- PIN scrambling - Turn off notifications on lock screen - Make calls using E2E encrypted apps - Uninstall unused apps using ADB - Don't connect to a Google account - Use a privacy screen cover - enable DNS over TLS - turn off wifi/bluetooth/location/microphone/camera when not in use - use a more private browser, e.g. Brave - use Orbot if necessary - go through settings of all installed apps and disable any analytics/telemetry - check apps using the Exodus app for trackers and replace with FOSS or less tracker alternatives - consider using Obtainium for app updates, not Google Play Store - use a VPN to obscure your IP address/location - use a custom ROM with a proven privacy track record - isolate untrusted apps in Safe Space/Work Profile/Secondary User ... the list goes on :) Answer from noideawhattowriteZZ on reddit.com
Surveillance Self-Defense
ssd.eff.org › module › how-to-get-to-know-android-privacy-and-security-settings
How to: Get to Know Android Privacy and Security Settings | Surveillance Self-Defense
What to do If preventing advertisers and data brokers from tracking you is important, you can disable the advertising ID entirely on an Android device: Open Settings > Security & privacy > Privacy controls > Ads, and tap “Delete advertising ID.” · Why Find My Device is best known as a tool that allows you to see the location of your Android if you lose it or if it’s stolen. This is helpful, but the security and privacy benefits of setting this up assume you won’t get your phone back.
Computerworld
computerworld.com › home › blogs › android intelligence
22 pro Android security settings you shouldn’t overlook
May 18, 2023 - The first, Theft Detection Lock, relies on a combination of your phone’s sensors and AI to identify motions commonly associated with a phone being forcefully stolen. If such actions occur, Android instantly and automatically locks the device on your behalf. The option should be present on all Android devices running 2019’s Android 10 software and higher. To find it, head into the Security & Privacy section of your system settings, tap “Device unlock,” and look for the “Theft protection” section within that area.
Videos
Every Android Privacy Setting You Need To Change Now
10:11
Change these Android security settings now. - YouTube
24:05
15 Android Settings That Invade Your Privacy - 2023 Ultimate Guide ...
09:39
Turn These Settings OFF Immediately (Security & Privacy Guide) ...
05:57
10 Android Settings to TURN OFF - YouTube
15:30
The #1 Worst Google Privacy Setting (Change It Now!) - YouTube
How to change privacy settings on Android?
Most basic Android settings can be configured in Privacy and Security sections in the Settings application on your Android phone. To change your apps’ permissions, head to Settings > Apps. Note that on Android 12 or later, you can find the most critical privacy settings on your Privacy Dashboard. For more information, read this article.
veepn.com
veepn.com › home › 10 android privacy settings that’ll strengthen your security
Top 10 Android Privacy Settings Explained | VeePN Blog
How do I secure my Android privacy?
There are many things you can do to protect your privacy on an Android phone. Here are some of the most effective measures to consider:
Manage app permissions.
Adjust your Google privacy settings on Android.
Limit apps’ access to your location.
Configure your phone's lock screen settings.
Encrypt your messages.
Enable two-factor authentication.
Turn on the Find My Device feature.
Change Android camera privacy settings.
Allow for automatic updates.
Use a VPN.
Read this article to learn more tips on how to maintain your privacy on an Android phone.
veepn.com
veepn.com › home › 10 android privacy settings that’ll strengthen your security
Top 10 Android Privacy Settings Explained | VeePN Blog
Where is the Android Privacy Dashboard?
On Android 12 or higher, there is a feature known as Privacy Dashboard. It should be opened in your phone by following the following steps:
Open Settings.
Choice Privacy or Security and Privacy.
Tap the Privacy Dashboard to get started.
veepn.com
veepn.com › home › 10 android privacy settings that’ll strengthen your security
Top 10 Android Privacy Settings Explained | VeePN Blog
Reddit
reddit.com › r/privacy › how to enhance privacy of android
r/privacy on Reddit: How to enhance privacy of Android
February 6, 2025 -
Disable or firewall unnecessary pre-installed apps.
DNS filter
Audit permission management of apps.
Any others? welcome to share your ways.
Top answer 1 of 8
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- PIN scrambling - Turn off notifications on lock screen - Make calls using E2E encrypted apps - Uninstall unused apps using ADB - Don't connect to a Google account - Use a privacy screen cover - enable DNS over TLS - turn off wifi/bluetooth/location/microphone/camera when not in use - use a more private browser, e.g. Brave - use Orbot if necessary - go through settings of all installed apps and disable any analytics/telemetry - check apps using the Exodus app for trackers and replace with FOSS or less tracker alternatives - consider using Obtainium for app updates, not Google Play Store - use a VPN to obscure your IP address/location - use a custom ROM with a proven privacy track record - isolate untrusted apps in Safe Space/Work Profile/Secondary User ... the list goes on :)
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Depends whats your goal. the best thing is to break the rule 14. Consider degoogling your current with adb. Use netguard and rethinkdns (preferably host your own dns) use microg (if you need). For communication use molly foss/session. Instead of vpns use orbot.
Android
android.com › safety › privacy
Android privacy settings and permissions | Android
Get great out-of-the-box protection with the ability to further personalize your privacy experience. ... With Android, you choose when to share certain sensitive data with apps you download. ... With Android, you choose when to share certain sensitive data with apps you download. ... Decide when you share data. Allow microphone, camera or location access all the time, just once or never.
Beebom
gadgets.beebom.com › home › guides › 10 best android privacy settings you should change asap
10 Best Android Privacy Settings You Should Change ASAP | Beebom Gadgets
July 25, 2025 - With features like Photo picker and Advanced protection mode and many more, the OS is more secure than ever. However, these and many more features are only effective when a user knows where to find them and how to enable. Therefore, here are the 10 best Android privacy settings you should change ASAP.
VeePN
veepn.com › home › 10 android privacy settings that’ll strengthen your security
Top 10 Android Privacy Settings Explained | VeePN Blog
October 8, 2025 - Scan this QR Code with your phone to start downloading. ... 1. An overview of privacy settings on Android phone 2. Manage application access 3. Opt out of ads personalization 4. Prevent location tracking 5. Change the lock screen control 6. Enable message protection 7.
NYTimes
nytimes.com › software and apps › smartphones › 11 practical privacy tips for your android phone
11 Practical Privacy Tips for Your Android Phone | Reviews by Wirecutter
November 17, 2022 - Consider setting some apps to have access limited to “approximate location,” which means an app will know only the general area you’re in, not the exact place. This is a great option for increased privacy in something like a weather app, though you should still use exact location for navigation, as in a mapping app. While you’re here, take some time to delete apps you don’t use or need anymore. Consider also disabling Google’s built-in location history, which keeps track of everywhere you go with your phone. You can turn it off under Settings > Privacy > Google location history.
Google Support
support.google.com › android › answer › 13985942
Learn about Android security & privacy settings - Android Help
For privacy settings: Tap Settings Privacy for privacy settings. App security: Gives you warnings from Google Play Protect. Device lock: Supports security measures like fingerprint unlock and device screen lock. Accounts security: Gives you warnings about your Google Account.
Tech Safety Canada
techsafety.ca › resources › toolkits › android-privacy-and-security-guide
1.11 Android Privacy and Security Guide – Tech Safety Canada
The following are some major privacy or security settings to start with. The most obvious – and most important – security setting you should start with is securing your Android phone with a passcode.
Computerworld
computerworld.com › home › operating systems › android
The ultimate Android privacy guide – Computerworld
June 3, 2020 - Change that by opening up the Display section of your phone’s settings, selecting “Lock screen,” then selecting “Privacy” and switching the setting to either “Show sensitive content only when unlocked” or “Don’t show notifications ...
CNET
cnet.com › tech › mobile › security and privacy on your android phone: features you should know about
Security and Privacy on Your Android Phone: Features You Should Know About - CNET
February 4, 2025 - I tested this on my Pixel 9 Pro XL; depending on what company makes your phone, navigating here may be slightly different. ... This section will give you a walkthrough of anything that might need your attention for security at the top, with specific settings you can dig into further. Tapping on Privacy controls will show you several settings you should review:
VPN Overview
vpnoverview.com › privacy › devices › a full guide to optimizing android privacy and security settings
A Full Guide to Optimizing Android Privacy and Security Settings
September 16, 2024 - This makes it very easy to turn off an application or alter its permissions before serious privacy infringements occur. And, that brings us to our next point. The new camera and microphone indicator are only useful if users can actually do something with the information this feature gives them. Fortunately, Android 12’s developers have thought this true. By using your phone’s “Quick Settings” you can easily and very swiftly limit the camera and microphone permissions of whatever app is using them.
Tech Times
techtimes.com › phones/tablets/mobile tech
Android Privacy Settings and Google Security Tips for Users Switching from iPhone
3 weeks ago - Disabling ad tracking, hiding sensitive content on the lock screen, and using private DNS services like DNS over HTTPS help enhance privacy. Advanced options like Identity Check require biometric confirmation for critical settings changes, adding ...
Android Police
androidpolice.com › home › operating systems › 10 android security settings you should change right now
10 Android security settings you should change right now
March 30, 2025 - You can safeguard your device from malicious actors by turning on device tracking, setting up two-factor authentication, and locking sensitive apps. Here are the most crucial Android security settings you must change right now to take control of your phone’s privacy.
Android Police
androidpolice.com › home › phones › guides about phones › protect your digital privacy on android with a few simple steps
Protect your digital privacy on Android with a few simple steps
May 22, 2023 - To limit which apps have access to your location, head to Settings > Privacy > Permissions manager > Location. Depending on your handset, the path to these settings might differ slightly.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/privacyguides › how to maximize privacy on new phone?
r/PrivacyGuides on Reddit: How to maximize privacy on new phone?
November 26, 2022 -
Was able to get an S22 Ultra for slightly under $600 after trading in my S20 FE at Best Buy. Before I get settled into the new phone I want to try and maximize the privacy of the phone. So I figured the best way to do that is to ask the community for suggestions. Obviously if I wanted the most private phone I'd get a Pixel and install Graphene OS. That's not what I'm going for. I'm looking to make the stock OS of this phone as private as possible. So what would y'all suggest I do to accomplish this?
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Don’t install too many apps and check the permissions on the apps that you do install. Try to delete any Google apps and replace them with alternative apps, again being careful with permissions. And don’t use a Google account at all. The first thing you should do is install Aurora Store and you can bypass the Google App Store altogether. For physical privacy you could even turn all radios (WiFi, data, NFC etc) off when not in use, and also block the mic and camera when not in use too. Also don’t use biometrics or facial recognition, use a PIN code or password instead.
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Don't make a Google account. Get f-droid and the aurora store. So long as they don't have your name or bank login info, whatever data they pull from the phone is useless.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/privacy › are there any android settings that are essential to know about, from a security or privacy standpoint?
r/privacy on Reddit: Are there any Android settings that are essential to know about, from a security or privacy standpoint?
May 19, 2022 -
Hello. I just received a Google Pixel 5a. My previous phone had been broken for more than 6 months and my mom finally got fed up with not being able to contact me so she bought it for me as a gift. I plan to use it and am not really interested in installing a different OS; I'm not that social and am barely on the phone anyway so I don't want to obsess over it too much.
I've been going through the settings and disabling the ones that seem questionable - for example automatically downloading MMS attachments, notifying people you've read their texts, uploading photos to the cloud by default, etc.
Just wondering if there are any other settings that you would consider essential from a security and/or privacy standpoint, as I'm not overly familiar with Android. Anything either in the Android settings, or in the settings for the default Google apps, etc, that I need to know about?
Thanks.
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Google keyboard (gboard) has a built-in keyloggers, so even if you are using a private and encrypted method of communication, everything you type is still logged, scanned, and reported back to the big G. Highly recommend replacing your default keyboard with something FOSS and trusted. One example is AnySoftKeyboard, but im sure there are others
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Not a setting but remember your data is not encrypted until your phone is shutdown/hard restarted.
Android Police
androidpolice.com › home › operating systems › 7 android security settings i change first on every new phone
7 Android security settings I change first on every new phone
4 weeks ago - That’s why one of the first things I tweak on a new Android device is how much information notifications are allowed to show when the screen is off. On Android, you’ll find this under Settings > Notifications > Notifications on lock screen.
Spyboy
spyboy.blog › 2025 › 11 › 06 › 7-essential-android-privacy-settings-you-must-enable
7 Essential Android Privacy Settings You Must Enable – Spyboy blog
November 5, 2025 - (VeePN) Importantly, newer Android versions allow offline find (device can be found even when it’s offline or powered off) by leveraging other nearby devices. Open Settings → Security & privacy → Find My Device (or Google → Security ...
Tuta
tuta.com › blog › android-settings-increase-privacy
Increase your privacy with these Android security settings. | Tuta
April 30, 2024 - But to begin optimizing your privacy settings on Android, let’s start with a few easy steps! Google, advertising agencies, and so called data brokers are hungry for your data. In fact, they collect just about as much user data as possible. If you’re wondering how you can make your Android phone more private, the first step should be to opt out of Google’s ad personalization and turn off the history settings – this will reduce how much Google tracks you on the web and stop not all, but at least some of the annoying advertisements.