Hello !

I just had to change phone, and the move was from LOS 16 (android 9) to LOS 19 (android 12), and I just found about the permission “allow only while being used”… It seems natural to give that permission rather than just “allow”…

I’m wondering what exactly “while being used” mean. If it’s while interacting with the app with an app front end only, then that might not work when apps run on the background, with no front end interaction whatsoever. So for apps running in the background most probably I’ll need to give “allow” sort of permissions. If it really means while the app is running, no matter if on the background or interactively with a front end, then in the end “while being used” would serve as well as “allow”, since the app is always in use, right?

What’s the real difference between the 2, and in particular what does that mean for apps running in the background?

  • @kixikOP
    1•2 years ago

    OK, I think I got it, from this google forum:

    • In the foreground: The app can use your location only when the app is open on your screen or when you ask the app to do something.
    • In the background: The app can use location info at any time, even if you aren’t using it.

    So to google, having an app running in the background doesn’t mean “using it”, oh well…