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How to manage app permissions in Android Marshmallow?

With Android marshmallow, you now have the full control of app permissions on your Android devices. You can manage app permissions for individual apps, or manage individual permissions. This guide shows you what's new in app permission control in Android Marshmallow and how to manage app permissions.

Table of Contents hide
1) What’s new on managing app permissions in Android Marshmallow?
2) How to grant app permissions in Android Marshmallow?
3) How to manage app permissions for a specific app in Android Marshmallow?
4) How to manage specific app permissions in Android Marshmallow?
5) Why my settings for app permissions are different on my Android Marshmallow device?
6) Can you manage app permissions in Android Marshmallow devices now?

What’s new on managing app permissions in Android Marshmallow?

One of the top features in Android Marshmallow is the new app permissions control system.

With Android marshmallow, you now have the full control of app permissions on your Android devices. You can manage app permissions for individual apps, or for any specific permissions.

For example, in all Android prior to Marshmallow 6.0, when an app request 10 permissions, your only option is to grant all of them and install it if you need the app.

In Android Marshmallow,  you will be asked to grant permissions only when the app need access that feature.  You will not be asked to accept permissions when installing the app.

Of course, this is for apps that are optimized for Android Marshmallow (with API version 23 or later).

For old apps that have not been updated for long time, you will still have to grant all permissions when install them. But later, you can remove any of the permissions.

Compared to Android Lollipop and other previous Android versions, you now can manage app permissions in new ways:

  • Grant and deny any specific permissions for any specific apps. You are not required to grant all permissions to install or use the app.
  • You may still use the app even if you deny some permissions the app requests. Of course, if you deny an app to access camera, when you try to use camera in that app, you will get an error.
  • You can mange specific permissions for any apps at any time.

Please note, app permissions control is a privacy feature, not a security feature. You should not install apps from unreliable sources.

How to grant app permissions in Android Marshmallow?

For apps optimized for Android Marshmallow, you will not be asked to grant any permissions when you install them.

When you use the app, and when special features are required for the first time, for example, use the camera, read your contact list, access some sensors, you will be prompted the window to grant (allow) or deny the permission as shown below.

In the screenshot below, OneDrive app is trying to access your media files. If you are comfortable with it,  you can  tap Allow.

If you tap Deny, the app will not be able to see, and therefore not be able to backup your media files to the drive. You need understand the consequences.

grant app permissions in Android Marshmallow

By default, the system will remember your choice.

So, next time, when you launch the app again,  it will NOT ask for the same permission again.

If you denied the permission by error, or you want to remove the app permissions granted, you can do it at any time.  In other words, you can easily manage app permissions on your Android Marshmallow devices at any time.

Actually, you have two ways to manage app permissions in Android Marshmallow:

  • Manage app permissions of any specific apps.
  • Manage specific app permissions.

The outcomes are identical.

How to manage app permissions for a specific app in Android Marshmallow?

You can manage app permissions for individual apps.

Go to Settings — Apps to access application manager as shown below.  For some Android devices, it may be Settings– Application Manager.

FYI, application manager in Android is for you to uninstall apps, manage app cache and app data. In Android Marshmallow, you now can manage app permissions.

For example, you want to manage or check permissions granted and denied for Amazon Music.

Tap Amazon music (marked as 1) as  shown below.

Tap Permissions as shown below.

Now, 3 app permissions are listed for Amazon music as shown below:

  • Contacts. This means, Amazon music wants to read your contact details and find contacts on the phone.
  • Phone. Amazon music also wants to read your phone status and your identity.
  • Storage. This app also wants to read and write on your phone. This is understandable because you may want to download some music.

Right to each of these 3 permissions, you can find the switch to deny or grant this specific permission for this app.

For example, as a music app, there is no reason to read contacts or access phone status.

So, it is probably safe to deny them.

But if you deny storage permission, you will find out that the app may not work properly.

So, do not deny app permission unless you know what you are doing.

You may be curious that how the Amazon music app access internet as internet access is not listed here.

In Android Marshmallow,  only permissions related to your personal or private info are listed by default. Other basic functions, like access internet, are not listed by default and you cannot disable them per app.
As shown below, in app permissions page, tap the menu button (3 vertical dots near top right).

Tap all permissions as shown above.

Now, all permissions are listed. You can tap on individual items to get detailed explanation of the permission.

