Ethan Brooks
How To Manage Camera Permissions on Samsung Galaxy in 2025
In today’s world, privacy kinda feels like an illusion, especially with apps sneaking around your camera permissions. If your Galaxy’s camera suddenly isn’t working or you just wanna tighten things up, here’s what’s likely going on — and how to fix it.
Pre-Requisites
Make sure your Samsung Galaxy is powered on and you’re on the home screen. This trick applies whether you’ve got a regular, Plus, Ultra, or FE. Of course, your device should be running Android (most Samsung mobiles do) for these steps to make sense.
Step 1: Access the Settings Menu
Swipe up from the bottom of the home screen to get into the app drawer, then find and tap the Settings gear icon. Sometimes, it’s in the quick menu if you’ve got your notification shade pulled down.
Step 2: Navigate to Security and Privacy
Scroll down through the Settings list and tap on Security and privacy. Yeah, it’s kinda buried sometimes, but that’s where the permissions are hiding.
Step 3: Open Privacy Controls
Within that section, find and tap Privacy. It’s where Android keeps all the permissions and app controls. On some newer Samsung models, this might be under Permissions directly, so watch out for that menu.
Step 4: Manage Camera Access
Look for an option called Camera access. You can toggle this to turn all camera permissions on or off at once. Not sure why, but sometimes toggling this off disables camera for all apps without much warning.
Note: On some setups, this feature might not be straightforward or even appear—Samsung’s got a weird way of hiding permissions, so if that’s the case, keep reading. This step mainly helps if the toggle is visible and active.
Step 5: Customize Permissions for Specific Apps
If you just want to block the camera for certain apps, you’ll need to head into the Permissions manager. Usually, that’s under App permissions or found by searching within Settings.
From there, tap Camera. You’ll see a list of apps that asked for camera permissions. Tap on any app, and you’ll be able to toggle between Allow, Ask every time, or Don’t allow.
Fun fact: On some phones, the permissions don’t stick right away or need a reboot. Sometimes switching permissions requires restarting the device, so don’t get impatient.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Some ideas if camera still acts weird after messing with these:
- Review app permissions from time to time; sometimes updates reset your preferences.
- If an app isn’t working after changing permissions, uninstall and reinstall it. Weird, but sometimes Android just gets confused.
- Always keep your device up to date — security patches, bug fixes, etc., can mess with permissions if you skip updates.
- On some devices, a reboot after changing permissions helps everything settle.
- If camera access options aren’t showing up, check for special settings under Advanced features or Device care — Samsung sometimes moves these controls around.
Conclusion
Controlling who can use your camera is kinda crucial these days. While the exact paths may vary a bit across models and Android versions, most Samsung Galaxy phones let you toggle permissions pretty straightforwardly. Just remember: messing with permissions isn’t guaranteed to be seamless — sometimes it’s a bit awkward, or settings don’t stick the first time. But at least now, you know where to look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I disable camera access permanently?
Yeah, toggling Camera access off in the main privacy menu usually does it. But beware—some apps might still ask for permission or run in the background if permissions aren’t properly revoked.
What if I change my mind about an app’s permissions?
Just go back into the Permissions manager, find that app, and toggle its access. Easy to fix if you messed up.
Are these steps the same for all Android devices?
Not quite. Samsung’s UI can be kinda different from Pixel, OnePlus, or other Androids. But generally, the logic is similar — settings, permissions, privacy. Some menus might have different names or be nested differently, so be flexible.
Summary
- Check Settings > Security and privacy
- Look for Camera access toggle
- Manage app permissions via Permissions manager
- Restart if changes don’t seem to stick
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Because of course, Samsung has to make it harder than it looks. Good luck!