# Why is my app requesting permissions for contacts, camera, etc? **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions about Thunkable X\ **Created:** [December 23, 2018, 1:06pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807 "2018-12-23T13:06:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mika.disneypinszc4pk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/mika.disneypinszc4pk/32/59575_2.png) [@mika.disneypinszc4pk](https://community.thunkable.com/u/mika.disneypinszc4pk)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/21 "2020-02-15T22:02:28Z")
Hello, please get back to me? ---
**Author:** ![jared](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jared/32/138473_2.png) [@jared](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jared)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/22 "2020-02-16T00:08:35Z")
At this time, there is no option to remove these. That said, this should not prohibit you from publishing your app in most markets (I can only speak for the US market) if you search the forms you will see other posts on this topic ---
**Author:** ![mika.disneypinszc4pk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/mika.disneypinszc4pk/32/59575_2.png) [@mika.disneypinszc4pk](https://community.thunkable.com/u/mika.disneypinszc4pk)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 12:20am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/23 "2020-02-16T00:20:45Z")
Does that mean that I have to make a privacy thing? Is there anything that you can link me to help me make one? ---
**Author:** ![jared](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jared/32/138473_2.png) [@jared](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jared)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/24 "2020-02-16T00:32:32Z")
> [@mika.disneypinszc4pk](#): > > nk me to help here is a copy of my privacy policy [http://www.jaredgibb.xyz/privacy\_policy.html](http://www.jaredgibb.xyz/privacy_policy.html) if you make edit this version and make your own, save it as a html file. make a google site and host it there. that’ll be the cheapest and easiest route. ---
**Author:** ![mika.disneypinszc4pk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/mika.disneypinszc4pk/32/59575_2.png) [@mika.disneypinszc4pk](https://community.thunkable.com/u/mika.disneypinszc4pk)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 12:34am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/25 "2020-02-16T00:34:09Z")
Do you mean a google sites like a google doc but on the sites thing? Thank you so much ---
**Author:** ![jared](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jared/32/138473_2.png) [@jared](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jared)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/26 "2020-02-16T00:51:44Z")
yep! check out [sites.google.com](http://sites.google.com) ---
**Author:** ![mika.disneypinszc4pk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/mika.disneypinszc4pk/32/59575_2.png) [@mika.disneypinszc4pk](https://community.thunkable.com/u/mika.disneypinszc4pk)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/27 "2020-02-16T01:25:59Z")
Thank you! I have it working now. Just a quick question: how long does it normally take for the app to go on the Google Play store? I submitted my app and it said it was rolling out. This is my first time publishing an app to the Google Play store. ---
**Author:** ![jared](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jared/32/138473_2.png) [@jared](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jared)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/28 "2020-02-16T01:46:39Z")
The first time you publish it may take a couple days. After that it should be get quick. When I update my app, it’s nearly instant after I upload the new apk. In my apple App Store account, the first approval took days. Every update takes around 8 hr to bublish after I submit ---
**Author:** ![hdawc](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/hdawc/32/119068_2.png) [@hdawc](https://community.thunkable.com/u/hdawc)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 2:10am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/29 "2020-04-26T02:10:13Z")
I’m getting the same error when I got to upload an app to the Play store. "Error Your app has an APK with version code 1 that requests the following permission(s): android.permission.CAMERA, android.permission.RECORD\_AUDIO, android.permission.READ\_PHONE\_STATE, android.permission.READ\_CONTACTS. Apps using these permissions in an APK are required to have a privacy policy set." **I don’t use those permissions and don’t want a privacy policy.** I haven’t spent MONTHS making an app to run into this. Please find a fix ASAP so I can actually release an app, or refund me, because Thunkable is useless if I can’t make apps and release them just because the use permissions my app doesn’t even need. I keep running into brick walls with Thunkable and it’s starting to get beyond frustrating. This needs an urgent fix and it was posted in December 2018 that “Long term” there would be a fix. 16 months is _Long Term_ as far as most people are concerned… ---
