Ever since the debut of Android Marshmallow, the permissions framework has undergone several changes with each iteration of Android. After years of incremental updates, Android 10 introduced new background app permissions for location and storage.
On Android 11, users can now give temporary one-time permissions to apps requesting access to the microphone, camera, geolocation, and other sensitive information. When closing the app, the permissions are auto-reset by the system.
Considering many of us install apps that we don’t even use on daily basis, the new permissions controls are great for restricting certain apps from tracking you in the background.
Whether your device is running the latest Android 11 or an older version, you can follow this guide to give temporary permissions to apps on Android.
Granting temporary permissions on Android
If your device is running Android 11, you should see the new permission dialog box when launching an app for the first time. For each permission the app asks for, you can tap “Only this time” to give the app one-time access to your sensitive information.
When you close the app, Android will revoke all the temporary permissions you have given to it earlier. Launching the same app next time will require you to go through the permission requests once again.
If you want to set up one-time permissions for the other apps you already use, follow the steps below.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen to expand the notification shade, then tap the cog icon to open the Settings app.
- Now visit the Apps & Notifications menu and tap See all apps.
- Choose the app you wish to enable one-time permissions for from the following list of installed apps.
- After that, tap Permissions on the App info page, then select the permission (e.g., Contacts, Microphone, Camera, Storage) you want the app to request every time you launch it.
- Tap Ask every time to make the selected permission temporary for the app.
This is how you enable one-time permissions for apps on Android 11. If you are on an older version of Android, check out the next section.
Granting temporary permissions with Bouncer on Android
We previously featured Bouncer in our list of Top 5 Best Android Apps For June 2020 because of its ability to give temporary permissions to apps. You can buy it from the Play Store. Setting it up is also straightforward.
After you properly configure the app by following the on-screen instructions, it will send a notification whenever you grant permission to an app. You can either Keep or Remove the permission directly from the notification, as well as Schedule when to revoke it.
On stock settings, Bouncer will repeat the action you have taken for different app permissions the next time you launch the same app. For example, if you choose to revoke Google Maps’ access to the location, Bouncer will automatically do it after the first time.
You can disable this particular feature by toggling off Auto remove in Bouncer’s settings menu. The app works on all Android devices running 7.0 Nougat or above.
Talha Ali is your tech generalist, covering a wide spectrum of topics within the ever-evolving world of technology. With a curiosity for the latest innovations, industry trends, and breakthroughs. Whether it’s hardware, software, emerging technologies, or the intersection of tech with daily life, Talha’s articles provide readers with a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.