Your phone's apps could have more permissions than they need – here's how to check

Staying on top of what information your apps can access is always a good idea.

By Adnan Ahmed Nov. 3, 2026 7:30 pm EST Adnan Ahmed for Engadget Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

It's great that we have access to hundreds of thousands of apps on our smartphones, but it's always worth being mindful of which apps you install. Though Android and iOS have surprisingly effective built-in security measures to detect and block malicious apps, some apps may still pose a risk if they have access to sensitive information or device features. An app requesting permission to access your camera, location, text messages or files doesn't necessarily mean it's unsafe, but it's worth asking why it needs them in the first place — especially if they have little to do with what the app is actually supposed to do.