10 best Android flashlight apps with no extra permissions
Color Flashlight
[Price: Free]
Color Flashlight is first up and that’s probably a good thing because it has a lot of features. It has the standard lowest-permissions-needed and the standard ability to turn on your LED flash on the back of your phone. There are also a number of features available to make your device screen into a flashlight of various colors, shapes, sizes, and patterns. It does contain advertising but doesn’t contain the permissions necessary to transmit any of your personal data so that’s always a plus.
Color Flashlight is first up and that’s probably a good thing because it has a lot of features. It has the standard lowest-permissions-needed and the standard ability to turn on your LED flash on the back of your phone. There are also a number of features available to make your device screen into a flashlight of various colors, shapes, sizes, and patterns. It does contain advertising but doesn’t contain the permissions necessary to transmit any of your personal data so that’s always a plus.
Flashlight by Mobile Apps Inc
[Price: Free]
One of two apps on the list aptly named “Flashlight”, this one is done by Mobile Apps Inc. It has a decent looking interface, a built in SOS signal in case you need it along with a slider to strobe in other patterns. The app also comes with a compass if you’re out in the wilderness and need a flashlight and a compass simultaneously.
One of two apps on the list aptly named “Flashlight”, this one is done by Mobile Apps Inc. It has a decent looking interface, a built in SOS signal in case you need it along with a slider to strobe in other patterns. The app also comes with a compass if you’re out in the wilderness and need a flashlight and a compass simultaneously.
Flashlight by SimGears
[Price: Free]
The second app called “Flashlight” is by SimGears. This app includes a total of four widgets that you can place on your home screen and lock screen for easy flashlight access. There is also built-in functionality where the flashlight recognizes that the phone has gone into your pocket and automatically turns off the flashlight to save battery and time. Flashlight also stays on even after you lock the screen. It does have ads but they can be disabled in the app settings if you don’t want them there.
The second app called “Flashlight” is by SimGears. This app includes a total of four widgets that you can place on your home screen and lock screen for easy flashlight access. There is also built-in functionality where the flashlight recognizes that the phone has gone into your pocket and automatically turns off the flashlight to save battery and time. Flashlight also stays on even after you lock the screen. It does have ads but they can be disabled in the app settings if you don’t want them there.
Flashlight HD LED
[Price: Free]
Flashlight HD LED is another app that can utilize both your home screen and LED flash to produce a flashlight. The LED flashlight can be controlled by a home screen widget that is included. In the app, you can turn your screen into an flashlight as well using whatever color you choose from the app’s color picker. It’s otherwise very simple without any other bells and whistles.
Flashlight HD LED is another app that can utilize both your home screen and LED flash to produce a flashlight. The LED flashlight can be controlled by a home screen widget that is included. In the app, you can turn your screen into an flashlight as well using whatever color you choose from the app’s color picker. It’s otherwise very simple without any other bells and whistles.
Flashlight – Mega Flashlight
[Price: Free]
Flashlight Mega Flashlight is another flashlight that works with both your device screen and the LED flash on the back. You can make the device strobe in a variety of patters including emergency and Morse Code. It’s a very simple application and the app description explicitly explains why camera apps need camera permissions (in case you’d like to read it from a developer).
Flashlight Mega Flashlight is another flashlight that works with both your device screen and the LED flash on the back. You can make the device strobe in a variety of patters including emergency and Morse Code. It’s a very simple application and the app description explicitly explains why camera apps need camera permissions (in case you’d like to read it from a developer).
Privacy Flashlight
[Price: Free]
Privacy Flashlight is made by a company (SnoopWall) that touts the need for privacy about as much as a company can. Thus, you can expect that their flashlight app follows true to their calling. Aside from using literally the bare minimum permissions necessary, the app is also very small (less than 1MB). It also contains a widget if you need that and a very minimal app interface. If you’re interested in a fun read, the app description also describes the problem with flashlight apps and privacy issues in far more detail than I did earlier.
