How to Check Which Apps Have Access to Your Camera and Microphone
Your phone's camera and microphone can reveal some of the most private parts of your life.
Your camera can see what's around you, while your microphone can capture conversations and other sounds. That's why you shouldn't automatically allow every app that asks for access.
The good news is that both Android and iPhone give you tools to review and control which apps can use these sensors.
Here's how to perform a quick permission audit on your phone.
Why Should You Check Camera and Microphone Permissions?
Many apps legitimately need access to your camera or microphone.
For example:
WhatsApp needs microphone access for voice calls.
Instagram may need camera access to take photos and videos.
Zoom needs the microphone and camera for meetings.
TikTok needs camera and microphone access for recording videos.
But an app that has no obvious reason to use your camera or microphone may deserve a closer look.
A permission audit helps you identify apps that:
Have access you no longer want to give them
You don't remember authorising
You no longer use
Don't appear to need the permission
Were installed a long time ago and haven't been reviewed
How to Check Camera and Microphone Access on Android
The exact menu names can vary slightly between Samsung, Google Pixel, Tecno, Infinix, Xiaomi and other Android phones, but the general process is similar.
Method 1: Use Android's Privacy Dashboard
On supported Android versions:
Step 1: Open Settings
Open the Settings app.
Step 2: Go to Privacy
Depending on your phone, look for:
Security & Privacy → Privacy
or simply:
Privacy
Step 3: Open Privacy Dashboard
Tap Privacy dashboard.
Android's Privacy Dashboard shows which apps have accessed permissions and when that access occurred. On Android 13 and later, it can show activity from the previous seven days; on Android 12, it shows the previous 24 hours.
Step 4: Select Camera
Tap Camera.
You'll see apps that have accessed the camera.
Look through the list and ask:
Do I recognise every app here?
Does this app actually need my camera?
Was I expecting it to use the camera?
Step 5: Check Microphone
Go back and select Microphone.
Repeat the same audit.
If you see an unfamiliar app accessing your microphone, investigate it before leaving the permission enabled.
Another Way to Check Android Permissions
You can also check permissions directly from an individual app.
Go to:
Settings → Apps → See all apps → Select an app → Permissions
You'll see the permissions that you've allowed or denied for that application.
Select Camera or Microphone to change the permission.
Depending on your Android version and device, available choices can include:
Allow only while using the app
Ask every time
Don't allow
For camera and microphone access, choosing Don't allow prevents the app from using that permission.
Check Permissions by Category
If you don't want to check hundreds of apps individually, Android can also show apps grouped by permission.
On supported devices, go to:
Settings → Security & Privacy → Privacy → Permission manager
Then select:
Camera
or
Microphone
You'll see which apps have that permission and can change individual permissions from there.
This is one of the quickest ways to perform a complete camera-and-microphone audit.
Android Has a Quick Warning When Your Camera or Mic Is Being Used
Android 12 and later can show a green indicator in the top-right corner when an app is using the camera or microphone.
If you see the indicator:
Swipe down from the top of the screen.
Tap the indicator.
Android can show which app or service is using the camera or microphone.
Tap again to manage permissions.
This is useful if you suddenly notice the indicator when you aren't intentionally using your camera or microphone.
You Can Also Disable Camera or Microphone Access Entirely
Android also provides device-level controls on supported versions.
Go to:
Settings → Security & Privacy → Privacy → Privacy controls
You can turn off:
Camera access
or
Microphone access
This is different from removing permission from one app: you're disabling that sensor's access at the device level.
You can also find camera and microphone controls in Quick Settings on supported Android devices.
How to Check Camera and Microphone Access on iPhone
Apple makes this relatively straightforward.
Step 1: Open Settings
Open the Settings app.
Step 2: Tap Privacy & Security
Scroll down and tap:
Privacy & Security
Step 3: Check Camera
Tap:
Camera
You'll see the apps that have requested camera access.
Review the list carefully.
If an app doesn't need your camera, turn its access off.
Apple says you can review and change which apps have access to the camera and other hardware features from this section.
Step 4: Check Microphone
Go back to:
Settings → Privacy & Security
Then tap:
Microphone
You'll see the apps that have requested microphone access.
Turn off access for apps that don't need it.
For example, a calculator app generally doesn't need access to your microphone.
A video-calling app probably does.
The important thing is to judge each permission based on what the app actually does.
Pay Attention to the Green and Orange Indicators on iPhone
Your iPhone provides visual indicators when the camera or microphone is being used.
