How to Reduce Tracking in Phone Privacy Settings

This guide walks you through the privacy settings on both Android and iOS to limit how apps and advertisers track your activity. You’ll learn exactly which menus to open, which toggles to flip, and what each change actually does—so you can reduce tracking without breaking the apps you rely on.

What You’ll Need

• Your phone (Android or iPhone) with the latest operating system installed.
• Your device passcode or biometric unlock (Face ID / fingerprint) to change security settings.
• About 10–15 minutes of uninterrupted time.

Step-by-Step

For iPhone (iOS 14.5 or later):

1. Open Settings. Tap the gray gear icon on your home screen.
2. Go to Privacy & Security. Scroll down and tap this option.
3. Tap Tracking. At the top, you’ll see a list of apps that have requested permission to track you.
4. Turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” Toggle this switch off. This stops all future tracking requests and prevents apps from asking again.
5. Review the list of apps below. For each app that currently has permission, tap the switch to turn it off. This revokes existing permissions.
6. Go back to Privacy & Security. Now tap Advertising (under the “Tracking” section).
7. Turn on “Limit Ad Tracking.” This tells advertisers not to use your device’s advertising identifier for targeted ads. (Note: In some iOS versions, this option is labeled “Personalized Ads” and you turn it off.)
8. Return to Settings. Scroll down and tap Apple ID (your name at the top).
9. Tap Privacy. Then tap Apple Advertising and turn off Personalized Ads.

For Android (varies by manufacturer, but core steps are similar):

1. Open Settings. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon, or find the Settings app in your app drawer.
2. Find “Privacy” or “Security & Privacy.” On stock Android (Pixel), it’s under Privacy. On Samsung, it’s under Privacy in the main settings menu.
3. Tap “Ads” or “Advertising.” On Pixel, go to Privacy > Ads. On Samsung, go to Privacy > Advertising.
4. Turn on “Opt out of Ads Personalization.” This resets your advertising ID and stops apps from using it for targeted ads.
5. Go back to Privacy settings. Look for Permission Manager (or App permissions).
6. Review permissions like Location, Microphone, and Camera. Tap each one and see which apps have access. For any app that doesn’t need that permission to function, tap it and choose Deny or Allow only while using the app (for location).
7. Go to “Usage Access.” On Pixel: Privacy > Usage Access. On Samsung: Privacy > Usage Access. This shows which apps can see what other apps you use. Revoke access for apps that don’t need it.
8. Check “Advanced” settings. On some Androids, there’s an option called “Autofill service” or “Predictive back gesture” that may share data. Turn off anything that seems unnecessary.

Common Mistakes

• Turning off “Allow Apps to Request to Track” and thinking that’s enough. This only stops future requests; you still need to revoke existing permissions for apps that already have them.
• Forgetting to disable personalized ads in your account settings. On iPhone, that’s under Apple ID > Privacy > Apple Advertising. On Android, it’s often inside the Google app or Google account settings.
• Revoking location access from apps you actually use for navigation or ride-sharing. You’ll break the app’s core function. Instead, choose “While Using” instead of “Always” or “Never.”
• Assuming “Limit Ad Tracking” on iOS is the same as “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” They are separate toggles. You need both off for maximum effect.
• Not checking app permissions after a system update. Updates sometimes reset permissions or add new ones.

Tips

• Use a private DNS (Android only). Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Private DNS, and choose a provider like dns.adguard.com to block trackers at the network level.
• On iPhone, use “App Privacy Report.” Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report. It shows which apps access your data and when. Use it to spot apps that are overreaching.
• Turn off “Sign in with Apple” tracking. When an app offers “Sign in with Apple,” choose “Hide My Email” to avoid sharing your real email.
• Check Facebook and Google settings separately. These companies have their own ad-tracking toggles inside their apps. For Facebook: Settings & Privacy > Settings > Ad Preferences. For Google: myaccount.google.com > Data & personalization > Ad personalization.
• Use a browser with built-in tracking protection. Safari has Intelligent Tracking Prevention, and Firefox and Brave block trackers by default. Set your default browser to one of those.

Troubleshooting

• I turned off “Allow Apps to Request to Track” but apps still show ads. That’s normal. This setting only affects cross-app tracking. Ads within an app (like a game’s banner) are still served based on the app’s own data. To reduce those, you’d need to limit ad personalization in the app itself (if it offers that) or use an ad blocker.
• I can’t find the “Tracking” option on my iPhone. Make sure your iOS is 14.5 or later. If you have an older version, update your phone. If it’s still missing, your device may be managed by a school or employer that restricts privacy settings.
• My Android doesn’t have “Ads” under Privacy. Some manufacturers (like Samsung) put it under “Privacy > Advertising” or “Security > Privacy > Ads.” If you can’t find it, search “ads” in the Settings search bar.
• I revoked location access, but an app still knows my location. Some apps use IP-based location as a fallback. To prevent that, use a VPN or disable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth scanning (on Android: Settings > Location > Location services > disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning).
• After turning off tracking, some apps ask me to re-login or stop working. A few apps (like some social media apps) use tracking for analytics and may behave oddly. In that case, you can re-enable tracking for that specific app, but consider whether you want to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does turning off tracking stop all ads?
A: No. You’ll still see ads, but they’ll be less personalized. Advertisers won’t be able to use your browsing history or app usage to target you specifically.

Q: Will this affect my phone’s performance or battery life?
A: Generally, no. In fact, reducing background tracking can improve battery life because apps do less work in the background.

Q: Can I re-enable tracking later?
A: Yes, you can go back to the same settings and turn everything on again. The process is reversible.

Q: Do these settings apply to all apps?
A: They apply to most apps, but some system apps (like the phone dialer) and apps that are pre-installed by your manufacturer may not be affected.

Q: Is there a difference between “Limit Ad Tracking” and “Allow Apps to Request to Track” on iPhone?
A: Yes. “Allow Apps to Request to Track” controls whether apps can ask to track you across other apps and websites. “Limit Ad Tracking” (now called “Personalized Ads” off) prevents Apple’s own advertising platform from using your data. You need both off.

Q: I have an older Android phone. Are these options still available?
A: Most options have been available since Android 6.0 (2015). If you have an older version, you may need to update your operating system to see all of them.

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