RemoteCap — Permissions Explained

Last updated: 3 June 2026 · Privacy Policy

RemoteCap turns your Wear OS watch into a wireless viewfinder and remote shutter for your phone's camera app. Below is every permission the app requests, in plain language, and exactly what it is — and is not — used for. The app has no internet permission and sends no data to any server.

Accessibility service sensitive

Used for: performing a single tap on the camera shutter button, at a target position you place yourself, when you press the shutter on your watch. This is the core "remote shutter" feature and is what lets RemoteCap work with any camera app.

Not used for: reading your screen, logging what you type, tracking your activity, or collecting information. The service is configured to receive no accessibility events (accessibilityEventTypes is empty) and does not retrieve window content; it only dispatches the tap gesture you ask for. You enable it manually in Settings and can revoke it anytime.

Screen capture — Media Projection sensitive

Used for: mirroring your phone screen to the watch as a live viewfinder, so you can frame a shot from a distance. Android shows a system confirmation dialog that you must approve every time mirroring starts.

Not used for: recording, saving, or uploading your screen. Frames are downscaled and streamed to your paired watch in real time, then discarded. Nothing is stored.

Photos and media — READ_MEDIA_IMAGES sensitive

Used for: reading the photo you just captured so the app can build a small thumbnail and show it on your watch as a "shot taken" confirmation.

Not used for: browsing, copying, uploading, or sharing your photo library. The thumbnail goes only to your own paired watch and is not transmitted anywhere else.

Display over other apps

Used for: drawing the small, draggable crosshair you position over your camera app's shutter button, so RemoteCap knows where to tap.

Foreground service & notifications

Used for: keeping screen mirroring running reliably while you use the camera, and showing the required ongoing notification while it is active.

Bluetooth

Used for: the device-to-device link that carries the viewfinder stream and shutter signals between your phone and watch, via the Wear OS Data Layer.

Vibrate (watch)

Used for: a short buzz on the watch to confirm a photo was taken.