Not every Android app you install needs your location, microphone, or contact list — but many still do. If you haven’t checked your privacy settings in a while, now’s the time to stop future tracking before it starts.
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When you install a new app, it often asks for access to details like your camera, microphone, or location before you even open it. But most real-world apps don’t need everything they ask for. Take a photo editor, for example: It works fine without knowing your location. Likewise, a note-taking app doesn’t need access to your microphone.
These unnecessary permissions can silently open the door to tracking if you’re not careful. Luckily, you can control app permissions from the get-go. Right after installing an app, press and hold its icon on your home screen or in the app drawer, then tap App info . From there, go to Permissions to see what the app has access to. Tap each entry and select Deny or Ask every time if you’re not sure about granting the app full access.
To manage permissions for all your apps in one place, go to Settings > Security and privacy > More privacy settings > Permission Manager . You'll see permission categories like Camera , Location , and Microphone . Tap any of those categories to see which apps have access, then decide whether they really need that permission.
It only takes a few taps to set these boundaries early on. It can protect your data from misuse later. The sooner you act, the more control you have over what your apps can see and do.
Most apps don’t need your exact coordinates. Sure, services like maps or ride-hailing rely on location, but even those rarely require absolute accuracy. Android lets you choose between Precise and Approximate when accessing your location, and the approximate location option usually works fine.
When an app asks for location access, you'll usually see a toggle labeled Use precise location , which is usually on by default. Turning this toggle off will tell the app to only use your general location instead of your precise location. If you've already given precise location access to some apps, you can go back and change it.
Navigate to Settings > Location > App permissions , then select the app you want to review. From there, turn off Use precise location to prevent the app from tracking your precise movements. It will still work, but it will have access to less detailed information about your location.
Closing an app doesn't mean it stops working. Many apps run in the background, pinging servers and collecting data.
To stop this, navigate to Settings > Apps , select the app, tap Battery , and set the app's background activity to Restricted . This way, the app won't run in the background unless you open it directly.
Warning : Be careful when enabling this option for apps that you need reliable notifications for, such as messaging apps. Using this option can significantly slow down the time when affected apps send you notifications.
Even if you don’t use Bluetooth much, some apps may still use Bluetooth scanning to detect nearby devices and track your movements. This is part of how some apps collect ambient data for analytics or location services.
To stop this silent tracking, go to Settings > Location > Location Services > Bluetooth Scanning and turn it off.
While you're at it, consider turning off Wi-Fi Scanning , which checks for nearby Wi-Fi networks to improve location accuracy, alerts you when Wi-Fi is open nearby, and automatically turns Wi-Fi back on when you connect to a trusted network (like your home network). These settings help apps improve location accuracy, but they also leave you vulnerable to passive tracking.
Ad tracking may not be as obvious an invasion of privacy as camera or location access, but it’s one of the most common ways apps collect data about you. Many apps and services build profiles based on your behavior, including what you search for, which apps you use, and even how long you spend in them. All of this is used to deliver targeted ads.
If that sounds invasive, you can turn off personalized ads and delete your advertising ID. Go to Settings > Google > All services > Ads > Delete advertising ID , then tap Delete advertising ID again to confirm.
Turning this feature off won't reduce the number of ads you see, but it will stop apps and websites from using your activity to personalize them. You'll still see ads, but they won't be tied to your behavior or interests.
If you're okay with continuing to see personalized ads but want to start over, you can also reset your advertising ID from the same menu. During this process, you should review all the information Google has about you.
Over time, you may have downloaded a number of apps that you no longer use. But apps don't have to be idle, even if you forget about them. Many continue to run in the background, silently using permissions you granted long ago.
To stop these apps from running in the background, go to Settings > Battery > Background usage limits , then turn on Put unused apps to sleep . You'll also see three categories below:
For more granular control, tap Deep sleeping apps , tap the plus (+) icon, and add any apps you rarely use. Once added, these apps won't send notifications, refresh in the background, or do anything unless you launch them manually.
Now that you know how to check, take the time to lock down your Android phone so new apps can’t access your data. Your privacy deserves better protection than the default setting. With a few privacy tweaks at the outset, you can prevent apps from taking up too much of your data before you even start using them.
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