Surely this has happened to you too: You're talking with friends about a specific product or a problem you're having and then you find an ad related to that problem.. In fact, what is most strange is that until you verbalize your problem, you do not find that advertisement that solves it. And look, the data that these apps have about us is not scarce. Which leads us to think that the mobile phone may be using the microphone when we open specific applications. More than enough reason to disable the microphone on Android.
So, if you think this might be happening to you, don't worry because we're going to see how Review all the permissions that our apps have And, furthermore, I tell you How to disable the microphone on Android to prevent these apps from listening to you.
Many apps ask for microphone permission
It is normal that the applications on our mobile phone ask us for permission when installing them to use the microphone from the mobile and have it active while using the app. Applications such as social networks (Instagram, TikTok), voice assistants (Google Assistant, Alexa), messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram) or even some multiplayer video games (Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Fortnite Battleroyale) may be using the microphone to many different functionalities, sending audio messages, talking to the assistant or having the chat activated during the games.
If we are using Zoom to make video calls, it is normal to activate the microphone. But on other occasions, We don't know why an app has certain permissions. Although you actually do know this, but you don't remember. The day you installed that app, you probably quickly or unconcernedly accepted that app's access to your microphone.
But of course, We are not slaves to our apps either, we have the last word on it. And no, I'm not talking about uninstalling it. We can protect our privacy from the mobile settings, disabling microphone access for as many apps as we want.
Of course, you must keep in mind that if you disable this permission, Many apps will be limited in functionality or even stop working altogether.. In the first case, as an example you can have WhatsApp, which if you remove the permission to use the microphone it will not let you make calls or send audios. And in the second case, apps like Shazam They will be rendered useless as the use of the microphone is part of their main functionality.
Although, equally, It's good to check which apps have permission to use the microphone. so you can protect your privacy at all times. If you want to do this, I'll tell you.
How to see which apps have permission to use the microphone on Android
I would like to start by being direct and tell you that The most effective way to prevent your cell phone from listening to you is by using a physical microphone blocker., basically we cover it. This way he won't be able to hear anything that is said and the moment we want to use it or receive a call, we remove the blocker and that's it. I say blocker but it could be a piece of tape or a plug.
But since what we want is also act like detectives and find out which apps are using the microphone without our permission. So let's see How to disable microphone permission for apps that we have on our Android mobile. Follow these instructions.
- Open the «Settings» on your mobile.
- Slide the menu until you find the section "Applications".
- Now tap on "Permissions".
- Tap on “Permissions” again and you will open the «Permission Manager».
- In the list of permissions, tap on "Microphone".
- A List of all applications that have access to the microphone, and another list with those who have been denied permission.
- Check each application and decide if you want to change microphone access.
- To change permission settings, tap on each app you want to change and Choose between “Always allow”, “Allow only while using the app” or “Don’t allow”.
As you can see, it is very easy to access these settings and activate or deactivate microphone permissions for the apps you have on Android. Of course, depending on the number of apps you have, the process will be long or short. I recommend that you check this setting often because when you update the apps you have, In some cases these permissions have been automatically adjustedIt is not at all common, but it can happen.
In addition, there have already been applications that have taken advantage of the fact that users do not check their permissions to steal information through the microphone itself. So, with more reasons, Check this setting now and share this article with your loved ones, it will be good for you to know how to protect your privacy on Android.