🟢 Green indicator
A green indicator appears when an app is using the camera.
This also applies when the camera and microphone are being used together.
🟠 Orange indicator
An orange indicator appears when an app is using the microphone without the camera.
So if you're simply browsing an app and suddenly notice an orange or green indicator, you can investigate which app is using the sensor.
Check Which Apps Recently Used Your Sensors on iPhone
There's another useful iPhone feature called App Privacy Report.
Go to:
Settings → Privacy & Security → App Privacy Report
Then turn on App Privacy Report.
The report can show how frequently apps have accessed sensitive information and device sensors, including the camera and microphone.
Apple says the report shows activity from the previous seven days, and information begins accumulating after you turn the feature on.
That means if you turn it on today, don't expect a complete historical report immediately.
Give it time to collect activity.
What Should You Do If You Find a Suspicious App?
Don't panic.
Finding an app with camera or microphone permission doesn't automatically mean the app is spying on you.
First ask:
1. Do I recognise the app?
If you don't recognise it, investigate it.
2. Does the app actually need the permission?
A video editor may reasonably need camera access.
A simple flashlight app probably doesn't need your microphone.
3. Do I still use the app?
If you haven't used an app for months, consider removing its permissions or uninstalling it.
4. Did I recently install it?
Think about when you gave it permission.
5. Is the app from a trustworthy source?
On Android, check its Google Play listing and Data safety section. Google says the Data Safety section provides information declared by developers about how an app collects, shares and handles data.
Don't Automatically Give Every App "Allow"
When an app asks:
“Allow this app to access your microphone?”
Don't just tap Allow because you want to get to the next screen.
Think about why the app needs it.
For example:
Video calling app
Camera: Yes
Microphone: Yes
Makes sense.
Photo editing app
Camera: Maybe
Microphone: Depends on its features.
Calculator
Camera: Usually unnecessary
Microphone: Usually unnecessary
The principle is simple:
Only give an app the permissions it actually needs.
Use "Ask Every Time" Where Available
On Android devices that provide the option, Ask every time can be useful for permissions you don't want an app to have continuously.
Instead of giving an app permanent access, Android asks you when the app wants to use the permission.
This can be particularly useful for apps you rarely need to use with your camera or microphone.
Don't Forget Apps You No Longer Use
Old apps are easy to forget.
You might have installed an app six months ago, given it camera or microphone access and never opened it again.
During your audit, consider:
If I don't use this app anymore, why does it still need permission?
On Android, you can also enable Pause app activity if unused for supported apps, which can automatically remove permissions from unused apps.
On either platform, uninstalling an app you no longer need is another simple way to reduce unnecessary exposure.
What About WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok?
Don't be afraid of legitimate permissions simply because an app has access to your camera or microphone.
For apps that record or transmit audio/video, these permissions can be necessary.
Instead, ask:
Does the app need this permission for the feature I'm using?
For example:
Camera and microphone access make sense for calls and recording media.
Camera access makes sense for creating photos and videos.
TikTok
Camera and microphone access make sense for recording videos.
But you can still remove access when you aren't using those features. You can grant it again when needed.
Your 5-Minute Permission Audit
You don't need to spend an entire day checking your phone.
Do this once every few months.
Android
Settings → Privacy → Privacy Dashboard
Check:
☑ Camera
☑ Microphone
Then review individual apps through:
Settings → Apps → [App] → Permissions
iPhone
Settings → Privacy & Security
Check:
☑ Camera
☑ Microphone
Then activate:
App Privacy Report
to monitor sensor access over time.
7 Red Flags to Watch For
Be more cautious if:
🚩 An unfamiliar app has camera access.
🚩 An unrelated app has microphone access.
🚩 An app keeps requesting permissions it doesn't appear to need.
🚩 You see camera/microphone activity when you aren't intentionally using a feature that needs it.
🚩 You installed an app from outside the official app store.
🚩 You haven't used an app in months but it still has sensitive permissions.
🚩 An app asks for several unrelated sensitive permissions without a clear explanation.
None of these automatically proves that an app is malicious, but they are good reasons to investigate.
Bottom Line
You don't have to delete every app that asks for camera or microphone access.
Instead, audit your permissions regularly.
On Android, use the Privacy Dashboard and Permission Manager to see which apps have accessed or can access your camera and microphone.
On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera/Microphone, and use App Privacy Report to see sensor access over time.
And remember:
An app doesn't need permanent access just because it needs temporary access.
Give permissions when they are necessary, remove them when they aren't, and investigate anything that doesn't make sense.