystem is required and requested at the time of install. Is it possible to restrict this to specific folders(s) and their subfolders? ...
2 votes
0 answers
2k views

For what purpose does the Google Play Store use the PHONE permission?

I noticed that, by default, the current version of the Google Play Store has access to the PHONE permission. For what purpose does the Google Play Store use the PHONE permission?
2 votes
0 answers
130 views

Why are apps given the right to run whenever they want even when they keep the phone awake?

This question is quite related to (and could end up being closed as a duplicate of): How can I stop applications and services from running? I would probably just comment there to get clarification ...
1 vote
1 answer
186 views

Why are android permission so broad?

I was reading a review for a game on the play store where someone gave a bad review saying that the game looked cool but it required access to photos, media and such which encouraged the user to ...
0 votes
0 answers
45 views

How do I prevent apps from trying to gain permissions?

I downloaded an app for a restaurant I frequent to collect points. When I tell it to show the QR code to scan at the register, it switches to a screen in my Android Settings to "Modify system settings"...
0 votes
2 answers
67 views

Are these app permissions normal?

Can it be used to steal personal data or intercept/view online activity?
0 votes
1 answer
68 views

Is permission elevation still a security issue for end users when updating Android?

Is this still an issue for end users?: Researchers have determined that the Android update process has a vulnerability that allows permission elevation without user knowledge. Android allows ...
0 votes
0 answers
840 views

Why `diag_mdlog` not able to write on `/sdcard` if it is fired from an Android App that has write permissions?

I am getting a weird behavior with diag_mdlog executable. I am executing it from my Android app as su -c /vendor/bin/diag_mdlog -o /sdcard/abc -f /sdcard/Test.cfg The issue is: if the android ...
1 vote
0 answers
2k views

removing privileged permissions from pre-installed apps

Many pre-installed apps get privileged permissions, which are defined in /etc/permissions/privapp-permissions-*.xml files. Given a rooted device, it would be possible to edit those files in order to ...
0 votes
1 answer
41k views

How to disable the OTG (USB) on Android 9?

I want to disable the OTG (USB) on Android 9. I coud control it on Android 6 by disabling a permission on the file android.hardware.usb.host.xml located in /system/etc/permission but it is not working ...
6 votes
1 answer
38k views

What does the usage data access permission allow

I only just now became aware of the "Apps with usage access" preference view. However I'm irritated. The permission was deemed important enough as to warrant a separate setting view to provide ...
3 votes
3 answers
46k views

Permission to make and manage phone calls

I just bought a second hand phone (my first device running android). I'm surprised by the fact that three times I've been asked for permission to make and manage phone calls. This is a very scary ...
3 votes
2 answers
4k views

How to grant an app a permission that isn't in its manifest for audio recording?

Non rooted Moto G6 Play running Android 9. I'm using Termux and would like to use Sox's rec command to record audio from the terminal. Unfortunately, since Termux doesn't request the mic permission, ...
3 votes
1 answer
3k views

How to bind-mount "data" and "obb" folders from external SD card in "/sdcard/Android"?

Can someone help me mount my Android/data and Android/obb in my internal storage from my portable storage? I'm on a Pie ROM. I found this: How to bind mount a folder inside /sdcard with correct ...
3 votes
1 answer
10k views

Is there a way to grant myself MANAGE_USERS permission while inside the adb shell?

The thing is that I'm fed up of some stock adware apps on my Micromax phone and want to disable them for good. So, as per this answer, I used adb shell to disable the app, but I'm getting the ...
2 votes
1 answer
6k views

How to save files to external SD card on a non-rooted Android?

