How to remove a permission added because of Google Fitness API 7.5.0

Question

After updating my play-services-fitness api from 7.0.0 to 7.5.0 I noticed that when I go to upload a new build to the PlayStore it tells me that I am adding a new permission and 2 new features. I did not do this! What the heck.

Answer 1

After doing some research to pin down the culprit it was in fact play-services-fitness:7.5.0 that was to blame. By including that in your project (compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-fitness:7.5.0') and compiling it will inject the <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"/> into your AndroidManifest.xml. So the PlayStore is correct, you are asking to use new permissions and features. You can confirm this by checking your build/intermediaries/manifests/full/[debug|release]/AndroidManifest.xml file. There you will see the new permission added. To remove this you simply add <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" tools:node="remove" /> to your own manifest and it will be stripped out during the manifest merge process. You will crash if/when you do use a Fitness API that requires that permission but if you can guarantee that you won't use it then there you have it.