this post was submitted on 14 Jun 2026
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Android wants nearly all the permissions for camera use (thelemmy.club)
submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by la93@thelemmy.club to c/android@lemmy.world
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Wondering what people are thinking about this and why the internet is so quiet about it. I am not happy. Today it decided I couldn't use the camera without giving it extensive permissions and agreeing to it. Not cool. Update: Open Camera worked and I hope Google doesn't block this and other apps in September as they are threatening. Almost slipped into agenda posting. You all have the internet too.

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[–] SGG@lemmy.world 28 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I looked at the permissions the camera app has on my phone. While yes it has a few they don't seem unreasonable to me.

Camera, microphone, photos and video are the absolute bare minimum to be able to capture pictures and video and be able to save them locally.

Notifications while not critical makes sense so it can show a recording notification.

Location once again seems common sense to me because lots of people want their photos geotagged. I believe this is also why nearby devices is required.

I was able to disable location and nearby devices and the app still works, which I think is acceptable.

I'd be curious to see what permissions your camera app has/had/requested to see if it was after more suspicious access.

[–] SqueakyBeaver@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 days ago

I believe the nearby devices permission could also be for stuff like remote microphones and those remotes that take the picture when you press a button

[–] snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world 22 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (3 children)

I use Open Camera. I disabled native camera. Pixel 9pro

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago

^ This, 1000%

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 5 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Thanks, I'll try Open Camera. Crossing fingers.

[–] hexagonwin@lemmy.today 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

btw be sure to enable camera2 api in opencamera settings (unless ur phone is decade+ old)

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 1 points 1 day ago

Mine didn't have this setting, but disabling the native app seemed to make it work.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

You won't be disappointed, no need to geotag every fucking image...

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The thing is I don't want geotag. I don't want any metadata on my pics.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

Exactly. Open Camera doesn't need any more permissions than storage and camera, no location services necessary nor required.

[–] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago (2 children)

I always feel like there is some secret sauce in the google camera app that makes the images look so much better ... So i went back

[–] snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

Sometimes you have to uninstall open camera and then reinstall it. It will recalibrate and start being sharp again. Its free and you can have the light on as you like which is great for macros.

[–] brachypelmide@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago

proprietary camera apps almost always come with proprietary post process algorithms that open source apps dont have access to, hence the better photo quality

photoncamera on fdroid has its own post process algorithms that are quite decent but the app itself is a bit janky and seems abandoned

[–] Carighan@piefed.world 8 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

WDYM?

My camera app (Fairphone) asked me for:

  • Location. Makes sense, I set it to record where each picture was taken, can hardly do that if it doesn't know the location.
  • Microphone. Yeah, I wanna record sound in my videos.
  • Camera. Duh.
  • Files permission. I like my pictures and videos to be actually saved, so this makes sense.

What permissions in addition to these pretty obvious ones does yours want?

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 9 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Just a FOSS cam app so you know permissions are limited or eliminated.

https://f-droid.org/packages/com.iakmds.librecamera

[–] Carighan@piefed.world 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

I mean this one - hopefully - still wants Location, Camera, Microphone and Files, right? Otherwise it'd be pretty limited as a camera. Granted I suspect it only wants Location if I turn on EXIF location as per its description, but the other three would be the bare minimum to work I imagine.

(edit)
Just checked it out, and yeah as expected it of course needs Camera, Microphone and Files. It doesn't seem to ask for Location even if EXIF is enabled, which maps as it seems to be unable to even record location-of-picture even if desired.

So same permissions as both my Google Cam port and the pre-installed Fairphone camera app, yeah.

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 2 points 5 days ago

Yeah that's going to be the minimum I suspect. Camera for pictures, mic for video, storage for saving those captures and recordings. The actual Google camera app I think requested contacts, read contents in storage, a whole lot of stuff not needed.

[–] wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago

What phone are you using? There are thousands of camera apps. If it's the stock camera for your system, just uninstall/disable it and try another.

