App Ops ( Access Lock ) works on G4

[anon(782252)]

I posted this a little while back in this thread Optimizing G4 battery thread - Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com but it had gotten buried and I think it can be very beneficial.

It basically allows you to restrict permissions (such as location, camera, keep awake) to downloaded apps.

It was originally in Android 4.3 but then hidden in 4.4 and going forward ( coming back in M).

No root required. It's no Xprivacy but it certainly helps.

Here are the directions:


Download Quick shortcut maker on the play store.
Open it, change 'incremental search' to ' normal search' and search for Access.
You should get a Settings option that you can expand. Look for one labeled 'Access Lock' and click on it.
You can then try to see if it works or just make the shortcut.
Use the shortcut to open Access Lock and start removing restrictions.

 

[dpham00]

Excellent tool.

 

[oldschoolsig]

Tis a good one

 

[KPMcClave]

Does anyone have any suggestions for "musts" in terms of revoking permissions with this (realizing it depends what each of us actually has installed)? I'm more concerned with battery life than security in this regard. I have used it for some permissions, but I was fairly conservative, not wanting to screw up any apps.

I'd think restricting keep awake could save some battery, but how do I decide when to restrict that? I'm guessing there aren't a lot of apps that don't actually need it to function properly?

 

[anon(782252)]

Does anyone have any suggestions for "musts" in terms of revoking permissions with this (realizing it depends what each of us actually has installed)? I'm more concerned with battery life than security in this regard. I have used it for some permissions, but I was fairly conservative, not wanting to screw up any apps.

I'd think restricting keep awake could save some battery, but how do I decide when to restrict that? I'm guessing there aren't a lot of apps that don't actually need it to function properly?

I'd have to go back and look but I'm pretty sure I have restricted keep awake on 75-85% of the apps that I have access to. Haven't seen any issues at all and my battery life is outstanding. I've also restricted location on pretty much everything as well.

 

[KPMcClave]

I'd have to go back and look but I'm pretty sure I have restricted keep awake on 75-85% of the apps that I have access to. Haven't seen any issues at all and my battery life is outstanding. I've also restricted location on pretty much everything as well.

Excellent. Thanks. If I restrict the keep awake permission for my local news app, will that interfere with breaking news push notifications?

 

[sswitzer]

Yes, this is a brilliant tool; thanks for doing the research.

I also made use of Quick Shortcut Maker to give myself an "add a new Evernote note" shortcut, something that Evernote does not provide for some reason.

 

[Inders99]

Just a general note, it's sad when we have to go to this level to get battery life. Some restrictions I don't do since I like the benefits these apps provide. When I find myself trying to kill all these apps it's sort of disturbing since I'm not getting the benefits they offer.

Anyway, thanks for the thead.

 

[oldschoolsig]

Just a general note, it's sad when we have to go to this level to get battery life. Some restrictions I don't do since I like the benefits these apps provide. When I find myself trying to kill all these apps it's sort of disturbing since I'm not getting the benefits they offer.

Anyway, thanks for the thead.

I mostly don't see it that way. Really what you are doing in these cases is preventing their access and making them on demand. When you start to see the benefits in your on screen time, it's pretty cool. You don't have to cut anything you use per se.

 

[anon(782252)]

Excellent. Thanks. If I restrict the keep awake permission for my local news app, will that interfere with breaking news push notifications?

Honestly, I'm not sure. Might have to play around with it.

I have keep awake restricted on the XDA app but I let it have post notifications and I still get notifications. However I don't have anything restricted on the AC app and I never get any notifications even though I have them all set up.

 

[anon(782252)]

Just a general note, it's sad when we have to go to this level to get battery life. Some restrictions I don't do since I like the benefits these apps provide. When I find myself trying to kill all these apps it's sort of disturbing since I'm not getting the benefits they offer.

Anyway, thanks for the thead.

I don't really see it that way either. I see it as having control over what apps can and can't do.

I am a huge fan of Xprivacy and am really looking forward to what Google brings us in M. I'm sure it won't be nearly on the level of Xprivacy but we will see.

Greater battery life is just an additional benefit of managing permissions for me.

Do I think it's helping tremendously? Absolutely. Do I need it to still be happy with my phone purchase? Not in any way.

 

[KPMcClave]

Honestly, I'm not sure. Might have to play around with it.

I have keep awake restricted on the XDA app but I let it have post notifications and I still get notifications. However I don't have anything restricted on the AC app and I never get any notifications even though I have them all set up.

The AC app has notifications? Heh, I guess I never get them either.

Thanks for the feedback. I was more millitant about restirctions last night, interested to see how it impacts my battery.

 

[anon(782252)]

The AC app has notifications? Heh, I guess I never get them either.

Thanks for the feedback. I was more millitant about restirctions last night, interested to see how it impacts my battery.

Yeah it does. Its in settings but not working for me.

Let us know if you see any benefit.

 

[Ragingredbull]

Likewise with me too. Removed location on almost all of the apps and also keep awake.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[anon(782252)]

I restricted keep awake for Twitter to see if I still get notifications and they work fine. So clearly separate functions.

 

[RandyOhio]

I too am trying this out. I have lots of things that are running all night and hope that this helps. I killed lots of stay awake and locations. Thanks!

Posted via Android Central App

 

[sswitzer]

So just to make sure I'm on the right track, I'm looking for apps that are potentially using "keep awake" and/or location, where I think that may reduce battery performance - and then I take away those permissions... Right?

 

[anon(782252)]

So just to make sure I'm on the right track, I'm looking for apps that are potentially using "keep awake" and/or location, where I think that may reduce battery performance - and then I take away those permissions... Right?

Yes, that's correct. Or if you just don't want the App to have permission to access that function.

It actually shows the date or time that the app last used that permission.

 

[BBSeattle]

Nice find TB, thanks for sharing!

 

[sswitzer]

Yes, that's correct. Or if you just don't want the App to have permission to access that function.

It actually shows the date or time that the app last used that permission.

Terrific I just removed keep awake from a dozen apps that had used it within the last few hours - and tested them, finding that they work just fine, how I would expect them to work.