Change Android App Permissions & Notifications on Chromebook

Android apps on a Chromebook run in a separate container, so their permission and notification controls live in the Chrome OS Settings app rather than inside the apps themselves. This guide shows you how to open those settings, change what an app can access (camera, microphone, location, files, and more), and control how and when the app can notify you.

What You’ll Need

A Chromebook running a recent version of Chrome OS (most devices from 2019 or later are fine).
At least one Android app installed from the Google Play Store.
Your Chromebook logged in with the account that installed the app (permissions are per-user).

Step-by-Step

Open the Android App Settings Page

Click the clock in the bottom-right corner of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel.
Click the gear icon to open the full Settings app.
In the left sidebar, scroll down and click Apps.
Under the Google Play Store section, click Manage your apps. This lists every Android app installed on the Chromebook.
Find the app you want to adjust and click its name. This opens that app’s dedicated settings page.

Change App Permissions

On the app’s settings page, look for a section called Permissions. It may show a summary like “Camera: Allowed” or “Location: Not allowed”.
Click Permissions to see the full list of what the app can access. Common items include: Camera, Microphone, Location, Storage, Contacts, Phone, SMS, and Calendar.
Each permission has a toggle switch or a dropdown. To allow or deny access, click the switch so it turns on (blue) or off (gray).
Some permissions have extra options. For example, Location may offer “Allow all the time”, “Allow only while using the app”, or “Deny”. Choose the option that matches your comfort level.
If you want to reset everything for this app, scroll to the bottom of the app’s settings page and click Reset app preferences. This restores all permissions to their defaults (most are denied until you grant them).

Change Notification Settings

Still on the app’s settings page, find the Notifications section. It usually shows a toggle labeled “Notifications” with a note like “Allow notifications from this app”.
To turn off all notifications from this app, click the toggle so it turns gray. The app will no longer be able to show alerts, badges, or sounds.
To keep notifications but fine-tune them, click the Notifications text (not the toggle) to open the detailed notification settings.
Inside, you’ll see a list of notification categories (for example, “Messages”, “Updates”, “Promotions”). Each category has its own toggle.
Turn off categories you don’t care about, and leave on the ones you want. You can also set whether notifications are “Silent” (no sound, but they appear in the notification shade) or “Alert” (sound and pop-up).
To stop notifications from appearing on the lock screen, go back to the main Settings > Notifications page (not the app-specific one) and adjust the “Lock screen notifications” option.

Alternative: Change Permissions from the App Itself

Some Android apps show a permission prompt the first time they need access (for example, a camera app asking for camera access). If you tap “Allow” or “Deny” there, it updates the same setting you’d change in Settings.
If an app is misbehaving and you’re not sure which permission it needs, open the app and try the feature. When it fails, it often shows a message like “Permission required” with a button to go to settings. Click that button to jump straight to the permission page.

Common Mistakes

Looking in the wrong place: Android app settings are not inside the app’s own “Settings” menu on a Chromebook. They are always in Chrome OS Settings > Apps > Manage your apps. The app’s internal settings only control in-app preferences, not system permissions.
Confusing “Manage your apps” with “Google Play Store”: The Play Store app itself has a settings page, but that controls Play Store preferences (auto-updates, parental controls), not individual app permissions.
Turning off all notifications instead of just some: If you only want to silence a specific type of notification (like promotional emails from a shopping app), use the category toggles rather than the master switch. Turning off the master switch kills everything.
Forgetting that some permissions are required for the app to work: If you deny storage access to a photo editor, it won’t be able to open your photos. If an app breaks after you change permissions, re-enable the permission you changed.
Expecting instant changes: Some apps check permissions only when they start. If you change a permission while the app is running, close and reopen the app for the change to take effect.

Tips

Review permissions regularly: Go through your installed apps every few months and revoke permissions that don’t make sense for the app’s purpose. A calculator app doesn’t need your contacts.
Use the “While using the app” option for location: This is the best balance between functionality and privacy. The app gets location only when it’s open and in the foreground.
Check the notification shade: When a notification appears, you can right-click (or two-finger tap on the trackpad) it and select “More settings” to jump directly to that app’s notification settings.
Use “Reset app preferences” sparingly: It resets all permissions for all apps, not just one. Only use it if you want a clean slate across the board.
Remember that Android apps on Chromebooks can access files in your Downloads folder: If an app asks for “Storage”, it’s usually asking to read and write files there. You can grant or deny this per app.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find “Manage your apps”: Make sure you’re looking in Settings > Apps, not in the Play Store app. If the section is missing entirely, your Chromebook may not support Android apps (older or enterprise-managed devices sometimes don’t). Check with your administrator if this is a work or school device.
Changes don’t stick: Close the app completely (click the X on its window) and reopen it. If the problem persists, restart your Chromebook. If it still reverts, check if the app has its own permission settings that override the system ones (rare but possible).
The app still shows notifications after I turned them off: Some apps use a separate notification channel that isn’t listed in the app’s settings page. Go to Settings > Notifications > App notifications and look for the app there. If it’s not listed, the app may be showing notifications through a different mechanism (like a web page or a background service) — check the app’s own settings for a notification toggle.
I can’t change a permission (it’s grayed out): This usually means the permission is controlled by the system or by a policy. On a managed Chromebook, the administrator may have locked down certain permissions. On a personal device, a system app (like Google Play Services) may have fixed permissions that you can’t change.
Location permission is missing: Make sure Location is enabled at the system level. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Location and turn it on. If it’s off, apps won’t even show a location permission option.
After resetting, the app asks for permissions again: That’s expected. The reset returns everything to default, which is usually “ask each time” or “deny”. You’ll need to re-grant permissions the next time you use the app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Android app permissions on a Chromebook work the same as on a phone?

Yes, the underlying permission system is the same, but the settings interface is different. On a phone, you go to the system Settings > Apps > [app] > Permissions. On a Chromebook, it’s Settings > Apps > Manage your apps > [app] > Permissions.

Can I change permissions for an app that isn’t from the Play Store?

No. Only Android apps installed from the Google Play Store appear in the “Manage your apps” list. Linux apps (if you have Linux enabled) have their own permission model and are managed separately in Settings > Developers > Linux development environment.

Will denying a permission delete my app data?

No. Denying a permission only blocks the app from accessing that feature (camera, location, etc.). Your app data (saved files, accounts, settings) stays intact. The only exception is if you explicitly clear app data, which is a separate action.

How do I stop an app from sending me promotional notifications but keep important ones?

Open the app’s notification settings (Settings > Apps > Manage your apps > [app] > Notifications) and look for a list of categories. Turn off the ones labeled “Promotional”, “Offers”, or “News”. Keep “Messages”, “Alerts”, or “Updates” on.

Why do some apps show “No permissions requested” even though they clearly use the camera?

This can happen if the app uses a system-level camera picker (like the built-in photo picker) rather than directly accessing the camera. In that case, the app doesn’t need a camera permission because it’s using a secure system component. The same applies to file pickers.

Can I set a schedule for when notifications are allowed?

Not per-app on a Chromebook. You can use the system-wide “Do Not Disturb” mode (click the clock, then the crescent moon icon) to mute all notifications during certain hours. For per-app schedules, you’d need to use the app’s own settings if it has them.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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