How to Use the Privacy Dashboard on Android

In the wake of continued concerns, Google stepped up the game to try and improve user security and privacy on Android. One of the significant steps towards the privacy goal was enabling users to voluntarily decide whether to give an app certain permissions after installation.

And to make it more efficient to view and manage these permissions, Android added a dedicated Privacy Dashboard. Let’s take a look at how to use Android’s Privacy Dashboard.

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What Is Privacy Dashboard?

Privacy Dashboard is a one-stop shop that provides transparency around app permissions by allowing you to view what data is being accessed, how often, and by which apps across your Android phone. It tracks all apps on your device, giving you details on which ones are accessing your data, how often, and exactly when they do.

Privacy Dashboard keeps track of various permissions an app can request access to, including camera, location, microphone, contacts, calendar, call logs, media files, phone, nearby devices, and more.

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The feature is available on phones running Android 12 and newer, but there’s a way you canget Privacy Dashboard on any device.

How to Use Android’s Privacy Dashboard

Depending on your device maker, precise steps to access and use Privacy Dashboard might vary. With that said, follow these steps to start using Privacy Dashboard:

After that:

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That’s all there is to Android’s Privacy Dashboard. Remember, maintaining the privacy of your data against apps is just one angle. You must also tweak specificAndroid settings to enhance privacy against other users. And if you need robust privacy, we suggest trying outprivacy-focused Android custom ROMs.

View and Manage Android Permissions With Ease

Privacy Dashboard is an excellent addition to Android, allowing you to see which apps have accessed sensitive sensors like the microphone, GPS, and camera, along with confidential data like your contacts and SMS—and when. It also provides an easier way to manage these permissions across the system from one single place.

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