I'm using the Terminal Emulator app on a non-rooted Android 5.0.2 phone. When moving files from a folder of the external SD card to another with: mv /storage/extSdCard/DCIM/Camera/* /storage/...
6 votes
1 answer
6k views

Pixel Launcher crashing due to missing STATUS_BAR and MANAGE_ACTIVITY_STACKS permissions

I'm running LineageOS 16 on a OnePlus 3T. Whenever I try to open the Pixel Launcher, it crashes. In adb logcat, I saw the following lines that looked relevant: 05-25 16:13:31.293 16356 16356 W ...
3 votes
2 answers
30k views

How to mount NFS on Android with correct permissions?

I am trying to mount an NFS share on my Android phone. I have already compiled and installed all the needed kernel modules. The NFS share mounts flawlessly but I can only mount as the system user. ...
4 votes
1 answer
4k views

What happens if I ignore the warning: "If you deny this permission, basic features of your device may no longer function as intended"?

If I go into the permissions settings for the Google app and change the Location permission from "Allow all the time" to "Allow only while using the app" or "Deny," I am presented with a warning: "If ...
1 vote
2 answers
10k views

Grant notification access via ADB

This might seem weird, but I installed a regular Android app using ADB to my Huawei Watch 2 and the app requires notification access which when attempting in app causes it to crash as it trys to open ...
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Do permissions have to be declared in the manifest for an app to have the access they provide?

I was using Universal Copy for a while to be able to copy text from fields that are not normally able to be selected, but due to it being able to see all contents on the screen when running, I would ...
0 votes
0 answers
161 views

Are Android App Permissions Placebos (Android Pie)?

I'm looking at every app that has 'Microphone' permissions on my Android Pie Galaxy Note phone, accessed through: Settings > Apps > Hamburger Menu > App Permissions > Microphone Five ...
3 votes
1 answer
5k views

What is the "u#_everybody" UID?

In (multi-user) Android there are UIDs like these: u0_everybody u10_everybody u11_everybody Those seem different to the usual uXX_aYY UIDs used for the applications. What is their purpose? Is this a ...
0 votes
0 answers
3k views

How to get rid of SeLinux Denials in Permissive mode?

Need some help with 3 issues: In Permissive mode I get denials, why does this happen and how do I fix that? If I am enforced, how do I give access to my Partitions to various processes. Right now I ...
17 votes
1 answer
94k views

What is Google Partner Setup?

What does the Google Partner Setup app that is pre-installed on almost every Android device actually do? Why does it need each of those intrusive permissions, especially the Phone permission? Why ...
2 votes
1 answer
5k views

Why reading permission to /proc/1/maps is denied and why doesn't the denial appear in logcat?

I'm developing a native app for Android, and I'm occasionally confronted with permission denied which doesn't trigger a log in the logcat logs. For example, trying to run: shell@kltevzw:/ $ cat /proc/...
1 vote
1 answer
64 views

How granular can the app developer set the permissions to avoid turning the user away at the "Permissions to Photos, Media and Other files"?

When a Notes app (like Google Keep, Wunderlist, Stickynotes) etc asks for permissions to "Photos, Media and Other Files" (PMOF) on your device, the user can get a bit uncertain. So essentially, can ...
0 votes
0 answers
27 views

Permit use hardware (camera,microphone,etc) to application for some time, not forever

In Android 6 and latter, when application asks for permission (for example camera access) user can allow, or dismiss, or check 'do not ask any more' and dismiss. I would like to have one more ...
1 vote
2 answers
7k views

Photos / Files / Media permission [duplicate]

I've seen a lot of apps that have media / files permission access requested when installing from Play Store. Does that mean they can go at my personal photos and send it back to themselves? Sorry if ...
0 votes
3 answers
2k views

What is the meaning of "need access to: " in when we want to install an application?

Whenever we want to install an application from Google Play, the application will ask permission to access to some things. The number of permissions are different from one to another application. ...
0 votes
2 answers
909 views

Why can't Tasker manage battery mode on my rooted Pixel?

