How to check which Android apps use your camera, microphone and location
On Android 12 and later, open the Privacy dashboard in Settings to see which apps used the camera, microphone and location recently. For every app at once, with how long ago each last used them, connect the phone to the slimdroid privacy screen.
The built-in checks
- Privacy dashboard: open Settings > Privacy (on some phones Settings > Security and privacy > Privacy) and tap Privacy dashboard. It lists recent use of the camera, microphone and location by app. The history window depends on the Android version.
- Permission manager: from the same screen, open Camera, Microphone or Location to see every app that has the permission. Change each one to Allow only while using the app or Don't allow.
- Indicators: on Android 12 and later a green dot appears while the camera or microphone is in use. Pull down Quick Settings to see which app it is.
- Quick switches: Android 12 and later can block camera and microphone access for all apps from Quick Settings.
- Precise location: in each app's location permission, turn Use precise location off for apps that only need your city.
What the built-in tools do not show
- History is short and shown one permission at a time.
- Nothing lists, in one place, the apps that can read your screen, act as device administrators, draw over other apps or install other apps.
- Nothing points out apps you installed from outside a store, or apps you have not opened in months.
A full check with slimdroid
- Turn on USB debugging and connect the phone to the slimdroid tool in Chrome or Edge.
- Run the scan, then open the Privacy screen.
- Read which apps used the camera, microphone and location, and how long ago.
- Read the access lists: accessibility services, device administrators, notification access, draw over other apps, install unknown apps, all-files access, usage access and VPN apps.
- Use the inventory lenses to list sideloaded apps and apps not opened in months.
The privacy screen reads what the phone exposes. When a source is missing it says so rather than guessing, and it never shows a missing value as zero.
What to do with what you find
- Set permissions to Allow only while using the app, or remove them.
- Uninstall or disable apps you have not opened in months.
- Review anything with accessibility, device-admin or install-unknown access that you do not recognise: is the phone being spied on?
- Switch USB debugging off when you finish.
Limits
slimdroid does not capture network traffic, so it cannot show what an app sends. It also cannot read a work profile over ADB. Treat it as a way to see who has access and who used it, not as proof of what happened to the data.
How do I see which app is using my microphone right now?
On Android 12 and later, a green dot appears in the status bar while the camera or microphone is in use. Pull down Quick Settings and tap the indicator to see the app.
Does the slimdroid privacy screen send my data anywhere?
No. The scan runs in your browser tab and results stay in your browser. The tool makes no network requests while you work. See the privacy page.
Should I deny every permission?
No. Deny what an app does not need for the job you give it. A map app needs location while you navigate; a torch app does not need your contacts.