Privacy & Security
Essential Android Privacy Settings
Take control of your Android phone's privacy with these key settings and tips.
Simplified from original source
Originally published by How-To Geek
Review app permissions
Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager. Check which apps access your camera, microphone, location, and contacts. Remove permissions that don't make sense for the app.
Disable ad personalization
Settings > Privacy > Ads. Opt out of ad personalization. Reset your advertising ID periodically. This reduces targeted advertising across apps.
Limit Google data collection
Visit myaccount.google.com > Data & Privacy. Review and pause Web & App Activity, Location History, and YouTube History if you want more privacy.
Use Private DNS
Settings > Network > Private DNS. Set to dns.adguard.com for automatic ad and tracker blocking, or use Cloudflare's 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com for faster, more private browsing.
Auto-remove old permissions
Android automatically removes permissions from apps you haven't used in months. Go to Settings > Apps to verify this feature is enabled for each app.
Was this article helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve our guides.
About this article: This guide was simplified and rewritten by TekSure from content originally published by How-To Geek. We make it easier to read for everyday users — no jargon, just plain steps. View the original article. Learn about our content sources.