How to remove specific permission when build Android app with gradle?

When building Android applications with Gradle, you can remove specific permissions by using the tools:node="remove" attribute when declaring permissions in the AndroidManifest.xml. This is a useful technique, especially when the libraries you introduce include permissions you don't need.

Below is a step-by-step guide and example:

Step 1: Add the namespace to your project

First, ensure that you add the tools namespace to the tag in your AndroidManifest.xml file:

xml
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    ... >

Step 2: Use tools:node="remove" to remove permissions

Next, use the tools:node="remove" attribute to specify the permissions you want to remove. For example, if you want to remove the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission from your application, you can write it in the AndroidManifest.xml as follows:

xml
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" tools:node="remove" />

This line of code instructs the Android build system to exclude the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission from the final APK.

Example:

Suppose your application depends on a third-party library that requires the following permissions:

• INTERNET
• ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION

However, your application only needs the INTERNET permission and does not require ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION. Therefore, your AndroidManifest.xml file should be structured as follows:

xml
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
          xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools">

    <!-- Add network permission, as your application requires it -->
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>

    <!-- Exclude the precise location permission from the third-party library -->
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" tools:node="remove"/>
</manifest>

Important Notes:

• Ensure you use the correct permission names; otherwise, the remove instruction may not function as intended.
• Test your application to confirm functionality remains intact after removing permissions.
• Removing certain core permissions may impact third-party library functionality, so thoroughly test related features after exclusion.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage your application's permissions, ensuring unnecessary permissions do not compromise user privacy or device security.