Can apps secretly listen through my phone's microphone?
Not without permission. An app has to ask before it can use the microphone, and on Android 12 and later, and on iPhone, an icon appears in the status bar whenever an app is using the mic or camera. You can check which app it was and take the permission away.
Microphone access is a runtime permission: the app must ask you while it's running, and you can say no. You can change your answer any time in Settings.
Android 12 also added quick switches that cut off the microphone and camera for every app at once, and a Privacy dashboard that shows a timeline of which apps used your location, camera and microphone.
- Watch for the mic or camera indicator when you aren't using a voice or camera feature
- Open the Privacy dashboard (Settings, Security and privacy on many Android phones) to see which app used the mic
- Remove microphone permission from any app that doesn't obviously need it
How secure is your phone overall? Take the 2-minute checkup →
Location, Photos & the Picker
From the Permissions in Depth course. Share less with approximate location, the photo picker and privacy indicators.
Try it on the simulated phone Read the full lesson
The reading is free. The hands-on lab is part of Pro.