Privacy Flashlight is made by a company (SnoopWall) that touts the need for privacy about as much as a company can. Thus, you can expect that their flashlight app follows true to their calling. Aside from using literally the bare minimum permissions necessary, the app is also very small (less than 1MB). It also contains a widget if you need that and a very minimal app interface. If you’re interested in a fun read, the app description also describes the problem with flashlight apps and privacy issues in far more detail than I did earlier.
[Price: Free]
Super-Bright LED Flashlight is already an intensely popular application and, as of the time of this writing, only asks for the standard Camera/Mic permission. This one focuses a little more on aesthetics than most flashlight apps and it does look really nice. There is also a strobe feature that is adjustable if you happen to need that. TeslaLED Flashlight
Super-Bright LED Flashlight is already an intensely popular application and, as of the time of this writing, only asks for the standard Camera/Mic permission. This one focuses a little more on aesthetics than most flashlight apps and it does look really nice. There is also a strobe feature that is adjustable if you happen to need that. TeslaLED Flashlight
[Price: Free]
If there was ever an app from “a name you can trust”, it’s TeslaLED Flashlight. It’s made by the same people who develop Nova Launcher and the once popular WidgetLocker app. It contains a simple interface, a home screen widget that you can also theme, and a barebones permission list. There is also the standard screen features like strobing and Morse Code. It hasn’t been updated in a very long time (2011) but still manages to work with most devices. That means if you find a bug you’ll probably have to go to another flashlight app.
If there was ever an app from “a name you can trust”, it’s TeslaLED Flashlight. It’s made by the same people who develop Nova Launcher and the once popular WidgetLocker app. It contains a simple interface, a home screen widget that you can also theme, and a barebones permission list. There is also the standard screen features like strobing and Morse Code. It hasn’t been updated in a very long time (2011) but still manages to work with most devices. That means if you find a bug you’ll probably have to go to another flashlight app.
Tiny Flashlight + LED
[Price: Free]
Tiny Flashlight is another minimal app that is just about 1MB in size. It has a home screen widget that you can theme, strobe lights including Morse Code and police lights, and the fewest possible permissions. It looks nice and it’s been around for a while. It’s also fairly trusted since it’s been downloaded over 100 million times. That’s a lot.
Torch
Tiny Flashlight is another minimal app that is just about 1MB in size. It has a home screen widget that you can theme, strobe lights including Morse Code and police lights, and the fewest possible permissions. It looks nice and it’s been around for a while. It’s also fairly trusted since it’s been downloaded over 100 million times. That’s a lot.
Torch
[Price: Free]
Torch is a friendly application because some people may already know it because it’s been integrated into custom ROMs before. That means some root users may recognize this one. It comes with a home screen widget but no screen-flashlight options. Thanks to this, it’s the second smallest app on this list (less than 1MB) and it’s great for those who just want the home screen widget.
Torch is a friendly application because some people may already know it because it’s been integrated into custom ROMs before. That means some root users may recognize this one. It comes with a home screen widget but no screen-flashlight options. Thanks to this, it’s the second smallest app on this list (less than 1MB) and it’s great for those who just want the home screen widget.
Wrap up
If we missed one of your favorite Android flashlight apps, please let us know in the comments!
Note about permissions:
A lot of people may feel wary about every one of these asking for “Camera/Mic”. Unfortunately, this is Google’s fault. They have bundled the microphone and camera permissions into a single permission. A vast majority of camera apps never even try to access the mic but do require the Camera/Mic permission in order to access your device’s LED flash. This is totally unavoidable and you’ll never find a flashlight apps with no permissions.
A lot of people may feel wary about every one of these asking for “Camera/Mic”. Unfortunately, this is Google’s fault. They have bundled the microphone and camera permissions into a single permission. A vast majority of camera apps never even try to access the mic but do require the Camera/Mic permission in order to access your device’s LED flash. This is totally unavoidable and you’ll never find a flashlight apps with no permissions.
If you’re worried about the mic permission, you shouldn’t be and here’s why. Even if these developers turned the microphone on, none of these apps have the permission to write to storage. Without the write to storage permission, they are unable to save any files at all to your device. That means the application is physically incapable of recording you even if the mic were turned on.
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