Why Requesting Permissions on Installation is a Problem

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 76 views

Problem

When developing Android applications, it's common to define a list of permissions required for various features in the AndroidManifest.xml file. One such feature is category icon management, which often requires access to sensitive user data. However, requesting these permissions on application installation can be a significant turn-off for users, leading to a higher uninstall rate. In this article, we'll explore the problem of requesting Android permissions on installation and provide a solution to request them on demand instead.

Why Requesting Permissions on Installation is a Problem

Requesting permissions on installation can be a problem for several reasons:

User Experience: Users are often hesitant to grant permissions to an application they've just installed, especially if they're not sure what the application will do with the data. This can lead to a higher uninstall rate.
Security: Requesting permissions on installation can also be a security risk. If an application requests sensitive permissions, such as access to the user's location or contacts, it can compromise the user's security.
Google Play Store Guidelines: Google Play Store guidelines recommend that applications should only request permissions that are necessary for the application to function. Requesting unnecessary permissions can lead to a rejection of the application.

Task 1: Check if the Permissions are Really Requested on Application Installation

To determine if the permissions are really requested on application installation, we need to check the AndroidManifest.xml file. Here's an example of how to do it:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

In this example, the application is requesting three permissions: ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, READ_CONTACTS, and WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE. However, we need to check if these permissions are really requested on application installation.

To do this, we can use the PackageManager class to check if the permissions are requested on application installation. Here's an example of how to do it:

PackageManager packageManager = getPackageManager();
String[] permissions = {
        "android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION",
        "android.permission.READ_CONTACTS",
        "android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"
};

for (String permission : permissions) {
    if (packageManager.checkPermission(permission, getPackageName()) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
        Log.d("Permission", "Permission " + permission + " is requested on installation");
    } else {
        Log.d("Permission", "Permission " + permission + " is not requested on installation");
    }
}

In this example, we're checking if the permissions are requested on application installation by using the checkPermission method of the PackageManager class. If the permission is granted, we log a message indicating that the permission is requested on installation.

Task 2: Try to Request Them on Demand Instead

If the permissions are not requested on application installation, we can try to request them on demand instead. This can be done by using the requestPermissions method of the Activity class.

Here's an example of how to request permissions on demand:

String[] permissions = {
        "android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION",
        "android.permission.READ_CONTACTS",
        "android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"
};

requestPermissions(permissions, 1);

In this example, we're requesting the permissions on demand by using the requestPermissions method of the Activity class. The requestPermissions method takes two parameters: an array of permissions to request and a request code.

Requesting Permissions on Demand with a Callback

When requesting permissions on demand, it's a good practice to provide a callback to handle the result of the permission request. This can be done by overriding the onRequestPermissionsResult method of the Activity class.

Here's an example of how to request permissions on demand with a callback:

String[] permissions = {
        "android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION",
        "android.permission.READ_CONTACTS",
        "android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"
};

requestPermissions(permissions, 1);

@Override
public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, @NonNull String[] permissions, @NonNull int[] grantResults) {
    super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults);

    if (requestCode == 1) {
        for (int i = 0; i < grantResults.length; i++) {
            if (grantResults[i] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
                Log.d("Permission", "Permission " + permissions[i] + " is granted");
            } else {
                Log.d("Permission", "Permission " + permissions[i] + " is denied");
            }
        }
    }
}

In this example, we're requesting the permissions on demand with a callback by overriding the onRequestPermissionsResult method of the Activity class. The onRequestPermissionsResult method takes three parameters: the request code, an array of permissions, and an array of grantResults.

Best Practices for Requesting Permissions on Demand

When requesting permissions on demand, there are several best practices to follow:

Request only necessary permissions: Only request the permissions that are necessary for the application to function.
Provide a clear explanation: Provide a clear explanation of why the permission is required and what the application will do with the data.
Use a callback: Use a callback to handle the result of the permission request.
Handle permission denial: Handle permission denial by providing an alternative solution or by asking the user to grant the permission.

Conclusion

Q: Why is it a problem to request Android permissions on installation?

A: Requesting permissions on installation can be a problem for several reasons:

User Experience: Users are often hesitant to grant permissions to an application they've just installed, especially if they're not sure what the application will do with the data. This can lead to a higher uninstall rate.
Security: Requesting permissions on installation can also be a security risk. If an application requests sensitive permissions, such as access to the user's location or contacts, it can compromise the user's security.
Google Play Store Guidelines: Google Play Store guidelines recommend that applications should only request permissions that are necessary for the application to function. Requesting unnecessary permissions can lead to a rejection of the application.

Q: How can I check if the permissions are really requested on application installation?

A: To check if the permissions are really requested on application installation, you can use the PackageManager class to check if the permissions are requested on application installation. Here's an example of how to do it:

PackageManager packageManager = getPackageManager();
String[] permissions = {
        "android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION",
        "android.permission.READ_CONTACTS",
        "android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"
};

for (String permission : permissions) {
    if (packageManager.checkPermission(permission, getPackageName()) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
        Log.d("Permission", "Permission " + permission + " is requested on installation");
    } else {
        Log.d("Permission", "Permission " + permission + " is not requested on installation");
    }
}

Q: How can I request permissions on demand instead of on installation?

A: To request permissions on demand instead of on installation, you can use the requestPermissions method of the Activity class. Here's an example of how to request permissions on demand:

String[] permissions = {
        "android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION",
        "android.permission.READ_CONTACTS",
        "android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"
};

requestPermissions(permissions, 1);

Q: What is the best way to request permissions on demand?

A: The best way to request permissions on demand is to:

Request only necessary permissions: Only request the permissions that are necessary for the application to function.
Provide a clear explanation: Provide a clear explanation of why the permission is required and what the application will do with the data.
Use a callback: Use a callback to handle the result of the permission request.
Handle permission denial: Handle permission denial by providing an alternative solution or by asking the user to grant the permission.

Q: How can I handle permission denial?

A: To handle permission denial, you can provide an alternative solution or ask the user to grant the permission. Here's an example of how to handle permission denial:

@Override
public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, @NonNull String[] permissions, @NonNull int[] grantResults) {
    super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults);

    if (requestCode == 1) {
        for (int i = 0; i < grantResults.length; i++) {
            if (grantResults[i] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
                Log.d("Permission", "Permission " + permissions[i] + " is granted");
            } else {
                Log.d("Permission", "Permission " + permissions[i] + " is denied");
                // Provide an alternative solution or ask the user to grant the permission
            }
        }
    }
}

Q: What are the benefits of requesting permissions on demand?

A: The benefits of requesting permissions on demand include:

Improved user experience: Requesting permissions on demand can improve the user experience by providing a clear explanation of why the permission is required and what the application will do with the data.
Improved security: Requesting permissions on demand can improve security by reducing the risk of sensitive permissions being granted to an application.
Compliance with Google Play Store guidelines: Requesting permissions on demand can help comply with Google Play Store guidelines by only requesting necessary permissions.

Q: What are the best practices for requesting permissions on demand?

A: The best practices for requesting permissions on demand include:

Request only necessary permissions: Only request the permissions that are necessary for the application to function.
Provide a clear explanation: Provide a clear explanation of why the permission is required and what the application will do with the data.
Use a callback: Use a callback to handle the result of the permission request.
Handle permission denial: Handle permission denial by providing an alternative solution or by asking the user to grant the permission.