Lens Cap - Disable Camera

Percula

About this app

NOTE: This app is NOT compatible with Android 11 or above
In Android 11, Google removed the ability to disable cameras using Device Administrator (the method Lens Cap uses) in favor of enterprise Work Profiles. Sadly, this marks the end of Lens Cap.

Replacements for Lens Cap (built-in to Android)
- Android 12: Enable the "Sensors Off" quick settings tile in developer options (https://www.howtogeek.com/691619/how-to-turn-off-all-your-android-phones-sensors-in-one-tap/).
- Android 13: Use the "Camera Access" quick settings tile

App Description
Lens Cap is a simple and modern app that disables your phone or tablet's camera.

It is useful for job-related camera restrictions and blocks apps from using the camera without your permission.

Open Source!
You can view the source code at http://github.com/percula/LensCap

Permissions:
This app uses the Device Administrator permission. Specifically, it uses the "Disable Cameras" permission within Device Administrator. This permission allows the application to have system level access in order to disable and re-enable the camera on the installed device. Lens Cap does not use this permission for any other reason. More information on this permission and how it is implemented can be found on the Google Developer website: https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/admin/device-admin.html

Lens Cap also uses the In-App-Purchase permission to determine whether the user has donated. Donations are completely optional and do not add any additional functionality to the app. The ability to donate was added because some kind users requested the ability to donate :-).

Note to Custom Android ROM Users:
There is a bug within some custom Android ROMS including OxygenOS and LineageOS that prevents Lens Cap from operating properly. If you experience an issue, please contact me and also file a bug report with the ROM. Make sure to mention there is an issue with the ROM's implementation of the Device Administration API.

Ratings and reviews

I like it! However, I discovered that, if I put the device to sleep and turn it back on, the widget stops working. So, I have to go to the app itself and click "take cap off", and the widget works again. This might not be the case for other devices. Mine is a Huawei Honor X2. If the widget would work all the time, I'd give this app 5 stars.

One click & your camera is disabled. I wasn't certain if it was working or not, even after when I'd put the lenscap on certain Apps that need camera access said they couldn't even detect a camera! So I got a programmer mate to try it out (it just seemed too simple to be working). He installed the App & kept it on his families devices afterwards as HE was so impressed with it! Needless to say, it's now on all my compatible devices. Top Marks people! So simple to use, and so effective with it.

Good app, the camera app, the Google Lens app and the scanner app all started malfunctioning and it's all because of this app. It's not a problem but admin privilege. Camera and Scanner were showing errors but Lens was having another problem which made it take forever to load. And if you want security, install Smart Lockscreen Protector to block the notification area, in which there is the quick settings menu. Then lock the phone. Then lock this app using an app lock.

What’s new

Add warnings for Android 10 and 11 users.