Use Android Privacy Dashboard to investigate a sensor alert

A camera, microphone or location indicator can be alarming when you did not intentionally open an app. Android's Privacy Dashboard provides a recent access history, helping you separate an expected background feature from an unexpected permission use.

Before you start​

Record the time of the indicator before it disappears. Menu names vary by manufacturer and Android version; the dashboard's history is limited, so investigate promptly.

Do it step by step​

1. Open Settings → Security & privacy or Privacy → Privacy Dashboard. On some phones, tap Privacy a second time before the dashboard appears.
2. Choose the permission matching the signal, such as Camera, Microphone or Location. Review the timeline and the precise app names around the recorded time.
3. Open the relevant app entry and compare the access with what you were doing. A video call or navigation session may explain it; an unrelated app requesting the microphone needs scrutiny.
4. Change that app's permission to a narrower option or deny it. If the app is unknown, inspect its installation details and consider uninstalling through the normal Settings interface.
5. Reproduce the legitimate task and check whether the indicator appears only when expected. Review other recent access entries and update the app or Android if a known bug is involved.

Check the result​

The app should still perform its intended function with no unnecessary sensor access. Recheck the dashboard after a day of normal use rather than drawing conclusions from one timestamp.

If something goes wrong​

Android 13 can show seven days of app permission activity, while Android 12 shows 24 hours; older versions and manufacturer skins vary. An empty timeline is not a historical audit.

Know the limit​

A permission entry indicates that access occurred, not what content was captured or sent. Google's dashboard documentation describes the time window and route to permission controls. Google's Privacy Dashboard instructions