How to limit access to specific photos from apps on your phone

Limiting access to specific photos from apps is one of the steps you can take to protect your privacy when using your phone. This means that not only can you choose which permissions apps have, but you can also Give them “Limited Access” so they can access only the photos you have previously chosen.. Here's how to do it.

How to limit access to specific photos from apps?

The feature that allows you to limit access to specific photos in apps is called “Limited Access.” This feature is available on both Android and iPhone devices.e. And you can turn it on when the app asks for permission to access your photos and videos the first time you use it, or even afterward.

To activate limited access you will have to go to the Configuration from your mobile, right in the section Privacy or Privacy ProtectionKeep in mind that the name of this feature may vary depending on the make and model of your phone. Let's start by discussing how to limit access to specific photos for apps on Android.

Restrict access to specific photos from apps on Android

When you install an app for the first time, it's normal for it to ask for permission to access certain features or tools on your phone. For example, apps like Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp and even a browser like Chrome, can ask you for permission to access your photos and videos what's in your gallery.

So from the very beginning you can limit access to specific photos from apps. How? Usually, when we want to use apps that require access to your photos for the first time, a pop-up window appears asking, “Allow X to access photos and videos on this device?”. There are three options:

• Allow limited access.
• Allow all.
• Do not allow.

To limit access to specific photos from apps when you use them for the first time, you need to choose the option “Allow limited access”This will open your gallery, allowing you to select the photos you want to grant access to the app in question.

From Android Settings

Now, what if you want to review permissions to limit access What do some apps have on your photos? Since apps typically only ask for access permission the first time you use them, to make changes you'll need to go to Android Settings and follow the steps below:

1. Sign in Settings o Configuration.
2. Now locate the Security and Privacy tab or Privacy (it will depend on the make and model of your mobile phone).
3. Swipe until you find the Permissions manager.
4. Choose Photos and videos to manage the apps that have access to them.
5. The next step is to choose the app to limit its access to your photos.
6. Select option Allow limited access.
7. Finally, press the pencil icon to edit, select photos and videos that the app can access and that's it.

On iPhone you can also limit access to specific photos from apps.

If your device is an iPhone, it's also possible to limit access to specific photos from apps. As with Android, when you first install an app on iPhone and want to use features like Camera or photos in your photo library, will ask you for the corresponding permission.

In this case, you will see a pop-up window indicating that the application wants to access your photo library and will offer you three different permission options:

• Restrict access…
• Allow full access
• Do not allow

Of course, to limit access to your photos, you have to choose the first of the three optionsNow, if you want to change the permissions for apps on your iPhone, you'll also need to do so by going to your phone's Settings. Here are all the steps you need to take to limit app access to specific photos:

1. Once Settings, swipe until you find the tab Privacy & Security.
2. Now select the option Photos.
3. Go to the app to limit access to your photos.
4. Under the Photo Library Access entry, click on the “Limited Access” option.
5. Choose the photos that the application can access and that's it.

Other options when granting permissions to your photos in apps

While it's true that using Limited Access gives you more control over which photos apps can see, there are other options available. For example, Some devices do not have the “Limited Access” featureIn these cases, you can only choose whether or not to grant full permission to your photos in an app.

On the other hand, some applications give you the option to allow them access to your photos and videos. only when the app is in use or only the time you used itAnd, in case you need more customization options, there are third-party apps that offer features like hiding photos from apps in protected folders.

Now, what can you do if you need the app to access a specific photo or video? In this situation, what you can do is grant you temporary access to that fileBut if you don't want to, share the photo or send it directly from the gallery to the appropriate app.

How to know which apps should have permission to your photos and which ones shouldn't

Finally, which apps should have access to your photos and videos, and which shouldn't? In addition to limiting access to specific photos from apps, you need to determine which applications necesitan have access to your photosFor example, audiovisual content apps like Instagram or TikTok obviously need access to your photos and videos to function properly.

Now, There are other applications that truly do not require access to this type of content.Some examples would be Streaming, Calculator, Calendar, etc. In this regard, you'll need to use common sense to determine which apps you grant these types of permissions to, taking into account which ones actually need them.