---
title: "App minimum necessary personal information by category"
canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/app-minimum-necessary-personal-information-by-category"
source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/app-minimum-necessary-personal-information-by-category"
author: "Sorena AI"
description: "App category mapping page for common mobile app necessary personal information scope, using only categories supported by the official source."
published_at: "2026-07-05"
updated_at: "2026-07-24"
keywords:
  - "China PIPL"
  - "Personal Information Protection Law"
  - "Data export"
  - "Standard contract"
  - "App privacy"
---
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# App minimum necessary personal information by category

App category mapping page for common mobile app necessary personal information scope, using only categories supported by the official source.

*Privacy* *China*

## China Privacy Law App minimum necessary personal information by category

The 2021 provisions define the basic function and necessary consumer-side personal information for 39 app types. Match the real function first; the list does not authorize unrelated or optional collection.

Use the 2021 provisions to test what necessary personal information is indispensable to an app's stated basic function. The official list covers 39 app types, including installed, preinstalled, and qualifying mini programs. A listed field is within the category's necessary-information scope only for the stated basic function; the rule does not require collection, authorize another purpose, or replace the PIPL duties that apply to the field.

## Definitions

### Necessary personal information for an app's basic function

**Term:** necessary personal information

Necessary personal information is personal information about a consumer-side app user without which the app's stated basic function cannot operate normally. The 2021 provisions specify the basic function and necessary-information scope for 39 common app types; supply-side users such as merchants, drivers, and couriers fall outside this particular definition.

**Why it matters here:** A field listed for the matched category may be within the necessary scope for that basic function, but the list neither requires collection nor authorizes another purpose. If the user refuses information outside the necessary scope, the provider may not deny the corresponding basic function.

Sources:

- [Necessary Personal Information Scope for Common Types of Mobile Apps, Articles 2-5](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-03/22/c_1617990997054277.htm?ref=sorena.io)

## How to use the 39-category list

First identify the service the user is trying to use, then match that service to the exact basic function in the official list. Necessary personal information means consumer-side information without which that basic function cannot operate normally. Information about merchants, drivers, couriers, teachers, or other supply-side users is outside this definition and needs its own legal analysis. The provisions took effect on 1 May 2021.

For a multi-function app, map each function separately. A field listed for ride hailing does not become necessary for news browsing or a loyalty feature merely because both appear in one app.

- Record the app version, user journey, selected category, exact basic function, field or permission, collection point, purpose, and why the function fails without it.
- Treat fields outside the listed scope as non-necessary for that basic function. The app may not refuse the basic function because a user declines those fields.
- Do not extend a category rationale to analytics, advertising, personalization, account enrichment, or convenience features without a separate PIPL purpose and processing analysis.
- Apply PIPL legality, purpose limitation, minimum-impact, notice, processing-basis, sensitive-information, retention, security, and rights duties in addition to the category list.

Sources for this answer:

- [Necessary Personal Information Scope for Common Types of Mobile Apps](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-03/22/c_1617990997054277.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 2-5 define covered apps and mini programs, consumer-side necessary personal information, the no-refusal rule, and all 39 category scopes.
- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 5-9 provide the general legality, purpose, minimum-impact, transparency, quality, accountability, and security principles that still apply.

## Selected category examples from the official table

These examples show how category, function, and field stay linked. Use the official Chinese table for the exact result across all 39 categories and check whether the app's implementation genuinely needs each field.

- Map and navigation - positioning and navigation: location, departure point, and destination.
- Ride hailing - booking a taxi or hailing a cruising taxi: registered-user mobile number; passenger departure point, destination, location, and travel trace; and, for online booking, payment time, amount, and channel.
- Instant messaging - text, image, voice, and video communications: registered-user mobile number, account, and instant-messaging contact account list.
- Online shopping and food delivery - purchasing goods or food delivery: registered-user mobile number; recipient name, address, and contact number; and payment time, amount, and channel.
- Medical consultation and registration - online consultation or appointment booking: registered-user mobile number; patient name, identity-document type and number, hospital, and department for registration; or a description of the condition for consultation.
- The table says the basic function can operate without personal information for 13 categories: women's health, live streaming, online audio or video, short video, news, fitness, browser, input method, security management, e-books, camera and editing, app store, and utility tools.

