How to remove permissions that are not needed

[PavementPilot]

AI automatically puts the permission Internet in the manifest. I am trying to remove it unsuccessfully. I find my apk with the browse button and click button 1 to de-compile. Then I go to the manifest in the temp folder and delete the uses permission for internet. It is the only permission in my manifest. Save that. Then enter my app name in the space provided and click button 2 to Update the Manifest and create the APK. I get an error there and it will not let me continue to step 3. What have I done wrong. Or what is the correct way to remove this permission.

[M. Hossein Amerkashi]

AppToMarket works off of cache and manually changing manifest does not have any impact in outcome. So, the error that you are getting must be due to some other issue. Are you entering any special characters for your app name (e.g. double quotes)? That may cause the error. If not, can you post the log in History Panel?

[PavementPilot]

Ok, I was entering special characters, my bad. So, is there a way to remove the permission <uses internet>? I have some apps that do not require it.

[M. Hossein Amerkashi]

Why would you want to remove that? AI puts permissions that are needed by your app or are somehow indirectly used. If you remove them, it may not run properly.

[PavementPilot]

I understand that some programs require internet, but a simple (and yes I know that there are a ton of them out there) Temperature Converter, doesnt require an internet connection. 

[M. Hossein Amerkashi]

Okay, I understand.

Current version of AppToMarket does not support manual updates to manifest and it works off of cache. This was by design to eliminate accidental updates to manifest that could cause system to force close.


-Hossein.

[PavementPilot]

Ok, I need to revisit this topic. In 3.1 you can now edit the manifest to remove some permissions. I can not figure out how to remove the permission READ_PHONE_STATE. Is that needed for apps that do not make calls or need to know who is calling?

[M. Hossein Amerkashi]

Hi,
What components does your app use?
This permission can be used to get the unique device id.
Also, for example if you have media player and you want to mute when there is incoming call, this permission will be needed.

Here are couple of links on READ_PHONE_STATE:

High level: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission.html#READ_PHONE_STATE
Some explanation: http://www.womenwithdroids.com/2011/03/deciphering-permissions-read-phone-state-and-identity/

[PavementPilot]

I found where to not show the READ_PHONE_STATE permission. If I change my minSDK to 4 then it goes away, as that permission is built into the OS from there, instead of asking for that permission at minSDK3 or lower.

[Marcus Mutz]

Hi, permission for phone state is an real obstacle for installing an app in google play.
Can you tell me why the APK from MIT inventor installen on phone has phone state not set while after conversion of AppToMarket it is set???
Tomorrow I will verify again.

[Marcus Mutz]

I verified this and it was the same...

Am Donnerstag, 27. August 2015 21:27:57 UTC+2 schrieb Marcus Mutz:

Hi, permission for phone state is an real obstacle for installing an app in google play.

Can you tell me why the APK from MIT inventor installed on phone has phone state not set while after conversion of AppToMarket it is set???

[in...@tennikus.de]

OK sorry I got it. MinSdkVersion > 4 in Manifest and no more phone state permission is requested during installation supposed the feature is really not used in the App. Question is only why AppToMarket is not filling it to the manifest of the APP if it is filled in fields of the GUI. But maybe I don't unterstand someting there...