What is notification access (notification listener)?

Notification access is an Android special permission that lets an app, through a notification listener service, read the notifications other apps post, including message previews, and dismiss them.

Android’s developer documentation describes a notification listener as a service that “receives calls when notifications are posted or removed”. [1] You grant it app by app. On most phones, search Settings for Notification access or Device & app notifications, often under Special app access. Menu names vary by phone maker.

Why it matters on Android

Notifications often contain the first lines of messages, emails, one-time codes and bank alerts. An app with notification access can see all of them as they arrive.

Many apps need it for good reasons. Smartwatch and fitness band apps show your notifications on your wrist, car apps read messages aloud, and some automation apps react to notifications. Monitoring apps can also use it to collect message previews. An app you do not recognise in the notification access list is worth a closer look, but the access alone does not prove misuse.

How Applore uses it

• Private Notifications (Pro). In Advance Lock, you can turn on Private Notifications so that notifications from apps you have locked do not show in the notification shade. This needs notification access. Applore removes those notifications and keeps their title and text on your phone until you open Private Notifications with your PIN. If you do not use Private Notifications, Applore does not need notification access.
• A Safety Check item. Safety Check opens Android’s notification access list so you can review which apps have it.
• A signal in the stalkerware check. Needs your review treats notification access as one warning sign. A sideloaded app that hides its icon and can read notifications is flagged at a higher level.

The guide on which apps can read your notifications shows how to review and remove access.