Android asking for permissions on everything?

matty_hunt

Hi. Ive just got a new smartphone. A Umi Max from China running Android V.6 marshmellow. Ive come from a windows phone so am getting to grips with android but it asks permission for everything. eg, to reply to a text I must give permission to allow access to photos, media and files. To use a web browser, access to my contacts, photos, media, files, record audio, take a picture and record video. I cant see why it needs all that access to preform simple tasks. Is this normal? Is it some Chinese software trying to get my info? ('tho I doubt they'd ask) Is all okay? Thanks

JJ_Egan

No its not normal .
Install an app and it will list permissions and you agree once only .

indesisiv

JJ_Egan wrote: »

No its not normal .
Install an app and it will list permissions and you agree once only .

It is normal behaviour to ask for permissions.

Mine asks me when that app needs that permission for the first time.
For instance once I open a file browser it asks for permission to access my file system.
If I try and share a photo on facebook then the facebook app asks for permission to access my gallery.

It doesn't ask for permissions all at once just each one when needed for the first time.

JJ_Egan

Not normal behaviour here .I just tested with two new unused apps .
Install accept then as soon as app downloads and installs its asks to confirm permissions .Opening or using the app does nothing in the way of asking .

Exemplar

Welcome to Android!

indesisiv

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Not normal behaviour here .I just tested with two new unused apps .
Install accept then as soon as app downloads and installs its asks to confirm permissions .Opening or using the app does nothing in the way of asking .

Maybe it depends on the version of android ... I've just remembered that this phone is running CM. And the privacy settings are asked the first time that app needs to access something. I thought that was standard now.

[Deleted User]

With Android 6 Marshmallow you can control which permissions you grant to each individual app by going to settings, apps, and then selecting which app you want to grant or withhold permissions in.

For example in the camera app the permissions listed are camera, contacts, location,microphone, phone and storage so to alter any of those just tap permissions and then uncheck any that you do not wish to grant.

20aday

I believe Android Marshmallow is set up to ask for app permissions now.

It's likely to stop any dodgy apps accessing data they don't need.

reehsetin

indesisiv wrote: »

Maybe it depends on the version of android ... I've just remembered that this phone is running CM. And the privacy settings are asked the first time that app needs to access something. I thought that was standard now.

this!

Marshmallow will ask for permission when it needs it for the first time, much better as it's easier to logically tie the permission to the action you want to perform e.g. I want to share a picture, it asks if I want to give access to media.
Much more flexible too as you don't have grant all permissions (though of course some things may not work if they havent been given the right permissions).

JJ_Egan

Repeat MM does not ask me for permissions for everything .
On a clean factory reset to stock i have 19 apps of which only one asks for permissions .

matty_hunt

Thank you for the comments. I can see why some apps ask for certain access, other are a bit more questionable but then it could just be that I dont appreciate the full potential of the phone. Im some way behind in embracing smartphone use!
Cheers.