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What to do if…
an app has camera, microphone, or location permissions you do not remember approving

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Unless you think someone may be monitoring you as part of abuse or harassment, revoke the app’s Camera, Microphone, and Location permissions and stop using the app while you check recent access. If abuse, harassment, or stalkerware is a concern, use a different trusted device to seek support before changing settings on the phone.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t grant additional permissions to test what happens.
  • Don’t click security-alert links inside the app or in texts or emails about the app. Use your phone’s settings instead.
  • Don’t factory reset the phone in a panic. Think about personal safety, account access, and anything important you may need to preserve first.
  • Don’t confront another person about suspected monitoring from the phone if doing so may put you at risk.

What to do now

  1. Make a quick record of what you noticed.
    Take a screenshot of the app’s permissions page and note when you noticed the change.

  2. If you do not suspect abuse or harassment, revoke the unexpected permissions.

    • iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security. Open Camera and Microphone to switch the app off. For location, open Location Services and set the app to Never if that option is available.
    • Android: Go to Settings → Security & privacy → Privacy → Permission manager. On some phones, the wording may be slightly different. Open Camera, Microphone, and Location, then set the app to Don’t allow.

  3. Stop using the app for now.
    If the app is not essential and you do not suspect monitoring linked to abuse or harassment, uninstall it. If it will not uninstall or its permissions keep returning, pause and seek device-manufacturer or specialist technical support.

  4. Check whether the app accessed the camera, microphone, or location recently.

    • iPhone: A green indicator appears when an app uses the camera. An orange indicator appears when an app uses the microphone without the camera. Control Center can show that an app recently used the camera or microphone.
    • iPhone with iOS 15.2 or later: In Settings → Privacy & Security → App Privacy Report, turn on App Privacy Report if it is off. It begins gathering information only after you turn it on.
    • Android: Open Settings → Security and Privacy or Privacy → Privacy dashboard. Availability and the amount of history shown vary by Android version.

  5. Run the phone’s built-in checks and install pending operating-system updates.

    • Android: Open Google Play Store → profile icon → Play Protect. Check that Play Protect scanning is on and run a scan if the option is shown.
    • iPhone and Android: Install pending operating-system updates through the phone’s settings.

  6. Review the app itself.
    Check whether you recognize the app, whether you still need it, and whether the app’s requested permissions make sense for what it does. Do not reopen it just to test the permissions.

  7. If abuse, harassment, or stalkerware may be involved, put safety first.
    Changes to a monitored phone can alert the person monitoring it. Use a different trusted device, such as a friend’s phone or a library computer, to research support or contact a domestic-violence advocate if that is relevant to your situation.

  8. Secure accounts that may be exposed.
    From a trusted device where practical, change passwords for accounts linked to the app or otherwise at risk. Turn on multi-factor authentication where available.

  9. Report a scam or cyber-enabled crime if needed.
    Report scams or fraud to the FTC through ReportFraud. Report cyber-enabled crime to the FBI’s IC3. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or local police.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether to replace the phone.
  • You do not need to prove exactly how the permission changed before pausing access.
  • You do not need to contact the app developer while you are stabilizing the situation.
  • You do not need to reset the phone immediately.

Important reassurance

Unexpected camera, microphone, or location access is unsettling, but it does not by itself prove spying or hacking. Pausing access and checking what the phone records are useful first steps.

Scope note

These are first steps to reduce harm and buy time. Repeated permission changes, an app that cannot be removed, signs of account access, or suspected stalkerware may need specialist technical support or support from an advocate.

Important note

This guide is general information, not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, technical, or other professional advice. If you feel unsafe or threatened, prioritize personal safety and contact emergency services if needed.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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