Google Will Release Android 11’s Privacy-Focussed Permissions Feature To Billions Of Older Android Devices

Last Updated on September 22, 2021 by Asif Iqbal Shaik

Google had introduced a new security feature called Auto-Reset Permissions with Android 11. The feature revokes permissions granted to an app if a user hasn’t actively used the app for a long time. However, this feature was missing from smartphones running older versions of Android. Well, Google now has revealed that it will begin rolling out this new privacy feature for smartphones and tablets running Android 6 Marshmallow (API level 23) and newer versions. This feature is similar to the one that Apple had introduced previously with iOS.

Auto-Reset Permission Feature Coming To Older Android Smartphones In December 2021

With the Auto-Reset Permissions feature, the operating system will restrict an app’s permission to access sensitive features like its storage or cameras if the app has not been opened for several days. The feature will indeed preserve the user’s privacy, considering that several app permissions will be reset by the operating system automatically. If you open the app again after a few days, you can manually give access to permission once again. As per Google, this feature will be automatically enabled on devices with Google Play Services running Android 6.0 (API level 23) or higher. However, users might need to give manual access to those apps that aren’t targeting Android 11.

Google plans to release this feature starting December 2021. The Auto-Reset Permissions feature will roll out in the form of the Google Play Services update to devices running Android 6 (or newer). The company says that this feature will be available to billions of Android devices released since 2015. Android 11 had introduced various privacy-related features, including one-time permission whenever an app requests permission for the camera, location, or microphone.