Android：Request Location Permissions

To protect user privacy, apps that use location services must request location permissions.

This page describes the different types of location requirements and provides guidance on how to request location permissions in each case.

Types of location access

Each permission has a combination of the following characteristics:

• Category: Either foreground location or background location.
• Accuracy: Either precise location or approximate location.

Foreground location

If your app contains a feature that shares or receives location information only once, or for a defined amount of time, then that feature requires foreground location access. Some examples include the following:

• Within a navigation app, a feature allows users to get turn-by-turn directions.
• Within a messaging app, a feature allows users to share their current location with another user.

You declare a need for foreground location when your app requests either the ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permission or the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION] permission, as shown in the following snippet:

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<manifest ... >
  <!-- Always include this permission -->
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />

  <!-- Include only if your app benefits from precise location access. -->
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
</manifest>

Background location

An app requires background location access if a feature within the app constantly shares location with other users. Several examples include the following:

• Within a family location sharing app, a feature allows users to continuously share location with family members.

The system considers your app to be using background location if it accesses the device’s current location in any situation other than the ones described in the foreground location section.

On Android 10 (API level 29) and higher, you must declare the ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION permission in your app’s manifest. On earlier versions of Android, when your app receives foreground location access, it automatically receives background location access as well.

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<manifest ... >
  <!-- Required only when requesting background location access on
       Android 10 (API level 29) and higher. -->
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION" />
</manifest>

Accuracy

Android supports the following levels of location accuracy:

• Approximate

  Provides an estimate of the device’s location, to within about 1 mile (1.6 km). Your app uses this level of location accuracy when you declare the ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permission but not the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission.

• Precise

  Provides an estimate of the device’s location that is as accurate as possible, usually within about 160 feet (50 meters) and sometimes as accurate as within 10 feet (a few meters) or better. Your app uses this level of location accuracy when you declare the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission.