NEW!Why doesn’t Camera Guard work on Android 14 and later, even though other apps on the Play Store claim to block the camera?
Starting with Android 14, Google further tightened existing privacy mechanisms. The key point: the system-wide camera/microphone switch is controlled by the operating system; regular apps are not allowed to toggle it programmatically. The related interface is protected by a signature-level permission and is off‑limits to normal Play Store apps.
Android 14 also makes various workarounds harder (e.g., accessibility automations via “Restricted settings” or permanent foreground services), which makes such tricks fragile and unreliable. In short: a true system‑wide camera kill switch is no longer possible for third‑party apps on personal devices.
So why do some apps apparently “work”?
Some of these apps merely simulate a lock (e.g., via accessibility scripts) or keep the camera permanently busy. Both approaches are fragile, battery‑hungry, and not a reliable system‑level block—especially since Android 14 enforces stricter rules (including foreground‑service types and tighter limits).
What can you do now?
- Use the system switch: Add the Camera tile to your Quick Settings and turn it off there when needed. This is the only reliable, OS‑provided method.
- Revoke app access selectively: Go to Settings → Security & privacy → Permission manager → Camera to deny camera use for specific apps. This blocks suspicious cases without workarounds.
Protect yourself intelligently (our tip):
- Protectstar Anti Spy — detects stalkerware/spyware that could abuse your camera/microphone; the world’s first anti‑spyware with dual certification (AV‑TEST & DEKRA MASA L1) and a measured detection rate of 99.87%.
- Antivirus AI Android — DEKRA MASA L1‑certified and multi‑award‑winning; shields you from malware that tries to access sensors secretly, with a vetted app‑security design.
Our promise: We don’t ship placebos. If Google re‑opens a supported interface for consumer devices, we’ll bring back Camera Guard Android—transparent, honest, and reliable.