I've been using Tasker to mute my phone at work. I recently added some nested tasks to enable and disable battery saver mode when I arrive and leave. However, it doesn't seem to have permission. The ...
1 vote
0 answers
2k views

Permission denied while trying to do MKDIR

I am loading media files into the /sdcard folder on my Android device and playing them and everything seems to work fine. When I tried to do a MKDIR on this folder, it said that my permission is ...
90 votes
9 answers
13k views

Is it possible to install an app and exclude some of its requested permissions?

Occasionally I want to install an application which requires certain permissions that I feel it really shouldn't need. Can I install the app without giving it these permissions? For example, GPS ...
0 votes
0 answers
468 views

Not granting permission because it was previously installed without?

An app i installed fails at startup, in the logs i see this permission problem: Not granting permission android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION to package com.nianticlabs.pokemongo because it was ...
0 votes
0 answers
161 views

App downloads big data again on every start

I have changed many of the permissions (especially by Play Store and Play Store Services). Now many apps works unusual and many doesn't work but doesn't give any understandable error. One of them is ...
0 votes
0 answers
41 views

Developer permissions

Is there a way to remove or deny permission of system packages Example an app has permission to com.android.vending.BILLING? I have root access
7 votes
1 answer
9k views

What special privileges "/system/xbin/su" does have w.r.t. root access?

This answer says: Because of the way directory/file permissions are configured on Android, you need to have the su binary on your /system partition in order for it to work. Putting elsewhere ...
-1 votes
2 answers
232 views

How to disable media gallery permission of Hill Climb Racing 2?

I have installed Hill Climb Racing 2. It asked for access to my gallery. For installation I permitted it. But now I want to disable it. How can I do it?
3 votes
2 answers
9k views

Grant an app write access to external storage that does not request it?

I would like to grant the Syncthing app write access to external storage in Marshmallow. The app does not request it explicitly (unlike other apps that seem to use the Storage Access Framework to do ...
5 votes
2 answers
9k views

How can I find which apps/packages reference a given permission using command line?

Given some permission tld.developer.app.permission.PERMISSION how can I use adb/root shell to find all the installed packages that define/depend on it? The permissions are defined in the manifest ...
0 votes
0 answers
275 views

What is this permission group?

When I ran adb shell pm list permission-groups one of the groups was: com.google.android.gms.permission.CAR_INFORMATION. I've never seen this before in system settings and I can't find anything ...
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

What is directory access permission?

I recently got a Android 9 phone, and I noticed a new section under special access called "directory access". It lists no apps This wasn't present on my old Android 8.1 phone, so I'm pretty sure it's ...
9 votes
2 answers
25k views

Reset the request permission dialog on Marshmallow

I am testing my Android application and trying to make sure all permissions (whether granted or denied) are handled correctly. I mistakenly clicked "Never ask again" on a permission and now it never ...
0 votes
1 answer
116 views

Just rooted and can't enable premium messaging

When I attempt to enable it, it's stuck like in the picture. I then receive the message: Free Msg: Unable to send message - Message Blocking is active. I've tried other messaging applications, but I ...
0 votes
0 answers
570 views

Root and unroot Cat S41

Does anyone knows how to root then unroot this device? I've just installed Termux emulator but I am not able to run some commands. The terminal's output comes with a "Permission denied" issue. I've ...
2 votes
2 answers
13k views

Why chmod gives "Operation not permitted" error?

I try to execute chmod on a file with Termux, but it sends back an error which I'm unable to solve. My phone is not rooted. If you can help me I would be most grateful to you for this! Here is the ...
2 votes
1 answer
61 views

Why do I have to get permission to save to my own phone?

I am the owner of a new Samsung Galaxy J7 (J700T). When I try to delete files with no data on them on my internal, external, or SD card, the phone tells me I am denied. I want the files I've created....
0 votes
0 answers
98 views

Microphone Permssion in Pie not listing all apps

I have a Pixel phone. Recently I checked App permissions →Microphone permissions, and it shows 5 of 24 apps allowed. But when I open the microphone permissions, it lists only 4 apps. Is this ...

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