The camera app says it can't access your camera. WhatsApp can't see your contacts. The map sits there, location-less, insisting you've denied it something you never denied. App permission problems on Android are rarely about what you tapped — they're about permissions getting silently revoked, restricted by the system, or blocked by a security feature you never heard of. Six fixes below, starting with the one that solves most cases in under a minute. Covers Android 10 through 14.
Quick Answer: Go to Settings → Apps → [the app] → Permissions and set each needed permission to Allow. If toggles are greyed out for a sideloaded app, tap the ⋮ menu → Allow restricted settings on the App info page first. Also check Settings → Apps → [app] → Permissions for any permission Android auto-revoked after months of non-use.
In This Guide:
- Why App Permissions Stop Working
- Fix 1: Grant the Permission Manually
- Fix 2: Allow Restricted Settings (Sideloaded Apps)
- Fix 3: Remove and Re-grant Permissions
- Fix 4: Check Paused / Auto-Revoked Permissions
- Fix 5: Check Battery and Background Restrictions
- Fix 6: Reinstall the App
- What If Nothing Works?
- FAQs
Why App Permissions Stop Working
Permissions don't usually break on their own — something changes them. The common triggers:
- Auto-revoke — Android automatically strips permissions from apps you haven't opened in a few months. You open it one day and nothing works.
- Restricted settings (Android 13+) — sideloaded apps get their sensitive permissions (Accessibility, Notification access, etc.) locked down until you explicitly allow "restricted settings".
- Permission downgraded — an update can reset "Allow all the time" location back to "Ask every time".
- Battery optimization side-effects — aggressive power saving can make it look like a permission failed (background location stops updating, for instance).
- Dual apps / work profiles — the clone has its own separate permissions. Granting them on the original changes nothing for the copy.
Fix 1: Grant the Permission Manually
Skip the in-app prompts — they can glitch. Go straight to the system screen where the real switches live:
- Open Settings → Apps and tap the misbehaving app.
- Tap Permissions — you'll see every permission grouped as Allowed / Not allowed.
- Tap each one the app needs and set it to Allow (or Allow only while using the app for location).
- For location-heavy apps (maps, ride-hailing), consider Allow all the time if the app genuinely needs background location.
Samsung: the same screen lives at Settings → Apps → [app] → Permissions. Location options include "Allow all the time" and "Allow only while using the app".
Xiaomi: Settings → Apps → Manage apps → [app] → App permissions — same allow/deny controls, plus Autostart on the App info page for background-dependent apps.
Fix 2: Allow Restricted Settings (Sideloaded Apps)
On Android 13 and newer, apps installed outside the Play Store get a special lock: sensitive permissions appear greyed out and can't be toggled at all. The fix is one hidden switch:
- Settings → Apps → tap the sideloaded app to open App info.
- Tap the ⋮ three-dot menu (top-right) → Allow restricted settings.
- Confirm the dialog. The greyed-out toggles unlock immediately.
- Now go to Permissions and grant what you need.
This trips up a lot of people because nothing explains why the toggles are grey — Android just silently locks them for sideloaded apps as a malware defense.
Fix 3: Remove and Re-grant Permissions
Sometimes the permission record itself is corrupted — the toggle says "Allow" but the system disagrees. A clean slate fixes it:
- Settings → Apps → [app] → Permissions.
- Set every permission to Don't allow / Deny.
- Force-stop the app: back on App info, tap Force stop.
- Reopen the app and grant each permission fresh when it asks.
Fix 4: Check Paused / Auto-Revoked Permissions
Haven't opened the app in months? Android probably took its permissions away while you weren't looking:
- Settings → Apps → [app] → Permissions — look for permissions sitting under "Not allowed" that used to work.
- Re-allow them.
- To stop it happening again: on the same App info page, toggle OFF "Remove permissions if app is unused" (wording varies: "Pause app activity if unused").
Pixel: this toggle is right on the App info page under "Pause app activity if unused".
Samsung: Settings → Apps → [app] → turn off "Remove permissions if app is unused".
Fix 5: Check Battery and Background Restrictions
A permission can be "allowed" and still fail if the app isn't permitted to run when it needs to — classic with location, alarms, and notification listeners:
- Settings → Apps → [app] → Battery → set to Unrestricted.
- Settings → Apps → [app] → Mobile data → Allow background data ON.
- Xiaomi: also enable Autostart on the App info page for apps that must run in the background.
Fix 6: Reinstall the App
When the permission database entry itself is damaged, nothing short of a fresh install clears it:
- Back up anything important (chat backups, saved files).
- Uninstall the app completely.
- Reinstall from the Play Store (preferred) or your trusted APK source.
- Grant permissions carefully on first launch — don't blanket-deny, then wonder why things break.
What If Nothing Works?
- Device admin / work profile: a work-profile admin or parental-control app can override your permission choices. Check Settings → Security → Device admin apps.
- Corrupted system: if no app can hold permissions, the system's permission database may be damaged — a network-settings reset won't help here; you're looking at a factory reset (back up first).
- App bug: check the Play Store reviews for the app — if hundreds of people report the same permission failure on the latest version, wait for the developer's fix.
Watch: App Permission Problems Fixed Step by Step
Prefer a walkthrough? This video covers fixing app permissions not working on Android step by step:
Video by Mac & iOS Tech — full credit to the creator.
Related Guides:
FAQs
Why are permission toggles greyed out on Android?
For sideloaded apps on Android 13+, it's the restricted settings lock — allow it via App info → ⋮ → Allow restricted settings. Otherwise, a device admin or work profile may be overriding your choices.
Why do apps lose permissions after a few months?
Android's auto-revoke strips permissions from unused apps. Disable "Remove permissions if app is unused" on the App info page for apps you want to keep ready.
Is 'Allow all the time' location safe?
Grant it only to apps that genuinely need background location (maps, family locators). For most apps, "Allow only while using the app" is the right balance.
By Sameer Zehri | App Fix Guru Editor | Last updated: October 2026
