Why do Google Play apps have Sensors permission enabled by default?

momo55

Hi everyone, I just installed the sandboxed Play apps from the GrapheneOS store and noticed they have the Sensors permission enabled by default (network makes sense). Does anyone know whether they still work properly without Sensors, and why this permission is enabled in the first place? Any insight appreciated — thanks!

God

momo55 I have not come across an app that needs sensors enabled, it would be best if you had the default disabled, and change it specifically when needed

leafnose

I’m not a heavy user, but I noticed no issue with Google Play Store and Google Play services having no sensor permission.
As for the reasons, see here: https://grapheneos.org/features#sensors-permission-toggle
You’ll find more explanation here: https://discuss.grapheneos.org/?q=sensor%20permission%20

Vomitorius

Because if you put your phone 90 degrees in landscape mode the app must have sensor permission to flip the screen

skyward5883

Vomitorius nah sensor permission is not required for Auto-Rotate to work.

Did you install play services before disabling automatically granting sensor permissions to all apps by default?

leafnose

Vomitorius Actually, that’s not even the case.

Novalissoide

skyward5883

leafnose

A few apps actually do rely on this for their auto-rotate, while others don't.

leafnose

Novalissoide
I was talking about the Play Store. But, yes, indeed, the Camera app needs it to write the correct orientation metadata in the image file, for instance.