Help › Android › Install and Setup
App Permissions
PhoneLeash requires the following Android permissions to forward your messages, calls, and notifications. All permissions are requested during the initial setup wizard.
READ_SMS, RECEIVE_SMS, SEND_SMS — REQUIRED
Why required: To read incoming and outgoing text messages, receive new messages in real-time, and send replies from your forwarding destination back to the original sender.
- Incoming and outgoing SMS are forwarded to your chosen email or phone number
- Messages pass through PhoneLeash servers only while in transit and are not stored
- Messages may contain private information including OTPs — ensure your forwarding destination is secure
RECEIVE_MMS, RECEIVE_WAP_PUSH — REQUIRED
Why required: To detect and forward incoming MMS (picture/video) messages.
- MMS attachments are compressed before forwarding to reduce data usage
- Attachments are not stored on PhoneLeash servers after delivery
READ_CALL_LOG — REQUIRED
Why required: To detect and forward missed call, incoming call, and outgoing call notifications.
- Call log data is used only to generate notifications to your forwarding destination
- Call recordings are never accessed or stored
READ_PHONE_STATE, READ_PHONE_NUMBERS — REQUIRED
Why required: To detect your phone number(s) for dual-SIM support and to prevent self-forwarding loops.
- Your phone number is collected to prevent forwarding messages back to your own number
- Used for device identification during support requests
READ_CONTACTS — REQUIRED
Why required: To display contact names in forwarded messages and to support contact-based filtering.
- Contact lookups happen entirely on your device
- Your contacts list is never uploaded, stored, or shared
GET_ACCOUNTS — REQUIRED
Why required: To identify the device owner's primary account for anti-spyware protection.
- The owner email is used to notify you that PhoneLeash has been installed on your device
- This discourages unauthorized installation of PhoneLeash as spyware
POST_NOTIFICATIONS — REQUIRED
Why required: To show the persistent foreground service notification that keeps PhoneLeash running reliably.
See also: PhoneLeash privacy policy.