Among the new features in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the ability for users to control which phone resources and data an app has access to is perhaps one of the most exciting. Thanks to Granular App Permissions users can now grant or deny apps access instead of having to settle for bulk allowing all permissions at installation.

The team at Phone Arena installed the latest Android M Developer Preview and detailed how granular app permissions work in Marshmallow.

To set app permission in Marshmallow, go to Settings and click on the Apps section. In Apps, click on the Gear icon and got to the app permission manager.

Available app permissions include access to body sensors, calendar, camera, contacts, location, microphone, phone, SMS, storage, car information, read/write instant messages, and more. Each permission will list the apps that have been granted access to access the function. From here you have the ability to grant or revoke access on a ‘granular’ level (by app and by permission).

Google has instructed app developers to thoroughly test their apps and ensure they comply with the new permission functionality before Android 6.0 Marshmallow’s general release later this year.

Unfortunately, as we pointed out earlier this week, the majority of Android users won’t get to install Android Marshmallow for months after its release, if at all. Sadly, many will therefore be left without control over what apps have access to on their Android devices.

If you are a Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 or Nexus Player user and want to test drive Android Marshmallow, you can install the developer preview by following our guide and test out granular app permissions for yourself.

Image credit: Rob Bulmahn via Flickr