5 Android Privacy Settings to Stop Apps Tracking You

Many apps collect far more about you than they need: where you go, what you do and how often. Mostly it's used for advertising, but it's still your information.

Android gives you good tools to see what's going on and rein it in. These five settings take about ten minutes and make a real difference to how much you're tracked.

Before you start: Android menus vary a little between phone makers. The steps below use Google Pixel / standard Android names, with Samsung Galaxy differences noted. If you can't find a setting, tap the search bar at the top of Settings and type its name.

Stop apps tracking you: the 5 steps at a glance

How to stop apps tracking you on Android

Step 1: Check the Privacy dashboard

Where: Settings › Security & privacy › Privacy › Privacy dashboard

Open Settings › Security & privacy › Privacy › Privacy dashboard (or search Settings for ‘Privacy dashboard’). It shows a timeline of which apps accessed your location, camera and microphone in the last 24 hours, and you can switch to the last 7 days. Anything surprising, like a game checking your location at 3am? Tap it and change its permission.

Step 2: Limit location access

Where: Settings › Location › App location permissions

Go to Settings › Location › App location permissions. Check the apps under Allowed all the time. Very few really need that. Change them to Allow only while using the app. Then tap each app and turn off Use precise location unless it truly needs it. A weather or shopping app only needs your rough area, not your exact address.

Step 3: Delete your advertising ID

Where: Settings › Security & privacy › Privacy › Ads

Every Android phone has an advertising ID that apps use to link your activity together and build an advertising profile. Go to Settings › Security & privacy › Privacy › Ads (or Settings › Google › All services › Ads) and tap Delete advertising ID. You'll still see adverts, but apps can no longer use that ID to follow you from one app to another.

Step 4: Use the camera and mic switches

Where: Quick Settings › Camera access / Mic access

When any app uses your camera or microphone, a green dot appears at the top of the screen. Swipe down and tap it to see which app. For total peace of mind, add the Camera access and Mic access tiles to Quick Settings (tap the pencil to edit). One tap blocks every app from using them until you switch them back on.

Step 5: Clear your Google activity

Where: myactivity.google.com › Activity controls

Google keeps a record of your searches, the apps you use and, if it's switched on, the places you go. Visit myactivity.google.com (or Settings › Google › Manage your Google Account › Data & privacy). Under Web & App Activity and Timeline, set Auto-delete to 3 months, or pause them altogether. You can also delete everything collected so far.

Pro tip

💡 When an app asks for your location, camera or mic, choose ‘Only this time’. It has to ask again next time, so nothing is allowed for ever by accident.

FAQ

Will turning these off break my apps?

Rarely. If an app really needs a permission, it will ask again when you use that feature, and you can allow it then.

Does deleting my advertising ID stop adverts?

No. You'll see the same number of adverts, but they'll be less targeted because apps can't link your activity together as easily.

Is my phone listening to my conversations for adverts?

There's no evidence apps do this, and the green dot would show if the mic were in use. Targeted ads usually come from your searches, location and browsing.

The bottom line

Start with the Privacy dashboard to see what's really going on. Then tighten location access and delete your advertising ID. Ten minutes, and you're tracked a lot less.