How to Check and Manage App Permissions on Xiaomi HyperOS
Apps often request more permissions than they need. Reviewing and restricting these is one of the most effective privacy steps you can take.
View All Permissions by App
- Settings → Apps → Manage apps.
- Tap any app → Permissions.
- You see every permission the app has requested and whether it's Allowed / Denied / Ask every time.
View All Apps Using a Specific Permission
To see every app that can access, say, your microphone:
1. Settings → Privacy → Permission manager.
2. Select a category:
- Location, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, Storage, Phone, Calendar, etc.
3. See the full list of apps with Allowed / Denied / Only while using.
Permission Options Explained
| Option | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Allow all the time | App can use this permission anytime, even in background |
| Allow only while using | Permission active only when app is open on screen |
| Ask every time | Prompts you each time the app needs the permission |
| Deny | Permission permanently blocked |
Recommended Permission Restrictions
| App Type | Location | Camera | Microphone | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maps / Navigation | Allow all the time | Deny | Deny | Optional |
| Camera app | Deny (doesn't need location unless geotagging) | Allow | Optional | Deny |
| Social media | Deny or ask | Ask every time | Ask every time | Deny |
| Music apps | Deny | Deny | Deny | Deny |
| Banking apps | Deny | Deny | Deny | Deny |
| Food delivery | Allow while using | Deny | Deny | Optional |
Check for Suspicious Permission Usage
HyperOS shows which permissions were recently accessed:
1. Settings → Privacy → Privacy dashboard.
2. View a 24-hour timeline of which apps accessed sensitive permissions (camera, mic, location).
3. If you see an app accessing your microphone that shouldn't — revoke immediately.
Quick Privacy Toggles (HyperOS 2)
Swipe down notification panel → look for:
- Microphone toggle — globally disable mic access for all apps.
- Camera toggle — globally disable camera access for all apps.
- Location toggle — disable location for all apps.
These are hardware-level controls on HyperOS 2 — even if an app has permission, these toggles block access at the system level.
Pro Tips
- Audit permissions after every app install — new apps often default to requesting all permissions.
- Social media apps (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) frequently request excessive permissions — restrict them to microphone and camera "Ask every time" at minimum.
- Review permissions every 3–6 months as apps update and request new permissions silently.
