Best Practices for Privacy
Request only what you truly need.
Best Practices for Privacy is a free Android Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 4 of 4. Any 3 lessons of this learning path are free to read in full — after that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus hands-on practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Android Academy learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The Android Academy course includes 4 lessons in total.
Privacy Best Practices
Permissions are a trust contract with your users and with the Play Store. The guiding principle is simple: ask for as little as possible, as late as possible, with clear reasons.
Request Minimal Permissions
Audit every permission you declare. If a feature can work without a permission, drop it. Fewer dangerous permissions means more installs, fewer uninstalls, and smoother Play review.
Prefer Less Sensitive Options
Often a coarser or safer alternative exists. Prefer ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION over fine location when approximate location suffices, and prefer the system photo picker over broad media access.
Use System Pickers Instead of Permissions
Many tasks need no permission at all. The Photo Picker, document picker, and contact picker return exactly what the user selects, with zero runtime permission required.
val pickMedia = rememberLauncherForActivityResult(
ActivityResultContracts.PickVisualMedia()
) { uri -> /* user-selected image, no permission needed */ }
pickMedia.launch(
PickVisualMediaRequest(ActivityResultContracts.PickVisualMedia.ImageOnly)
)Ask In Context
Request a permission at the exact moment the user triggers the feature, not on app launch. An "in-context" request next to a clear action gets far higher grant rates and feels respectful.
Explain Before You Ask
If the reason is not obvious, show a brief rationale screen first. Tell the user what they gain. Then trigger the system dialog so the choice is informed.
Degrade Gracefully
Design every feature to still function, perhaps with reduced capability, when a permission is denied. A maps screen can show a default region; a chat app can let users pick a photo manually.
One-Time and Approximate Grants
Modern Android lets users grant location only this time or approximate only. Always re-check permissions when you need them again, because a one-time grant expires when the app leaves the foreground.
Avoid Permission Bundling
Do not request a pile of permissions up front "just in case". Request each one when its specific feature is used. Bundling looks suspicious and tanks trust.
Be Transparent in Your Listing
The Play Console requires a Data Safety section and, for sensitive permissions, a justification. Make sure your in-app behavior matches what you declare publicly.
Test the Denied Path
Always test your app with every permission denied, including permanent denial. The app must remain usable and never crash. This is both a UX and a policy requirement.
Quick Check
Test your understanding of privacy best practices.
Recap
You learned privacy best practices:
- Request the minimum permissions, and prefer less sensitive options
- Use system pickers to avoid permissions entirely
- Ask in context, explain first, and degrade gracefully on denial
- Re-check one-time grants; be transparent in your Play listing
You have finished the Permissions course.
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- Courses
- 36
- Lessons
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the “Best Practices for Privacy” lesson free?
Yes — any 3 lessons of the Android Academy learning path, including “Best Practices for Privacy”, are free to read in full here on the web. After that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus interactive practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. The Android Academy course includes 4 lessons in total.
What will I learn in “Best Practices for Privacy”?
Request only what you truly need. You practise Android Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Android Academy?
No prior experience is required. Android Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 4 of 4.
How long does the “Best Practices for Privacy” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Android Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Android Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- The Android Permission Model
- Requesting Permissions in Compose
- Handling Denials and Rationale
- Best Practices for Privacy