When an iPhone app keeps asking for permission you already allowed (or iOS flips it back), it’s usually caused by Screen Time rules, a stuck privacy prompt, a corrupted app state, or an iOS bug after an update.
Start with the phone steps below—they solve the majority of cases without resetting your whole device.
1. Mobile-first: confirm the exact permission (and grant it in the right place)
iOS permissions can be controlled in two places, and some apps only “stick” when you set them in Settings.
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security and open the relevant section (Camera, Microphone, Photos, Location Services, Bluetooth, Local Network).
- Find the app and set the permission explicitly (for Photos, choose All Photos vs Limited Access if the app needs full library access).
- Also check Settings > [App Name]. Some apps have extra toggles there (like Background App Refresh or Local Network).
If it still prompts every time, keep going—this is usually policy-related, not user error.
2. Mobile-first: check Screen Time restrictions (the #1 “it keeps turning off” cause)
Screen Time can silently block permissions or force them to behave inconsistently—especially on a work phone, a child’s device, or a shared family device.
- Open Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions (turn it off temporarily to test).
- Check Allowed Apps and make sure things like Camera are allowed if your issue is camera-based.
- Check Privacy inside Screen Time restrictions and confirm Camera/Microphone/Photos/Location aren’t set to “Don’t Allow”.
If your iPhone is managed by an organization (MDM), a profile may enforce these settings. In that case, your changes may not persist.
3. Mobile-first: restart the permission prompt by force-quitting and rebooting
This sounds basic, but permission prompts can get “stuck” after an iOS update or after restoring from a backup.
- Force quit the app (open App Switcher, swipe it away).
- Restart iPhone (power off fully, then back on).
- Open the app and try the action that triggers the permission request.
If the permission is already enabled but the app behaves like it isn’t, this often clears the mismatch.
4. Mobile-first: reset Location & Privacy prompts (targeted reset, not a full erase)
If multiple apps are having permission issues, the system permission database may be confused. A reset can rebuild it.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Tap Reset Location & Privacy.
- Re-open the problem app and re-allow the needed permissions when prompted.
What to expect: you’ll need to approve permissions again for apps you use. Your data and photos are not deleted.
5. Mobile-first: reinstall the app (but watch for “Offload” vs “Delete”)
If only one app is affected, the app’s local state can be corrupted.
- Try Offload App first: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > [App] > Offload App, then reinstall from the Home Screen icon.
- If that doesn’t work, use Delete App (same screen) and reinstall fresh from the App Store.
- After reinstalling, immediately grant permissions when asked (don’t dismiss the first prompt).
Note: deleting the app can remove local data. If it’s a messaging or authenticator app, confirm it’s backed up or account-linked first.
6. Desktop steps (Mac): check Apple ID device limits and managed profiles
If the iPhone is supervised/managed, permission behavior may be enforced and appear to “reset.” Desktop checks can reveal that.
- On the iPhone, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and look for configuration profiles or management.
- On a Mac signed into the same Apple ID: open System Settings > Privacy & Security and review any management notices (especially on corporate Macs).
- If this is a work/school device, contact your admin—some camera/mic/location controls are intentional policy.
If there’s no management and the issue started after an iOS update, update iOS again (or install the latest point release). Permission bugs are often fixed quietly.
Final thoughts
When permissions don’t stick, the fastest wins are Screen Time restrictions, a targeted “Reset Location & Privacy,” and reinstalling the affected app.
If the device is managed, persistence problems are often policy—not something you can override locally.