Please note, permissions under Other app capabilities cannot be turned off.

manage app permissions for a specific app in Android Marshmallow manage app permissions for a specific app in Android Marshmallow

manage app permissions for a specific app in Android Marshmallow manage app permissions for a specific app in Android Marshmallow

manage app permissions for a specific app in Android Marshmallow manage app permissions for a specific app in Android Marshmallow

How to manage specific app permissions in Android Marshmallow?

You can also manage specific app permissions in Android Marshmallow.

In Settings—Apps page as shown above, tap Settings icon (gear icon, marked as 2 in the screenshot). You will be directed to app configurations page as shown below.

Tap App permissions as shown below to see all kinds of app permissions. Again, these are only the permissions related to your personal or private data.

For example, there are 35 apps on my phone requesting to access camera. 32 of them were granted this permission (they can access camera).

This means 3 of them cannot access camera (although they request this capability).  These may include newly installed apps that have not been used yet, and apps for which you denied denied the permission.

Tap Camera as shown below. You will then see a list of apps that request camera access.

You can tap the switch to disable (deny) or enable (grant) camera access for individual apps as shown below.

manage specific app permissions in Android Marshmallow manage specific app permissions in Android Marshmallow

manage specific app permissions in Android Marshmallow manage specific app permissions in Android Marshmallow

Why my settings for app permissions are different on my Android Marshmallow device?

The new app permission control system is a core part of Android Marshmallow. So, this feature should be available in all Android phones and tablets with Marshmallow.

But different vendors may put the settings in different locations.

Application manager is always presented in all Android devices. Some vendors may call it apps. Others may call it application manager under settings. So, it is easy to find app permissions for individual apps in application manager.

But for app permission list (under app configuration page), the location varies.

For Samsung Galaxy devices with Android Marshmallow (for example, Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S7), it is under Settings– Privacy and safety –App permissions.

For LG devices with Android Marshmallow, it is under Settings–Apps (under General)–Menu key– Configure apps.

Can you manage app permissions in Android Marshmallow devices now?

If you have any questions or encounter any problems on managing app permissions in Android Marshmallow devices, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will help you.

For any questions or problems with Android Marshmallow, please check our Android Marshmallow Guide page.

If your question is about Android Lollipop, please check out Android Lollipop Guide page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. viashali b says

    i updated my xperia m4 aqua dual to marshmallow and disable all draw over apps but still not able to grant permission in setting what to do
    please reply

    Reply

  5. Lynn says

    I have a Samsung Galaxy S5, and since a fez months I’ve been asked these permission messages. Before I could allow the buttons. But now the buttons are grey and I can’t switch them on, it stays grey. So I can’t use a certain apps because they keep asking these permissions.
    What should I do ?

    Reply

  6. Rajdeep Singh says

    I have a Samsung Galaxy Note Edge running Marshmallow 6.0.1. Thinking that Location services for certain apps were eating into my battery, I disabled location and other permissions for a handful of apps. These were ” default ” app permissions granted at the time of installing apps [ or permissions granted to stock apps ].Having realized that I have made a blunder, and in an effort to salvage the situation, I have now accorded all permissions to all apps I have messed around with.I don’t know if this harmful, but I would like to revert back to to the original ” default ” permissions granted to apps, I know, a factory reset would resolve the issue, but is there any other way. Your help in this matter would be really appreciated.

    Reply

  7. Luís says

    Hello. I use Full Screen Caller ID with Android 6.

    When I installed the app I gave all the permissions it asked, and it was suposed when I launch the app again, Android 6 wont ask again for the same permission again. But when I restart the phone or switch on again it’s what happen: need to launch it again and give again permission.

    Why?

    Reply

  9. Pinky says

    Hi, I have a CAT S60 which has android marshmallow OS. It has started denying all permissions for my app like Telegram and MyFLIR, and I can’t grant permission for it at all. What should I do?

    Reply

  10. itssb says

    Hello!! The allow button isn’t working for some apps but the deny button is working. I have to search in settings to grant the permission. Please help!

    Reply

  12. madhuri says

    i am having a worst case now, i followed all your instructions but in my moto g2 it is showing that screen over lay dectected and now i dont know how to change it, i tried all ways. Please help!!!!

    Reply

  13. Noble says

    I tried to grant permission for my Chrome to access storage it then shows screen overlay detected “To change this permission setting you first have to turn off screen overlay from settings>apps” I then click “open settings” then takes me to draw over app but I can’t find chrome in the list

    Reply

  14. Yusta says

    I have dual sim phone android 6.0 and i accidentally denied one sim cards permission to send a text and i dont know how to resolve this problem, please help me.

    Reply

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