**Author:** ![Patrick\_Elisha](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/patrick_elisha/32/68464_2.png) [@Patrick\_Elisha](https://community.thunkable.com/u/Patrick_Elisha)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/30 "2020-04-26T02:27:51Z")
Try [www.iubenda.com](http://www.iubenda.com) ---
**Author:** ![hdawc](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/hdawc/32/119068_2.png) [@hdawc](https://community.thunkable.com/u/hdawc)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 5:48am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/31 "2020-04-26T05:48:47Z")
I found out a way to correct my app. But this is NOT recommended for those who are not willing to get stuck in with this etc. or understand what they are doing - but it’s not that difficult. Still, I can’t be held responsible if you do this and for some reason Google blocks this kind of upload in the future, or it causes any other problems for you, business, or your users etc. Okay, disclaimer over! **Right, because I don’t believe in accepting the status-quo (at least for technology)…** I downloaded: - Java Development Kit (latest) - Android Studio (latest) - APK Editor Studio _(I first just got the APK Editor but the Keystore feature wasn’t working and I was getting an error so I got JDK and Android Studio to ensure everything works correctly!)_ I then downloaded my Thunk APK making sure to add relevant version Numbers. I also Exported my Keystore and password (at the bottom of Thunk App Settings). ![keystore-password](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/c/6/c6038c4e74e4aadb918a44525bbc8dedf490b396.png) _Obviously your key will have actual letters, mine is hidden as this will be a live app_ Once you’ve installed all that and got your APK/ Keystore, open your APK with the editor and click the Shield icon (with a keyhole), which is the ‘Edit application permissions’ (or Ctrl+Shift+P) ![apk-editor-1](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/0/e/0e309d5c8ac2236d3ae364f3547d5bdb8db8a59c.png) Then use the permission browser to remove the 4 aforementioned permissions - android.permission.CAMERA, - android.permission.RECORD\_AUDIO, - android.permission.READ\_PHONE\_STATE, - android.permission.READ\_CONTACTS. ![apk-editor-2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/e/9/e91f469d0a418ed475bb60954632615176eb6c5c.png) I also removed all the calendar ones, Bluetooth ones and the fingerprint one, and any others I felt shouldn’t be there, but that’s up to you and obviously depends on your app (so don’t remove anything you think you’ll need!). If unsure, don’t do this AT ALL… Next you need to add your Keystore and password. Click the key icon ![apk-editor-3](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/5/c/5c20b583be9ab0e7c489b6672d1506c74ae9beb0.png) _by the way if you don’t have these icons click settings (three cogs on the left of the key), or click Settings \> Options and you need to go to ‘Toolbar’, and drag the items to the left, that you want on the toolbar_: ![apk-editor-settings](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/b/b/bb7ee48bf0e28e7ce8d4e9f6757717c9c0ef53dc.png) Now to add your existing keystore (click the Key icon or hit Ctrl+K) ![keystore-editor](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/b/a/ba837df94038036f9734b799ecfe73e7a9eebce5.png) Now point the Keystore path to your downloaded Keystore from Thunk, and pop the password you get from the download put in both blue boxes I’ve highlighted. The Alias can be whatever you like. Once you’re done here’s a step you **ALMOST CERTAINLY SHOULDN’T DO**. But I did because the size of the APK was 40mb for a app that had basically nothing except a few pngs and json files. Which is insane, and something I’ve been meaning to nag Thunkable about because **Google cares about this** (and i got my APK down to 25Mb!). It even mentions this here: [https://developer.android.com/platform/technology/app-bundle](https://developer.android.com/platform/technology/app-bundle) ![unoptimised-APK](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/e/0/e0f4de7d7d7aa2e407a72c985f04d4fe47d86468.png) Anyway, the next stage is removing some library files which are likley unneeded. This depends on the version of Android you are catering too and if you are creating internal apps for