App Camera Permission Always On? Fix It
Most apps only need the camera while you are taking a photo, scanning a code, or on a video call. A camera permission left wide open, or granted to an app with no camera feature, should be tightened to While Using Only or Never.
TL;DR / Quick Fix
Quick fix: open camera permission for the app and change it to While Using Only, or to Never if it never needs the camera. Watch the camera indicator after a day, and remove any app that still accesses the camera unexpectedly.
Follow these steps
- Open camera permission for the app. In device settings, open privacy, then camera, and find the app. Check whether it can use the camera always, while using, or not at all.
- Change it to While Using Only. Choose While Using Only for photo, scanning, or video-call apps. They can use the camera while open, but cannot access it in the background.
- Set Never for apps without a camera feature. Choose Never for apps that never take photos or video, such as a calculator or news app. A camera request from such an app is a warning sign.
- Watch the camera indicator. Learn what your phone camera indicator looks like, and note which app is named when it appears. An indicator with no camera app open deserves an immediate permission check.
- Remove apps that abuse the permission. If an app uses the camera at odd times, or after you set it to Never, remove the app and report it through the app store if that option is offered.
- Recheck after updates. Recheck camera permission after major updates. Updates can request the permission again, so a quick review keeps your setting intact.
What NOT to do
- Do not grant camera access to every app during setup. Grant it only when you first use a photo or video feature.
- Do not ignore a camera indicator that appears for no reason. Check permissions at once instead of assuming it is a glitch.
- Do not keep an app that opens the camera without a clear reason, even if its other features are useful.
- Do not rely on a camera cover alone for apps. A cover blocks the lens, but the permission setting is what stops access.
Frequently asked questions
Will photos still work on While Using Only?
Yes. Photo and video apps get the camera while open, which covers taking pictures and calls. Background access stops.
What if the app asks for Always?
Most phones offer While Using Only as the widest sensible choice for cameras. Choose that, and be wary of an app that insists on more.
Can an app use the camera when locked?
Only with background permission. While Using Only and Never both prevent that, which is why tightening the setting matters.