Sounds shady but without knowing more details, it's just speculation.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 8 points 5 days ago (3 children)

Time for a GrapheneOS phone. The camera app is not the default Google Camera App.

[–] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 5 days ago (2 children)

What?

This isn't iOS. You don't need to change the whole operating system to use a different camera app. Just install Open Camera and disable the built-in app.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 5 points 5 days ago

Sandboxed apps on GraphenesOS so if you do decide to use the Google Camera app to access the more advance features then you can still do it without giving google everything.

I.e. motoG had an erase motion AI function, as well as other AR tools but only if you used the Google Camera app, other camera apps wouldn't leverage it

[–] superglue@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 5 days ago

I think they are getting at is you can still use the Google camera app on Graphene with Network Permissions denied. Open Camera is a great app but I found the pictures came out way worse. I hate Google as much as the next guy here but their camera app is superior.

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 3 points 5 days ago (3 children)

I could barely afford my bargain basement phone. No pixel or graphene for me, but I'm glad people are able to make better choices. I'm sure it helps the situation for everyone.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I pay far less for my used Pixels than a new phone - I refuse to buy new when a 2 year old phone is $150

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Nice! I couldn't exactly plan ahead. One day I had a phone, the next I had a completely dead phone and no way to get into critical accounts. Some days.

[–] DataCrime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Totally forgot about this until now… (thanks) but I remember having to tape a tiny wire to the charging pad on one of my first android phones and then squeezing the (dead) battery pack in on top, because the cursed thing would not initiate charging unless it could read the eprom in the battery pack.

Google and some other authentication providers use to let you generate offline authentication codes. I’m not sure if this is still a thing, but it definitely saved my ass a few times.

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I don't have charging pad. I suspect the phone death was manufactured obsolescence. About 24 hours after google sent a message, the phone stopped charging. I think you mean backup codes. I used them.

[–] DataCrime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 days ago

They’re almost famous for it… although in the case of a phone, something most of us; hold while charging, sleep next to (or with), etc. an abundance of caution is probably warranted.

[–] lemmysmash@piefed.social 2 points 5 days ago

Even if you can't have a GrapheneOS-powered phone, you still can have GrapheneOS camera: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.grapheneos.camera.play

It isn't as feature-rich as OpenCamera or even native camera, but it does the job and it doesn't spy on you.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 1 points 5 days ago

What's a Pixel go for where you are? And what Phone do you currently have?

[–] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 days ago

What?

This isn't iOS. You don't need to change the whole operating system to use a different camera app. Just install Open Camera and disable the built-in app.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

Get a mirrorless camera! One small enough to carry around.

They can transfer photos to your phone wirelessly, these days.

…Or, as a lesser extreme, a third party camera app.

[–] Visstix@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

Even easier is a usb-c card reader so you can plug it in your phone directly. I find the camera connecting apps a bit finicky. (Also "these days" made me chuckle since it's been a thing for like 14 years now)

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Good to know, thanks!

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Scouring the camera market has been my intense interest for the past few months, so if you actually looking for one, I might be able to point in a direction.

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Like a real camera, not inside the phone? Or app? I suspect the phone is not allowing me to change the default camera. What do you suggest?

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

For stills, I am a bad source for Android camera app advice because I’m on iOS. But for video, I can tell you the Blackmagic app is incredible.

As for a dedicated camera, not gonna lie, they aren’t cheap. You probably want something used or older, depending on your shooting priorities. Stills or video? Indoor, or outdoor? Fast, or slow subjects? Do you want a lot of zoom, or do you tend to shoot close up? And how much would you spend for a camera you keep for many years?

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I hardly ever take video. I take stills, just point and click, nothing fancy, when I want or need. I need a camera app for banking, id, authentication. Also, share photos on Signal and email. Just curious what you would recommend, but I am not buying a real camera anytime soon.

[–] sbeak@sopuli.xyz 1 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Just curious what you would recommend, but I am not buying a real camera anytime soon

In a nutshell, there are five major camera brands: Sony, Canon, Fujifilm, Panasonic, and Nikon. You also have some smaller brands like Pentax, OM System, Sigma, etc., but those five are the ones most people recommend.

