That said, there is a way through which you can get one of the biggest Android 12 features without having to install the update. A new app brings the new Android 12 Privacy Dashboard to any current Android device without an update.
What Is the New Privacy Dashboard in Android 12?
Privacy Dashboard is one of the best new features of Android 12. Located in Android settings, it keeps a tab on your apps’ access to sensitive permissions.
The dashboard features a circular ring that shows the usage of these permissions (mainly the Location, Camera, and Microphone). If you select one, you will see a timeline of when any apps have used that particular permission in the last 24 hours.
How to Get the Android 12 Privacy Dashboard on Your Phone
To get the new Privacy Dashboard, you can download an Android app of the same name from the Google Play Store.
The app tries to replicate the functionality of the Privacy dashboard. It has the same interface and same detailed view of permission usage. Similar to the real Privacy Dashboard, you can see both the permission history and an app’s usage of different permissions.
The app is free and ad-free. There’s an in-app purchase option that enables you to support the developer if you find it useful.
Download: Privacy Dashboard (Free, in-app purchases available)
Bring Android 12 Privacy Indicators to Your Old Device
The best part about the app is that it brings not just one, but two features of Android 12. The Privacy Dashboard app can also add privacy indicators to your current device.
For the uninitiated, Google has added new microphone and camera access indicators in Android 12. Whenever an app tries to access these permissions, an indicator pops up in the top-right corner of the screen.
The Privacy Dashboard Android app does a pretty good job of replicating these indicators. But you can customize them as well, such as changing the position of the indicators, their size and opacity, adding a bezel margin, etc.
But keep the customization to a minimum to get the Android 12 feel.
What’s the Catch?
The app requires location and accessibility settings access. The developer says allowing accessibility permission avoids the app having direct access to the camera and microphone.
However, giving accessibility access to the app is a double edged sword. The permission essentially gives the Privacy Dashboard app access to read all the content on your screen.
At the same time, without accessibility access, the Privacy Dashboard won’t be able to log the Android apps’ usage of sensitive permissions.
Other than that, the app sometimes fails to detect an app’s usage of sensitive permissions. Still, it does a good job at replicating the Android 12 privacy features and is worth a try!
