Phonewell
See which apps used your camera, mic or location
Privacy dashboard, step by step on Samsung and Pixel phones.
Why it helps
Your phone keeps a record of which apps used your camera, microphone and location. A quick look shows whether any app is overstepping.
What you'll notice
You get a timeline of which apps used your camera, microphone and location in the last day.
How to set it up
Pick your phone.
Samsung Galaxy
- Settings
- Security and privacy
- Privacy
- Tap "Security and privacy", then "Privacy".
- Check which apps used your camera, microphone and location recently.
- Tap an app to take away a permission it doesn't need.
Based on reports from owners and the tech press. We have not yet checked it on a phone ourselves.
Google Pixel
- Settings
- Security & privacy
- Privacy controls
- Privacy dashboard
- Tap "Privacy controls", then "Privacy dashboard".
- Check which apps used your camera, microphone and location recently.
- Tap an app to take away a permission it doesn't need.
Based on reports from owners and the tech press. We have not yet checked it on a phone ourselves.
How to undo it
Looking changes nothing. To give a permission back, open the app in the same screen and allow it again.
Labels can differ. Menu names and their order vary between models and can change with a system update. If a step doesn't match your phone, search Settings for the feature name or one of its other names: Permission manager, App permissions, Permissions used.