topic The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted in Galaxy A Series

The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

wizardofoz — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 08:27:51 GMT

I noticed that the samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted. It will just crash as if the app cannot run without this permission, which is a nonesense.

Problem is, nearby device permission gives access to bluetooth scanning, which is a way to locate a smartphone (any other bluetooth device could be linked to a location) and therefore a privacy issue.

I understand that for some users wanting to share pictures over bluetooth, or connect to wearables, this permission could be usefull, but for others this is just a way to force them to accept smartphone location by Samsung.

Please Samsung, correct this bug !

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is..

xSteveuk — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 09:38:02 GMT

Hi,
Have you tried
Click on camera app
Settings
Reset Settings

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is..

wizardofoz — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 10:00:05 GMT

Hi,
I don't find the "reset settings". Here is what I do :

- I click on the camera app : a message appears telling me I have to grant the nearby device permission, and a button to go to setting

- I click on the button and access the app informations : I see notifications, permissions... but no "reset settings"

Re: Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permissio..

xSteveuk — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 10:26:34 GMT

Hi
Does going settings
Apps
Camera
Settings

Re: Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permissio..

wizardofoz — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 11:23:26 GMT

Yes, this is the same screen, but I see no 'reset settings' in the app information screen.

To be sure : I do not want to give the nearby device permission. 😀

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

wizardofoz — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 12:59:55 GMT

Hey ! Someone from Samsung can explain why we must acept to get tracked by Samsung to use the Camera App ??

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

AndrewL — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 14:14:00 GMT

@wizardofoz: If you're referring to Location tracking, then this is to allow the app to provide location tags for captured photos and videos. If you'd prefer not to enable this feature then please head to Settings > Apps > Camera > Permissions > Location > Don't Allow. Alternatively, open the Camera app > Tap the cog symbol > Location Tags, and toggle this option off.

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

wizardofoz — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 14:17:51 GMT

No I talk about the "Nearby Device" permission, which could be used to track users. I cannot run the Camera App when I deny this permission : the app simply closes (or crashes).

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is..

Ididntaskforthis — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 23:26:05 GMT

Looks like Samsung doesn't have an answer to your question, it feels like a feature that's just shoved down our throats.
I don't want to use Nearby Device when using my camera, how do I switch it off and still be able to use my camera?

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is..

wizardofoz — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 13:41:04 GMT

It's a pity that Android 12 strengthens security by giving more control on the app permissions, a.o. localisation, and to see that Samsung tries to bypass it and force users to give info about their localisation. Is it GDPR-compliant by the way ?

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is..

Ididntaskforthis — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 14:13:26 GMT

Good point. Probably not. Why does your location need to be logged every time we take a picture? That data would be going to Samsungs third parties disguised as a feature for the user.
I think you can switch off Airdrop on Apple devices.

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is..

YourMom — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:04:20 GMT

There is no option to reset the camera settings. Watchu talkin bout Willis? This is really p***ing me off! Samsung DOES NOT need access to nearby Bluetooth mics! I don't even have one. How dare they take away my permissions to use my camera, altogether!

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

YourMom — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 22:44:38 GMT

Next time maybe you should read the question more carefully. Nobody is talking about location permissions. 🙄

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

wizardofoz — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 14:05:39 GMT

Still nobody from Samsung willing to explain why the camera App won't work without the "Nearby device" permission ?

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is..

Ididntaskforthis — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 14:43:36 GMT

This will explain why they want to use Bluetooth to talk to other Bluetooth devices. Location being one of the features Samsung do not try to explain. It's all very vague.
https://www.theverge.com/2014/6/6/5787424/android-nearby-feature-reportedly-lets-devices-automatically-interact

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

Anonymous User — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 04:42:43 GMT

this sucks. Does Samsung actually spy? Why does it needs this perrmsion? I think im about to switch to apple for this action.

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

wizardofoz — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 08:41:46 GMT

Same disillusion for me : I though that Android would give me more freedom, but I realize that Google and the Android phone manufacturers (Samsung, but others are not better) just use any possible way to gather as much data about me as possible, against my will, with no way to opt out. And this is most probably against privacy regulations, like the GDPR in Europe.

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

wizardofoz — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 08:44:39 GMT

Still nobody from Samsung daring to answer user concerns from that thread ?

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

Freemanfornow — Thu, 04 May 2023 00:54:49 GMT

I don't know it you ever figured out the problem, but I just encountered it.....

However, the nearby devices permission IS INDEED used to determine location, even if you have yours off, via Bluetooth and users nearby... that's why it's also good to keep sensors turned off when you're around other people......

Re: The samsung camera app won't work unless the "Nearby device" permission is granted

Electronic Spies999 — Wed, 10 May 2023 22:27:34 GMT

I agree. Mine was working fine without it also. It wants to connect to my PCwhich is total bull. Just as the Agreement it made me sign to reply here. Says I can read agreement, then said it was unavailable on my Samsung S22. Bigger spy then Google now.