How do I stop apps from using my microphone on Android?

In recent years, there has been increasing concern over app permissions and privacy. Many apps request access to device sensors like the microphone when installed, but may use this access in unexpected or unwanted ways. For Android users, this can lead to apps listening in at unexpected times without the user’s knowledge or consent.

Allowing microphone access permissions does not necessarily mean an app will actively record you. But many users understandably prefer to disable microphone access completely for most apps. This prevents any possibility of apps turning on the microphone in the background to eavesdrop or collect audio data.

Fortunately Android provides options to fully block microphone access for specific apps. There are also ways to check which apps currently have microphone permissions enabled. This gives users control over their privacy and security.

Check App Permissions

You can check which apps have access to your microphone on your Android device by going to the permissions settings. Here are the steps:

Open the Settings app on your device and tap on “Apps & notifications”. Look for the “Advanced” section and choose “App permissions”. This will show you a list of permission types that apps can request.

Tap on the “Microphone” permission. You will now see a list of apps that have requested and been granted permission to access your microphone. Apps that you have denied microphone access will also be listed here.

To see more details, tap on the app. You will be able to see options for allowing or denying the microphone permission. You may also see an option to “Only allow while using the app” which restricts microphone access.

Checking these app permission settings is the first step to controlling microphone access on your Android device. If you want to fully disable access for an app, you can revoke the permission here. For more universal control, you can disable permissions entirely which we’ll cover next.

Disable Microphone Access

You can disable access to the microphone for specific apps that you don’t want listening in. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Tap Apps & notifications.
3. Select the app you want to disable microphone access for.
4. Tap Permissions.
5. Toggle the Microphone permission off.

This will revoke microphone access for that particular app. The app will no longer be able to record audio or access the microphone without asking for permission again. You can repeat these steps for any apps you don’t want having microphone access.

Disabling microphone access for select apps gives you more control over your privacy. Only grant microphone permissions to apps that need it and that you trust.

Disable App Permissions Entirely

You can disable all app permissions at once in a few easy steps. This prevents any app on your device from accessing sensitive permissions like microphone, camera, location, etc.

To disable all app permissions:

1. Open the Settings app and go to Apps & Notifications.

2. Tap Advanced then App Permissions.

3. Toggle off all permissions like Microphone, Camera, Location, etc. This revokes access for all apps.

With all app permissions disabled, no apps will be able to access permissions protected parts of your phone like the microphone. This gives you full control over your privacy. However, it may cause certain apps to no longer function properly if they require permissions to work. You can re-enable permissions for specific apps if needed.

For more details, see this guide: https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-change-app-permissions-on-android

Toggle Microphone Permission

One way to quickly disable microphone access for all apps is to toggle the microphone permission off completely in your device settings. This prevents any app from accessing the microphone unless you manually re-enable it.

To toggle off microphone access on Android:¹

1. Open your Android device’s Settings app.
2. Tap “Apps & notifications”.
3. Select “Advanced” and then “App permissions”.
4. Find “Microphone” in the list and toggle the switch off.

This will disable the microphone permission system-wide. No apps will be able to access your microphone until you manually re-enable it. You can always toggle it back on if you want to restore microphone access for certain apps.

Toggling the microphone permission is a quick way to completely block microphone access across all apps on your Android device. Just be aware that you will have to manually re-enable it for any apps that require microphone access.

Clear App Cache and Data

Clearing an app’s cache and data can reset its permissions back to the default settings. When you clear data, it deletes all data stored by that app, including any permissions it may have enabled itself to access. According to Android Authority, clearing app data will reset permissions and you will be prompted to re-enable access next time you open the app.

To clear an app’s cache and data on Android:

1. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps
2. Select the app you want to clear data for
3. Tap Storage & cache > Clear storage > Clear all data

This will delete the app’s data and cache, resetting any custom permissions it enabled itself to use. When you next open the app, you will be asked to re-grant access to features like the microphone if desired.

Factory Reset

One way to reset all app permissions is to do a factory reset on your Android device. A factory reset will clear all app permissions that you have granted by erasing all data and resetting the device to its default factory settings.

According to Google Support, performing a factory reset requires unlocking your screen or entering your Google Account password first. This ensures that you or someone you trust is doing the reset.

Once the factory reset is complete, your device will be in the same state as when you first purchased it. You will have to set up the device from scratch, including re-downloading apps and re-configuring settings. The benefit is that all app permissions will be wiped clean.

A factory reset is useful when you want to sell your device, give it to someone else, or start fresh. However, it’s an extreme measure to reset app permissions. You will lose all your data in the process. Consider alternative options first before resorting to a factory reset.

Use App Permission Manager

A simple way to control which apps have access to your microphone is to use a third-party app permission manager. These types of apps provide granular control over app permissions and can selectively revoke access to the microphone. Some popular Android permission manager apps include:

Permission Manager (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.agooday.permission&hl=en_US&gl=US): This comprehensive manager allows you to view and control permissions for all apps installed on your device. You can toggle the microphone permission on or off for any app.

App Permission Manager (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shexa.permissionmanager&hl=en_US&gl=US): Provides granular control over app permissions. You can easily disable microphone access for specific apps. Helps identify risky permissions.

Installing one of these permission manager apps makes it simple to stop any app from accessing your microphone. Just open the app, locate the problematic app, and toggle off microphone access.

Adjust Microphone Settings

You can adjust the microphone settings at the Android operating system level to control app access. In your Android device’s Settings app, go to Apps & notifications > App permissions > Microphone. Here you will see a list of apps that have requested microphone permission. Tap on an app to toggle its microphone access on or off.

You can also adjust the microphone sensitivity level in Sounds and vibration settings. Go to Advanced > Microphone sensitivity and drag the slider left or right to lower or raise the sensitivity level. Setting the microphone to a lower sensitivity can prevent background noise from triggering the microphone unintentionally.

Additionally, Samsung devices have microphone settings within their Sound settings menu. Go to Sounds and vibration > Sound quality and effects > Advanced settings. Here you can toggle options like Adapt sound and Separate app sound to customize how the microphone picks up audio.

For more details, refer to Google’s official Android help article: Check if your Android camera or microphone is on or off

Conclusion

Controlling microphone access on your Android device is an important way to protect your privacy. In summary, you have several options to stop apps from accessing your microphone:

• Check app permissions and disable microphone access for specific apps
• Completely disable app permissions in Settings
• Toggle the microphone permission on/off when needed
• Clear app cache and data to reset permissions
• Do a factory reset as a last resort
• Use a third-party app permission manager

Adjusting the microphone settings can also help by disabling voice activation features. Remember to be selective in granting microphone access instead of disabling it completely. Legitimate apps and voice assistants may need microphone access to function properly.

With these tips, you can control which apps use your microphone and stop unwanted audio recording on your Android device.