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Apps in Android Marshmallow only ask permission for things when they need it

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One of the rumored features of Android M was more control over app permissions, and now it has come true. Google has formally announced that Android M will allow users to have much more control over which permissions apps need.

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In Android M you’ll no longer see the app permissions displayed in the Play Store. Instead you’ll see apps request permissions for things as they need them. For example, if an app wants to use your camera for the first time a pop-up will ask for your permission. You’ll also be able to adjust the permissions after the fact in the settings.

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This is a big change in the way apps will be able to get permission to do things. If an app is trying to use your location and you don’t want it to you’ll easily be able to see when it tries, and then you can reject it. How do you feel about these new features?

Joe Fedewa
Ever since I flipped open my first phone I've been obsessed with the devices. I've dabbled in other platforms, but Android is where I feel most at home.

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22 Comments

  1. I likely likey.

  2. Great feature. Hope it kills off the tinfoil hats.

    1. Over-eager privacy advocates will always be around. Not that it’s a bad thing.

      1. I’m all for privacy, don’t get me wrong. I’ve just read so many comments by folks who probably don’t have any data (maybe porn I guess) on their device that could prove detrimental. It’s just rather annoying.

        1. Annoying, sure, but not something to fret over greatly. I treat the overzealous comments the same way I do ads on the side of the road. Just keep on driving.

        2. Or text messages or business documents

          Nobody but you needs to see your sexy texts to your wife or your bank statements

  3. lol, sounds like iOS…bout time…

  4. That’s awesome!

  5. oh isht son

  6. This is wonderful news. How have developers been responding to this?

    1. Dont care about developers its our privacy

      1. Yes, but developers have to ensure their apps don’t crash and behave in a sane way when they are denied a permission.

        1. I’ve seen apps requesting with seemingly unrelated permissions for a few models of phones who crashed without it. Queue in the crash reports and complains from people who denied an app’s critical permissions

      2. It’s always a good practice to get feedback from devs on things like this. Quite important change in Android.

  7. I like it, but would prefer to see all permissions it may want remain in the Play Store.

  8. As much as I like this I don’t see the need to stop telling you up front as well what it needs.

  9. Don’t forget they suggested that they would do something similar in L then pulled it, after they pulled app ops.

    Don’t be surprised to see them pull this at the last second.

  10. Does this mean Facebook Messenger is going to ask to use my camera every time I try and take a picture? I hope I can select some defaults and clear it in the Apps section of the app. I’d really hate for this to slow me down on things I already trust. I can already see me hitting “Deny” from a random finger spasm when rush tapping everything. LoL!!

    1. Once you give permission, it’s given.

      Looks like you can then change your mind under settings.

  11. Will be a really good things for Android

  12. Or maybe other promise like app ops and take it out… will see

  13. finally! biggest part is being able to deny the permissions. Will it be all permissions or just select ones? For example game and video apps DO NOT need to run at start up for any reason.

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