Sources for this answer:

- [Necessary Personal Information Scope for Common Types of Mobile Apps](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-03/22/c_1617990997054277.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Article 5 is the official category-by-category table supporting the listed functions and fields, including categories for which no personal information is necessary.

## Borderline cases and review evidence

The category list answers whether a field is necessary to a listed basic function. It does not decide every PIPL question, validate a bundled permission request, or cover supply-side users. Where no category fits, do not force the app into the nearest label; document the function-specific necessity analysis under the binding PIPL rules. Sorena's testing and evidence steps below explain how to demonstrate that analysis; they are not a separate statutory checklist.

- Test a new user with every non-necessary field and permission declined. The listed basic function should remain available.
- Map software development kits, device permissions, inferred data, and background events as well as visible form fields; the collection mechanism does not change the necessity test.
- Where one permission exposes more data than the function needs, record how the implementation limits collection, access, frequency, precision, transmission, and retention.
- Retain the category decision, screen and data-flow evidence, field and permission inventory, refusal test, PIPL notice and basis analysis, owner, approval, and change triggers.
- Reopen the decision when the basic function, user type, field, SDK, permission, purpose, collection timing, or technical dependency changes.

Sources for this answer:

- [Necessary Personal Information Scope for Common Types of Mobile Apps](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-03/22/c_1617990997054277.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 3-4 support the indispensable-to-basic-function test, its consumer-side boundary, and the requirement not to block basic functionality for refusal of non-necessary information.
- [Mobile Internet Application Information Service Management Provisions](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-06/14/c_1656821626455324.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 10-12 require app security and data controls, compliance with the necessary-information scope, and no forced consent or refusal of basic service for non-necessary information.

*Operationalize the requirement*

*Placement: Before primary sources*

## Prepare the PIPL and data export evidence file

Sorena AI helps turn the China Privacy Law App minimum necessary personal information by category decision into owners, controls, and reviewer-ready records.

- [Map official sources to evidence](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Research Copilot connects the official citation, decision, owner, retained evidence, and change history.
- [Review the China route](/contact.md): Check the China Privacy Law scope decision and unresolved launch questions with Sorena.

## Primary sources

- [Necessary Personal Information Scope for Common Types of Mobile Apps](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-03/22/c_1617990997054277.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Official definition of necessary consumer-side information, no-refusal rule, and complete table of 39 basic functions and their field scopes, effective 1 May 2021.
- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - General PIPL principles and duties that continue to apply even when a field appears in the app category table.
- [Mobile Internet Application Information Service Management Provisions](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-06/14/c_1656821626455324.htm?ref=sorena.io) - App-provider duties for personal-information necessity, security, processing rules, consent design, and access to basic functions, effective 1 August 2022.

