What Seikret does and why you might customize it
Seikret is a privacy-focused settings manager for Android devices that lets you control which apps can access your location, contacts, camera, microphone, and other sensitive data. Instead of giving an app blanket permission when you install it, Seikret lets you grant or deny access on a per-app basis, and you can change those permissions whenever you want.
Customizing Seikret means deciding which apps actually need which permissions, and which ones you want to block entirely. A weather app genuinely needs location data. A note-taking app does not. Seikret's customization options let you enforce that distinction without uninstalling apps you otherwise want to use.
The goal is not to make your phone unusable — it is to make it work the way you want it to, not the way app developers prefer. You will find that some apps work fine with fewer permissions than they ask for. Others will refuse to open or will lose features. Customizing Seikret is about finding your own balance.
Key Takeaways
- Seikret intercepts permission requests from apps and lets you allow, deny, or fake the data instead of giving real access.
- You can set different rules for the same app in different contexts — for example, allow location only when the app is actively open.
- Denying a permission may break some app features, but most apps will still function with reduced capabilities.
- Seikret's "fake data" mode lets an app think it has access without actually getting it, useful for apps that refuse to run without permission.
Opening Seikret and finding the apps you want to control
After you install Seikret from the Play Store or F-Droid, open the app and you will see a list of all installed applications. The list is long — it includes system apps, Google apps, and everything you downloaded yourself. You do not need to customize every single one. Start with the apps you use most often and the ones that ask for permissions that seem unnecessary.
Tap on any app name to open its permission settings. You will see a list of permissions that app has requested: location, contacts, camera, microphone, storage, phone state, and others depending on what the app does. Next to each permission is a toggle or dropdown showing the current state — usually "Allow", "Deny", or "Fake".
If you have not customized an app yet, Seikret is probably set to pass through the system default — whatever Android itself decided when you installed the app. Tapping into an app's settings is where you change that.
Understanding the three permission modes: Allow, Deny, and Fake
Allow means the app gets real access. If you set location to Allow, the app receives your actual GPS coordinates. If you set camera to Allow, the app can use your phone's camera. This is the same as granting permission normally.
Deny means the app gets nothing. It cannot access that data at all. Many apps will still work with Deny — a messaging app works fine without location, for example. Some apps will complain or refuse to open. You find out by trying.
Fake is the middle ground. The app thinks it has access, but Seikret feeds it dummy data instead of real data. A fake location might be a random point on the map. Fake contacts might be an empty list. Fake camera access might return a blank image. This mode is useful when an app refuses to run without a permission but you do not want to give it real access. The app stays happy, and your actual data stays private.
Not every permission has all three options — some are binary Allow or Deny. Location, contacts, and camera usually support all three.
Setting different rules based on when the app is running
Seikret lets you set conditional permissions — different rules depending on whether the app is in the foreground (actively open on your screen) or in the background (running but you are not looking at it). This is powerful because many apps ask for background access they do not actually need.
For example, you might set a maps app to Allow location only when it is open, and Deny when it is in the background. The app works normally when you are using it, but cannot track your location while you are doing something else. To set this, look for a dropdown or toggle next to the permission that says "Foreground" or "Background" and adjust each separately.
Not all apps support conditional permissions — some will only work with a blanket Allow or Deny. If an app breaks when you set it to foreground-only, switch back to Allow and move on. The goal is to find settings that work for your actual use case, not to block everything possible.
Handling apps that refuse to work with restricted permissions
Some apps check for permissions at startup and will not open if they do not have them, even if they never actually use them. This is frustrating but common. If an app refuses to open after you deny a permission, you have three options: Allow the permission, switch that permission to Fake, or uninstall the app.
Try Fake first. Set the permission to Fake and open the app. If it opens and works, you have given it the appearance of access without the reality. If it still refuses to open, switch to Allow. If you are not willing to allow the permission and the app will not work with Fake, then you have to decide whether you want the app badly enough to give it real access, or whether you would rather not use it.
Document which apps behave this way. It is useful information for deciding whether to keep them installed. An app that demands location access but never actually uses location is asking for more trust than it has earned.
Reviewing and updating your settings over time
Your Seikret configuration is not a one-time setup. Apps update, your phone usage changes, and you may realize over time that an app you thought needed a permission actually does not. Check back on your customizations every few months, especially after major app updates.
Seikret keeps a log of permission requests — you can see which apps asked for what, when, and whether you allowed it. This log is in the app's main menu and is worth reviewing occasionally. If you see an app requesting location five times a day when you only use it once a week, that is a sign the app is doing something in the background you did not expect.
If an app stops working after an update, open Seikret and check whether the update changed the permission requests. Sometimes a new version of an app asks for additional permissions. You can adjust your settings to match the new version, or you can stick with your old settings and accept that some features might not work.
Backing up and restoring your Seikret configuration
Seikret can export your permission settings to a file so you do not have to reconfigure everything if you get a new phone or reinstall the app. Open Seikret's menu and look for an option to export or backup. The file will be saved to your phone's storage. You can then transfer it to a new device and import it.
This is especially useful if you have spent time fine-tuning permissions for dozens of apps. Rather than starting from scratch, you can restore your old configuration and make adjustments as needed. The backup file is a text file you can also read and edit manually if you want to change settings in bulk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Seikret slow down my phone?
Seikret runs in the background and intercepts permission requests, so it uses some battery and RAM. Most users report the impact is minimal — a few percent of battery life at most. If you notice your phone getting noticeably slower, you can disable Seikret temporarily to see if it is the cause, though other background apps are usually the culprit.
Can I use Seikret with other privacy apps like NetGuard or Blokada?
Yes, but be careful. Seikret controls app permissions, while NetGuard and Blokada control network traffic. They work on different layers and usually do not conflict. However, if you are running multiple apps that intercept system calls, your phone may become unstable. Test them together on a non-critical device first if you can.
What happens if I deny location to Google Maps?
Maps will not work — it needs your location to show you where you are. You can set it to Allow when the app is open and Deny in the background, which gives you the functionality you need without letting Maps track you all day. Or you can use a different maps app that respects your privacy settings better.
Does Seikret work on all Android versions?
Seikret works best on Android 6 and newer. Older versions have different permission systems and Seikret may not be able to intercept all requests. Check the app's listing on the Play Store or F-Droid to see which Android versions it supports before you install it.
Can apps detect that I am using Seikret?
Some apps can detect that permissions are being intercepted, though most cannot. Apps that do detect it might refuse to run or might report it to their developers. This is rare, but if an app you rely on stops working after you install Seikret, that is a possible reason. You can uninstall Seikret to test.