How to Check App Permissions for Photos, Camera, Microphone, and Location

Audit sensitive permissions on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, and Chromebook—and check whether apps are actually using the access you granted.

Person reviewing photo, camera, microphone, and location permissions on an unbranded smartphone, with a laptop blurred behind. — A permission audit can reveal which apps have access to sensitive device features and data.

Key Takeaways

Review permissions both by app and by sensitive category such as camera, microphone, location, and photos.
On supported Android versions, the Privacy dashboard shows recent access; iPhone’s App Privacy Report starts collecting only after it is enabled.
Permission names differ on computers: photo access may appear under Files & Folders, Pictures library, or File system.
Windows privacy lists may not show or individually control every traditional desktop application.
Menu paths vary by operating system version, device maker, and region, so check the linked official guidance when needed.

To check app permissions, open your device’s privacy settings and review access by app or by category. Focus on photos or stored files, camera, microphone, and location. The exact menu names vary by operating system version, manufacturer, and region, but the controls below provide the main routes on current devices.

First, separate permission from actual use

A permission list tells you what an app is allowed to access. It does not always tell you whether the app recently used that access. Where available, also check an activity report or privacy dashboard.

Review by category when you want to find every app with access to the camera, microphone, location, or photos.
Review by app when you are concerned about a particular application.
Check recent activity to see when protected data or sensors were accessed.
Use device-wide controls carefully because they can block a sensor across multiple apps and services.

How to check app permissions on iPhone

On an iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Select a category such as Photos, Location Services, Camera, or Microphone. You can then review and change access for individual apps.

Permission screens show what an app is authorized to use. For more information about how granted access is being used, Apple also provides App Privacy Report. It must be enabled before it can begin collecting activity, so it will not provide a record from before activation.

An iPhone also displays a green indicator when the camera is in use. An orange indicator represents microphone use without the camera. These indicators provide an immediate signal, but they do not replace a full permissions audit.

Menu wording and available choices can vary by iOS version, device configuration, and region. Check Apple’s linked guidance if the path on your phone differs.

How to check app permissions on Android

Android provides two main ways to audit permissions. Menu labels and locations can differ among phone manufacturers and Android versions.

Check one app

Open Settings > Apps, select the app, and choose Permissions. This view is useful when you want to inspect everything a particular app can access.

Check one permission category

Go to Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager. Select a category such as Camera, Location, Microphone, or Photos and videos to see the relevant apps.

Depending on the permission and Android version, choices may include:

All the time
Only while using the app
Ask every time
Do not allow

Not every choice appears for every permission. All-the-time access applies only in certain cases, particularly location. Google also notes that some documented Pixel steps require Android 11 or later.

Use the Android Privacy dashboard

The Privacy dashboard shows which apps accessed protected data or sensors, which permissions they used, and when the access occurred. Select a permission such as camera or microphone to inspect the listed apps and change an app’s authorization.

On Android 13, the dashboard can show the previous seven days of activity. On Android 12, it shows the previous 24 hours. Availability and placement depend on the Android version and the device manufacturer.

Android also offers device-wide camera and microphone controls. In addition, it can pause activity for unused apps. A device-wide switch is useful when you want a broad block, while app-level settings provide more selective control.

How to check app permissions on a Mac

Open System Settings and select Privacy & Security. From there, review categories including Files & Folders, Location, Camera, and Microphone. Each category provides app-level controls.

Apps normally request permission when they first try to access a protected resource. You can return to Privacy & Security later to increase or reduce that access.

For stored content, the relevant control may appear under Files & Folders rather than a category explicitly named Photos. Some built-in Apple apps may also be handled differently from installed third-party apps.

Apple’s current guide covers macOS Tahoe 26 and macOS Sequoia 15. The System Settings layout can differ on other macOS releases, so consult the official instructions if the categories are positioned differently.

How to check app permissions in Windows

In Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Privacy & security. Select the relevant permission category and review the controls shown there. Relevant Windows capabilities include:

Location
Microphone
Camera
Pictures library
File system

The Pictures library and File system categories are particularly relevant when auditing access to stored images and other files.

There is an important limitation: traditional desktop applications with broad access to system resources may not appear in the standard privacy permission lists. Windows may therefore be unable to provide an individual toggle for every desktop program. Do not assume that an application lacks access simply because it is absent from a category intended for app-level controls.

Microsoft’s guidance applies to Windows 11 and Windows 10, but settings layouts differ. Check the official source for the version installed on your computer.

How to check permissions on a Chromebook

On ChromeOS, open Settings > Privacy and security > Privacy controls to review camera and microphone access. Device-level switches can block access across apps and services, while app-level controls let you manage individual applications.

ChromeOS provides three documented device-level location modes:

Allowed
Only allowed for system services
Off

Chrome browser sites, web apps, and Android apps can expose permissions through different interfaces, even though ChromeOS synchronizes some controls. If you use all three types, review each relevant permission surface rather than relying on one screen.

Turning off device location does not prevent a service from inferring an approximate location from an IP address.

How to decide which permissions to change

Review each permission in the context of what you actually expect the app to do.

Photos or stored files: Check whether the app needs access to photos or stored files for a feature you use. Permission names and menu locations vary by operating system and version, so follow the platform-specific guidance above.
Camera: Keep access for apps whose camera features you use. Otherwise, remove it and grant it again later if needed.
Microphone: Apply the same test to recording, voice, or communication features you intentionally use.
Location: Choose a narrower option when the operating system offers one and continuous access is unnecessary. Available choices vary by permission and platform.

If you are uncertain, change one permission at a time. This makes it easier to identify which setting matters if a feature no longer works as expected.

What This Means

A useful permissions audit has two parts: review what each app is allowed to access, then inspect recent activity where the operating system provides that information. iPhone users can use App Privacy Report after enabling it, while supported Android versions provide historical access through the Privacy dashboard.

Desktop audits require extra care. Windows privacy lists do not cover every traditional desktop program, and Mac access to stored content may be organized under Files & Folders. Chromebook users may need to check separate controls for browser sites, web apps, and Android apps.

Because menu paths and options change across operating system releases and device makers, use the linked official documentation when your settings do not match the paths described here.