your business and have all your phones on a specific version of Android, you can likley go ahead with this. Okay so in the Project Manager click the Open Contents button (Ctrl+E) ![apk-editor-4](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/d/5/d51c3527c3c7e13b30dfb8963c6bcded9a503409.png) You’ll see an Explorer window open inside a directory in your temp folder, with some files that for your APK, one of them being **lib** , you’ll see it will be a large folder. ![lib-folder](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/8/4/84d66000b886e226f22f3845f81c68d8dd11c207.png) Open it and you’ll see a few more folders ![lib-folder-2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/3/b/3b0a572f48ff1f673a315d9c2d7268f0629f15b2.png) I deleted - armeabi (because it’s for very old versions of Android I won’t be supporting) - x86 and - x86\_64 (which are both more for desktop versions or possibly tablets). I removed them on an assumption and please don’t remove them if you think you may need them or don’t know what they do. More info here: [https://developer.android.com/ndk/guides/abis](https://developer.android.com/ndk/guides/abis) A note on changing what versions of Android can use your app. On the right side of the APK editor is the Manifest. You can change what version you use here. I made mine 23, which is 6.0 Marshmallow. Again, not recommended if you think your app will be used by people with older phones (they won’t be able to install it). ![apk-editor-manifest](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/e/4/e42f2141a301b690fd4431cce4c95f60bcbd5a8f.png) Now you’re done and it’s time to save! Once done hit save on the Project Manager (Ctrl+Alt+S) ![apk-editor-save](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/e/c/ece830cf47bd801d15b24648c219a45c6039adf1.png) _there is of course a menu option for this, and most other commands I’ve mentioned…_ Then save your app to the Desktop or a folder if you have one and upload it. Mine got down to 24Mb from about 38Mb, but I hope to reduce that in the future. ![apk-upload](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/8/b/8b6beac64bd776525a2f9084daf27cba98ab7423.png) The warning triangle you see it to tell you that your APK is still too big and it doesn’t use all the code. But it’s still okay to submit to the Play store. _I also removed a bunch of Thunkable images from the assets folder, but they weren’t very big files so I didn’t include instruction._ Hope this helps someone! 😊👍 _Poll ([view on site](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/31))_ ---
**Author:** ![domhnallohanlon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/domhnallohanlon/32/29554_2.png) [@domhnallohanlon](https://community.thunkable.com/u/domhnallohanlon)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 8:20am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/32 "2021-03-20T08:20:51Z")
Split this topic on March 20, 2021, 8:20am UTC 2 posts were merged into an existing topic: [Error permission read\_phone\_state while upload in google play store](https://community.thunkable.com/t/error-permission-read-phone-state-while-upload-in-google-play-store/1176677/2) ---
**Author:** ![datingunlimited5ox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@datingunlimited5ox](https://community.thunkable.com/u/datingunlimited5ox)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/33 "2023-07-11T13:49:04Z")
Hey there - I really appreciate your guide to fixing this issue with Thunkable apps. I’ve had several apps now removed due to them requiring permissions by default that I do not even need. I followed the steps you posted and got everything to work but when I am uploading the new .apk file on my Google Play console, I get an error telling me the signature is not valid and I cannot upload the update. Do you have any time to chat directly about this? Thanks so much ---
**Author:** ![hdawc](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/hdawc/32/119068_2.png) [@hdawc](https://community.thunkable.com/u/hdawc)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/34 "2023-09-05T23:58:26Z")
This worked for me on Enterprise / Managed Play Store. It could be that Google doesn’t like the new signature, I’m not sure why it doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![ioannis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/ioannis/32/146956_2.png) [@ioannis](https://community.thunkable.com/u/ioannis)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 11:31am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807/35 "2024-11-08T11:31:47Z")
Closed on November 8, 2024, 11:31am UTC [Previous page](https://community.thunkable.com/t/why-is-my-app-requesting-permissions-for-contacts-camera-etc/61807.md?page=1)