Display over other apps
Allows the grainy grey overlay to render above other apps during enforcement and penalty.
Without this, debt state is invisible on screen — only notifications, which you will ignore.
Permissions
Every permission exists because enforcement cannot work without it. Nothing here is decorative.
The Vig is not a normal app. It watches which apps you open, draws over the screen, can lock you out, and resists uninstall while armed. That requires elevated Android access most apps never ask for. Read this before install — if any row below makes you uncomfortable, do not proceed.
Setup permissions (in-app checklist)
Grant these in the order shown in the app. Enable accessibility last. Step-by-step setup is on the Help page.
Device administrator
Enables anti-tamper protection. While enforcement is armed outside The Window, screens that would
uninstall, force-stop, or de-administer The Vig are blocked.
Battery optimization exemption
Prevents Android from killing the accessibility service and watchdog in the background.
If the OS sleeps The Vig, marked apps open without enforcement.
Accessibility service
Core enforcement engine. Detects when marked apps open or close, runs launch hold, applies lockout
and the Guillotine, tracks tab time, and scans Settings/Store UI for tamper attempts. This is the
most invasive permission Android offers to third-party apps.
Additional grants
Write secure settings (grayscale)
Not a normal permission prompt. Granted once via ADB:
adb shell pm grant eu.thevig android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
Lets The Vig toggle system grayscale during penalty. Without it, lockout still works — the screen just stays in full colour.
Notifications
Android 13+ may prompt for notification permission. Used for penalty status and enforcement alerts —
not marketing, not engagement bait.
Foreground service (watchdog)
Keeps a lightweight watchdog running so enforcement survives process death and aggressive OEM battery
management. You do not configure this separately; it follows from arming the app.
Run on startup
Restores enforcement state after device startup or app update so it does not silently disable the Vig.
What The Vig does not request
- No contacts, SMS, call log, or microphone access.
- No location tracking for enforcement.
- No cloud upload of your app-usage ledger by default — enforcement data stays on device.