App permissions can feel confusing, especially if you are not technical. The good news is that permissions are simply switches you control on each device. If a permission is off, a related feature might not work (for example, reminders may not show if notifications are blocked). This guide explains what each permission is used for, and how to review or change permissions on iOS, Android, Web, and Desktop.
β Availability
This applies to all plans and all supported devices.
Plans: Free, Premium, Family, Workspace
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web, Desktop (Mac/Windows)
π§ What app permissions mean
A quick explanation before we get into the steps: App permissions are settings on your device that allow Any.do to use specific device capabilities. You can enable or disable most permissions at any time, and the change applies only to that device.
Tip: If you turn off a permission, the related feature will not work on that device until you turn it back on.
π List of required app-permissions
Here is a simple overview of the most common permissions you may see and what they are used for.
Note: Permission names can vary slightly by device and operating system.
π Notifications - Deliver task reminders, daily planning alerts, and collaboration updates.
π₯ Contacts - Support Action Tasks and inviting people to shared spaces.
π Location - Trigger location-based reminders (includes GPS/location services).
ποΈ Device & app history (Android) - Helps support some upgraded features and profile-related functions. Any.do does not access your browsing history or bookmarks.
πͺͺ Identity / Accounts (Android) - Support sign-in and syncing, including Google sign-in. Any.do does not access your Google services (like Drive).
π³ In-app purchases - Enable upgrading and managing purchases inside the app.
ποΈ Microphone - Record audio notes and use voice input.
π Photos / Media / Files - Attach files and images to tasks.
ποΈ Calendar - View, create, or edit calendar events when you connect a calendar integration.
π Background activity - Keep Any.do syncing in the background (for example, Background App Refresh on iOS).
πΆ Cellular data - Let Any.do work when WiβFi is not available.
π‘ WiβFi connection information (Android) - Help cloud sync by detecting WiβFi network state.
π Internet / Other - Allow cloud sync and secure communication with Any.do.
𧩠When you will see a permission request
Most permission prompts appear only when you try to use a feature that needs them.
For example:
When you set a reminder, your device may ask for Notifications.
When you set a location-based reminder, your device may ask for Location.
When you attach a file, your device may ask for Photos/Files.
If you dismissed a prompt earlier, you can always enable permissions later in your device settings.
π€ How to review or change permissions on Android
You can manage permissions from your Android device settings.
Open Device Settings.
Tap Apps (or Apps & notifications).
Select Any.do.
Tap Permissions.
Allow or block the permissions you want.
Tip: If reminders are late or missing, also check battery settings and allow background usage for Any.do.
π¬ Optional Android setting: pop-up reminders over other apps
This controls whether reminders can appear on top of other apps.
If you do not allow this permission, reminders may still arrive, but the full pop-up may not show until you tap the notification.
To manage it on Android:
Open Device Settings.
Tap Apps.
Select Any.do.
Tap Display over other apps (wording may vary).
Turn it on or off.
ο£Ώ How to review or change permissions on iOS
You can manage permissions from iOS Settings.
Open iPhone Settings.
Scroll down and tap Any.do.
Review each permission (Notifications, Location, Photos, Microphone, etc.).
Turn permissions on or off based on your preference.
Tip: For notification issues, also open Settings β Notifications β Any.do and confirm Allow Notifications is enabled.
π₯οΈ How permissions work on Web and Desktop
On Web and Desktop, permissions are usually controlled by your browser or operating system.
π Desktop notifications
This controls reminder pop-ups on your computer.
In Any.do, open Settings.
Enable Desktop Notifications.
When your browser prompts you, click Allow.
If pop-ups do not appear, check that your browser is not blocking notifications for Any.do.
ποΈ Calendar permissions on Web and Desktop
Calendar access is controlled through your calendar integration.
In Any.do, go to Settings β Calendars.
Connect or disconnect your calendar provider.
π§― Troubleshooting permission issues
If something is not working, these checks usually fix it.
Reminders not showing: Enable notifications and confirm the device is not in Focus/Do Not Disturb.
Location reminders not triggering: Enable location permission and confirm location services are enabled.
Calendar events not appearing: Confirm the calendar integration is connected on that device.
Attachments not uploading: Enable Photos/Files permission and retry.
For more troubleshooting steps, check out this article: Not Receiving Notifications or Reminders? Quick Fix Guide
If you still cannot resolve things, contact our team here: Any.do Contact Form.
πββοΈ FAQs
π Why does Any.do need notifications permission?
π Why does Any.do need notifications permission?
Notifications are required to deliver reminders, daily planning alerts, and collaboration updates. If notifications are off, reminders may not appear on that device.
π What permissions are required for location-based reminders?
π What permissions are required for location-based reminders?
Location reminders require location access (and GPS/location services) so Any.do can trigger alerts when you arrive at or leave a place.
π₯ Why does Any.do ask for contacts access?
π₯ Why does Any.do ask for contacts access?
Contacts can support Action Tasks and make inviting easier. You can still invite people by typing an email address manually.
ποΈ Can I opt out of calendar permissions?
ποΈ Can I opt out of calendar permissions?
Yes. If you do not want to use calendar integrations, you can keep calendar access disabled or disconnect your calendar from Settings β Calendars.
ποΈ Why does Any.do ask for microphone access?
ποΈ Why does Any.do ask for microphone access?
Microphone access is only used for recording audio notes and voice input.
π§Ή What happens if I disable some permissions?
π§Ή What happens if I disable some permissions?
Disabling a permission may limit the related feature (for example, disabling notifications can prevent reminders from appearing).
π² Can I disable pop-up reminders on Android?
π² Can I disable pop-up reminders on Android?
Yes. You can turn off the Android βDisplay over other appsβ permission if you prefer not to see reminder pop-ups over other apps.