Permissions
SnapContact requests a deliberately small set of Android permissions — camera and notifications — each asked for only at the moment it's needed, each with a non-permission fallback, and none requested at launch. This page explains exactly what's requested and what happens if you decline.
The permissions
| Permission | Why it's requested | When | If you decline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera | To photograph a business card for on-device OCR. | Only when you start a card scan. | Pick an existing photo from your gallery, or enter the contact by hand. |
| Notifications | To alert you when a reminder or birthday is due. | When you first set up a reminder. | Reminders still appear in the Today / Upcoming / Overdue views; you just won't get an OS notification. |
The app also declares standard, non-sensitive entries that don't prompt you, such as internet and network-state access (to sign in and sync) and vibrate (for notification feedback).
What SnapContact does not request
Version 1.1 does not request location, microphone, device-contacts, SMS, call-log, or calendar permissions. The Android manifest explicitly removes restricted media and exact-alarm permissions it doesn't use. The "Import from Google" feature reads contacts through OAuth via Google's People API — it does not use the device-contacts permission.
Why this matters
Sensitive permissions are the most common reason apps get rejected from app stores and the most common reason users uninstall. SnapContact keeps the set minimal and honest: the camera is requested at the scan, not at launch; notifications are requested at the reminder, not before; and every permission has a fallback so the app remains usable if you say no. This mirrors what the privacy policy discloses and what the Play Data Safety form declares.
Frequently asked questions
Does SnapContact ask for permissions when I open it? No — permissions are requested in context (camera at scan, notifications at first reminder), never at launch.
Can I use the scanner without the camera permission? Yes — choose a photo from your gallery instead.
What if I deny notifications? Reminders still surface in the Today/Upcoming/Overdue views; you simply don't get OS notifications.
Does the app read my contacts, location, or microphone? No — none of those permissions are requested in v1.1.