I have the most experience with Sony cameras. They tend to have the best AF with reasonable colours, and the E-mount is HUGE with lots of third-party options. The same mount is used for both their full frame and APS-C lineup, so you can use an APS-C lens on a full frame camera, and vice versa. Sony's naming conventions are pretty confusing, but I can try to summarise it for you:

  • A6x00 series: APS-C hybrid cameras
    • A6400 is the cheapest currently sold model
    • A6700 is the nicer option that is very good value for what you get: IBIS, 4K 120 fps recording, beefier grip, more modern UI compared to older Sony cameras, etc.
    • A6000, A6100, and A6300 can be found used and are still pretty good
    • A6500 is the older IBIS model, if you need that it's a solid option
  • A7 series: full frame lineup
    • base models (e.g. A7 III, A7 IV) are good hybrid cameras
    • resolution R series (e.g. A7R V) are heavily photo-centric with very high resolution sensors, so photos is ridiculously high fidelity
    • sensitivity S series (e.g. A7S III) are video-centric with lower resolution sensors and higher dynamic range
    • compact C series (e.g. A7C II, A7CR) use the same internals as the base models, but in a smaller body (and price tag). You don't get a second SD card slot though, which might be a deal breaker
  • FX lineup: Cinema cameras, probably not for most people BUT!
    • FX30: Very similar to the A7S III but with an APS-C sensor, an internal fan (like the FX3), and a lower MSRP. No EVF, but if you mainly shoot video, it's a very good deal!
  • ZV lineup: Stands for "Gen Z Vlog", cheaper plastic body cameras at a lower price tag, video-centric with no EVF
    • ZV-1, ZV-1 II, ZV-1F: 1" sensor point and shoots, the three mainly differ based on their lens and zoom ranges (or lack thereof in the ZV-1F, the F stands for fixed)
    • ZV-E10: APS-C camera, guts of an A6400 with a plastic body and no EVF, has a few additional video features. This is the one I mainly use!
    • ZV-1: Full frame camera, guts of an A7S III with a plastic body and no EVF, an incredible deal for what you get!
  • RX series: Premium point and shoot cameras, avoid these as they aren't very good deals
[–] la93@thelemmy.club 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Thanks, saved this in case I decide to get one.

[–] sbeak@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 day ago

Note that if you do decide to get one, make sure to look at models from other brands, like Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, and Panasonic!

For Canon, it looks like their "R" lineup is higher end with smaller numbers, e.g. R5 series is more expensive than R6 series. They have a mix of APS-C (like the R10 series) and full frame (like the R5 series). Their lens ecosystem is quite restricted, so you're mostly stuck with first-party glass.

As for Fujifilm, they sell APS-C cameras (+ medium format, but most people shouldn't be looking at those), and they lean into the mimicking analogue / film photography with lots of dials, film simulations, etc. If you're into that, Fuji is great! The X-Tx series are their "flagship" APS-C cameras, while the X-Txx are cheaper models that have fewer features. The X-Mx series are their smaller bodies, while the X-Sxx series are more video-centric. The X100 series is very popular, but it's pretty expensive and has a fixed non-interchangeable lens. If you do want something compact, I would go for either the X-Mx series or another brand's compact camera lineup. Fujfilm's X-mount has a similarly vast lens ecosystem to Sony.

Nikon sells both full-frame and APS-C cameras, and their Z-mount lens ecosystem, although not as large as Sony or Fuji, is still quite open with many third-party options available. Their Zx line is their full-frame options, where bigger numbers are higher end. So the Z9 is more expensive than the Z8, for instance. Their Zxx series are their APS-C bodies, I heard the Z30s are very good value for what you get. You also have their Zf and Zfc, which look more "retro" and have a similar design to the Fuji bodies with metal accents, they aren't the best value on features alone, but if you like that design and want to use Nikon lenses, it's a pretty neat option.

