Enable, Disable, or Revoke Permissions

What this page helps you do

If an App you use in Spanner needs a device feature (like your camera or location), your phone controls whether Spanner is allowed to use it. This page shows exactly where to change those settings and what will change inside your Apps when you turn access off.

Turning a permission off doesn’t uninstall Spanner or delete your Apps. It only blocks Spanner from using that specific feature until you turn it back on.

Change permissions from your device settings

On your device, open Settings. Scroll down and tap Spanner (apps are listed alphabetically). Use the switches (for example Camera, Microphone, Photos, Location, Notifications) to allow or block access. Open Spanner again and try the feature in your App. If you don’t see a specific permission (like Location) on the Spanner settings screen, it usually means Spanner hasn’t asked for it yet—or iOS is grouping it elsewhere (for example, Notifications has its own screen).

Change notification permissions (iOS)

Go to Settings > Notifications. Scroll and tap Spanner. Turn Allow Notifications on or off, and adjust alert style if needed.
On your device, open Settings. Tap Apps (sometimes called Apps & notifications). Find and tap Spanner. Tap Permissions. Tap a permission (like Camera or Location), then choose Allow, Don’t allow, or (on some phones) Ask every time.

Change notification permissions (Android)

Go to Settings > Apps > Spanner > Notifications. Toggle notifications off (or adjust specific notification categories if your phone shows them). Android menu names vary by phone maker. If you can’t find these options, use the search bar in Settings and search for Spanner or Permissions.

What to expect in your Apps when access is turned off

When you revoke a permission, any App feature that depends on it will stop working until you re-enable access. In most cases, Spanner will show a message like “permission needed” or your device will block the action.

  • Any feature that takes a photo, scans something, or captures an image from the camera won’t work.
  • You may see a blank camera screen, a prompt to enable Camera access, or the action may do nothing until you allow it.
  • You can still use the App in other ways (for example, typing information instead of taking a photo), if the App supports it.
  • You won’t be able to attach or select photos from your library inside Spanner.
  • Existing content you already added inside an App usually stays in the App, but you may not be able to add new photos until permission is restored.
  • On some devices you can choose limited access (for example, only selected photos). If you limit access, only those selected items will be available.
  • Voice-based features (like dictation or audio capture, when available) won’t work.
  • If your App has an audio input button, it may be disabled or will ask you to enable the microphone.
  • Apps that use your location for entries (for example, saving where something happened) won’t be able to fill that in automatically.
  • Location-based suggestions may be missing or less accurate.
  • If your device offers choices like While using the app vs. Always, turning it down to While using may reduce background behavior (if a feature relies on it).
  • You won’t receive reminders, alerts, or time-sensitive messages from Spanner on your device.
  • Anything that relies on a notification to get your attention (for example, a reminder to check something) will be silent.
  • You can still open Spanner and use your Apps normally—notifications only affect alerts.
  • Apps that help you pick a person from Contacts or reference Calendar items won’t be able to access that list.
  • You may need to type names/dates manually instead.
If a feature suddenly stopped working after a phone update, reinstall, or switching devices, it’s often because the permission was reset to “Ask” or “Don’t allow.” Re-check Spanner’s permissions in your device settings.

When Spanner will ask again

  • Some permissions: If you turned a permission off, Spanner may show an in-app message explaining what’s needed and may prompt you again when you try that feature.
  • Other times: Your device won’t show the pop-up again, and you’ll need to re-enable access in Settings (steps above).

Quick checklist if a feature is blocked

For example: take a photo, attach an image, use voice, or allow alerts. Open your device Settings and confirm Spanner has that permission enabled. After changing permissions, fully leave Spanner and open it again. Return to your App and retry the same button or step. This page focuses on changing device permission settings and what you’ll see afterward. For deeper explanations of why a permission is requested, see the “How Permissions Work in Spanner” page in this documentation plan.