## Related Topic Guides

- [China app personal information minimization](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/app-personal-information-minimization.md): How to map app category, basic functions, and necessary personal information under China mobile app personal-information rules.
- [China data export security assessment workflow](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/data-export-security-assessment-workflow.md): Workflow for screening data export security assessment triggers, materials, owners, and evidence records.
- [China personal information cross-border transfer routes](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/cross-border-transfer-routes.md): Compare China's current data-export exemptions, CAC security assessment, standard contract, and personal information protection certification routes.
- [China personal information standard contract filing workflow](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/standard-contract-filing-workflow.md): Workflow for the PIPL standard contract route, assessment, filing package, and cited evidence.
- [China PIPL compliance checklist](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/checklist.md): China PIPL compliance checklist covering scope, processing bases, notices, sensitive information, rights, vendors, impact assessments, incidents, and exports.
- [China PIPL deadlines and compliance calendar](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/deadlines-and-compliance-calendar.md): Calendar China PIPL effective dates, recurring audits, privacy-officer reporting, impact-assessment retention, and data export filing and renewal deadlines.
- [China PIPL penalties and enforcement exposure](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/penalties-and-fines.md): Understand PIPL corrective orders, serious-violation fines, responsible-person exposure, civil claims, public-interest actions, and data export enforcement.
- [China PIPL privacy notice and consent checklist](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/privacy-policy-and-consent-checklist.md): China PIPL checklist for privacy notices, valid consent, separate consent, sensitive information, children under 14, withdrawal, and rights requests.
- [China PIPL requirements](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/requirements.md): China PIPL requirements from scope and processing basis through notices, rights, security, impact assessments, incidents, vendors, and data exports.
- [China PIPL vs CCPA/CPRA: Requirements Compared](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/china-pipl-vs-ccpa-cpra.md): Compare PIPL and CCPA/CPRA scope, consent and opt-out rules, rights, assessments, data exports, breach duties, and penalties.
- [China PIPL vs EU GDPR: Requirements Compared](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/china-privacy-law-vs-gdpr.md): Compare PIPL and GDPR scope, roles, legal bases, rights, impact assessments, breach deadlines, international transfers, and penalties.
- [China PIPL vs Singapore PDPA: Requirements Compared](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/china-privacy-law-vs-singapore-pdpa.md): Compare PIPL and Singapore PDPA scope, roles, consent alternatives, rights, breach duties, overseas transfers, and penalties.
- [China Privacy Law FAQ](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq.md): Practical answers on China's PIPL: scope, legal bases, sensitive information, separate consent, vendors, PIPIA records, app minimization, and export routes.
- [How should vendor contracts handle entrusted processing under PIPL?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/how-should-vendor-contracts-handle-entrusted-processing.md): A PIPL entrusted-processing contract must define the purpose, duration, method, personal-information categories, safeguards, and both parties' duties. See the required terms and supporting records.
- [Is PIPL the same as GDPR?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/is-pipl-the-same-as-gdpr.md): No. China's PIPL and the EU GDPR overlap on core privacy controls, but differ in territorial scope, legal bases, roles, sensitive data, impact assessments, and transfer routes.
- [PIPL automated decision-making and personalized recommendations](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/automated-decision-making-and-personalized-recommendations.md): PIPL checks for automated decisions, personalized recommendations, marketing, differential treatment, explanations, refusal rights, and impact assessments.
- [PIPL breach response and notification](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/breach-response-and-notification.md): PIPL incident workflow for immediate remediation, authority and individual notices, the narrow individual-notice exception, vendor coordination, and evidence.
- [PIPL cross-border transfer route selector](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/pipl-cross-border-transfer-route-selector.md): Step-by-step selector for China's data-export exemptions, CAC security assessment, standard contract, and personal information protection certification.
- [PIPL entrusted processing and vendor contracts](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/entrusted-processing-and-vendor-contracts.md): How to document entrusted processing, vendor responsibilities, contract controls, and evidence under PIPL.
- [PIPL impact assessment template](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/personal-information-protection-impact-assessment-template.md): Template fields for a China personal information protection impact assessment and export/entrusted-processing evidence.
- [Sensitive personal information and separate consent under PIPL](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/sensitive-personal-information-and-separate-consent.md): How to identify sensitive PI triggers, separate consent, minors, additional safeguards, and evidence records.
- [What counts as sensitive personal information in China?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-counts-as-sensitive-personal-information-in-china.md): PIPL uses a harm-based test for sensitive personal information and lists examples such as biometrics, health, financial accounts, location traces, and all personal information of children under 14.
- [What is separate consent under PIPL?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-is-separate-consent-under-pipl.md): Separate consent under China's PIPL is a distinct consent for a specified processing activity. See when it applies, what notice must come first, and what evidence to keep.
- [What records should we keep for a PIPL impact assessment?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-records-should-we-keep-for-a-pipl-impact-assessment.md): A PIPL impact-assessment file should preserve the Article 55 trigger, processing facts, Article 56 analysis, safeguards, decision, and processing record for at least three years.
- [What should an app collect as necessary personal information in China?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-should-an-app-collect-as-necessary-personal-information.md): Match the app's basic function to China's 2021 rules and collect no more than the listed necessary personal information. Users must retain the basic function if they decline non-necessary data.
- [When can a company use the China standard contract route?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/when-can-a-company-use-the-china-standard-contract-route.md): Use China's standard contract route only after applying the 2024 exemptions and confirming that no CAC security assessment is required. See current thresholds, filing steps, and change triggers.
- [When does a China PIPL security assessment apply?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/when-does-a-china-pipl-security-assessment-apply.md): A CAC data export security assessment applies to CIIO exports, important data, and specified high-volume personal-information exports after the 2024 exemptions are applied.


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