For Panasonic, you have the G lineup of M43 cameras (smaller than APS-C, larger than 1"), which are relatively compact for the most part, as well as their full-frame S lineup. For the latter, the S1 series are their "flagship" full-frame body with all the bells and whistles (+ the price tag that comes with it), while the S9 is a very compact full-frame body that is pretty divisive on the Internet. Their S5 series are their more standard full-frame option, and are quite good value for what you get. Their G series has a bazillion different models with a very difficult to remember naming scheme, not to mention how they can differ between region. A lot of the discontinued models are still very popular on the used market, like the GM1, GM5, GX800/GX850/GF9, GX80/GX85, etc. since they are compact models that Panasonic doesn't really produce anymore. All of Panasonic's lineup use the same L-mount, which is a shared mount between Panasonic, Leica, Olympus/OM-System, and many other companies. The lens ecosystem is second only to Sony's, and many of the M43 lenses are incredibly compact!

[–] sbeak@sopuli.xyz 1 points 4 days ago

I don't have as much experience with the other brands, but from what I can tell

Canon has pretty competitive AF too, and many say their colours are better than those of Sony. Their bodies seem to be a bit more photo-centric, but they will do great with video too. Their lens ecosystem is not as diverse, nearly all lenses for modern Canon cameras will be first-party, as Canon doesn't support third-party lens manufacturers all too much.

Fujifilm only produced APS-C and medium format cameras, the latter being out of reach and impractical for most people, so you only really look at their APS-C lineup. They lean more into the analogue aesthetic with more dials, metal accents, that kind of stuff. Many people also like the built-in film simulations that mimick the look of old film cameras. All their cameras are very photo-centric in design and feel. They have a large lens ecosystem too with X-mount, and there are lots of third-party lenses available, just like with Sony.

Panasonic mainly focus on their M43 lineup (smaller sensors than APS-C, but larger than 1"), their "G" series, but they also have a full frame "S" series. Their cameras are more video-centric with best in class stabilisation, open gate recording (using the whole sensor for recording video), custom LUT support, etc. Their AF is not as good as the likes of Sony or Canon though, but it's not at all bad for their modern cameras it looks like. If you want something compact, many of the older M43 cameras by Panasonic are excellent. Note that many of their cameras have different names in different regions, especially for their older models.

Nikon cameras have very good AF, and although their Z-mount lens ecosystem is not as big as Sony or Fujifilm, there are many third-party lenses available. Nikon is known for having excellent wildlife lenses too.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 5 points 5 days ago

What camera app are you using?

[–] unknown@piefed.social 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Unless I'm actively taking a picture I have all the camera permissions disabled and the lenses covered with foil stickers.

On my last phone I straight up deleted the camera app (still covered the lenses with stickers tho) and would download one whenever I had to take photos and delete it again after.

I can't remember why I stopped doing that actually, maybe the camera app I liked that had none of that tracking shit, got removed or something, idk.

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 2 points 1 day ago

I would do the same if the app was really bothersome. Never heard of foil stickers, but I definitely use stickers on all lenses.

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I use a third party app, but didn't the UK recently pass something that effects the images people take/have o their phones? It's supposed to protect children.

[–] la93@thelemmy.club 1 points 1 day ago

Seems a global trend and it does not protect children or anyone.

[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

I remember being annoyed that the standard camera app required microphone permission and that caused me some hassle once. It obviously needs file permissions in order to save pictures. But, I don't remember it requiring network permissions or anything else especially alarming.

It shouldn't need microphone permission for taking still photos, or for shooting videos without sound. I joke that Charlie Chaplin was able to make silent movies 100 years ago, but the technology for doing that now seems to have been lost.

What other permissions does it want? What Android version? When I encountered this, it was on my old phone that ran Android 6 at the time (later Android 7).

[–] deadcream@sopuli.xyz 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Android doesn't have network permission. Any app can access the internet (otherwise ads wouldn't work).

Well, technically it does. But it's granted automatically and user can't even revoke it without using custom ROM.

[–] la93@thelemmy.club -1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Charlie Chaplin 😊 I listed all the permissions in another response.