Why You Should Turn Off Data-Sharing Settings on Your Android Phone

Taking control of your personal data has never been more important as big corporations and data brokers find more and more ways to monetize your data. If you do not want to limit how much data can be directly used from your phone including your messages, then you should follow these instructions on how to improve your privacy on your Android phone.

Android phones, powered by Google’s ecosystem, collect various types of data—such as usage patterns, diagnostics, and AI-related inputs—to enhance services, personalize ads, and improve features like Google Assistant. While these features can be convenient, they often come at the cost of sharing your personal information. Disabling settings like Usage & Diagnostics, Web & App Activity, Personalized Ads, and Google Assistant Data can significantly boost your privacy. Here’s why and how to turn them off on your Android device.

Why Disable Data-Sharing Settings on Android?

1. Protect Your Personal Data with Usage & Diagnostics

The Usage & Diagnostics setting sends data about your device’s performance, app usage, and crash reports to Google. This might include details like which apps you use, how often, or even your location in some cases. While Google anonymizes this data, disabling it ensures nothing leaves your device, reducing the risk of unintended exposure. If you value keeping your app activity and device habits private, turning this off is a smart move.

2. Limit AI and Personalization with Web & App Activity

Web & App Activity tracks your interactions across Google apps, websites, and services to power AI-driven features like Google Assistant recommendations or search predictions. This can include your search history, app usage, or browsing patterns. By turning this off, you prevent Google from building a detailed profile of your online behavior, which is especially important if you’re wary of AI models training on your data.

3. Stop Targeted Ads with Personalized Ads

The Personalized Ads setting allows Google to use your data—such as search history, app activity, or location—to deliver tailored advertisements. While personalized ads might feel convenient, they rely on extensive tracking, which can feel intrusive. Disabling this setting limits how much of your data is used for ad targeting and may reduce the number of creepy, hyper-relevant ads you see. You can also reset your Advertising ID for an extra layer of privacy.

4. Safeguard Voice and Assistant Data

If you use Google Assistant, enabling Voice & Audio Activity allows Google to collect your voice commands and interactions to improve its AI. This might include sensitive information, like names or addresses spoken in queries. Turning this off keeps your voice data on your device, minimizing the risk of it being stored or analyzed in the cloud. This is especially relevant for privacy-conscious users who want to limit AI data collection.

5. Minimize Third-Party Data Sharing

Some of the data collected through these settings may be shared with third-party app developers (e.g., for crash reports) or advertisers. By disabling these features, you reduce the chances of your information being shared beyond Google, giving you greater control over who has access to your data.

The Good News

Ready for the good news? You will not interfere with any core functionality of your phone by turning off these settings! You can feel free to improve your privacy and not suffer any downsides.

How to Turn Off These Settings on Your Android Phone

Ready to take control? Here’s how to disable these data-sharing settings on most Android devices (e.g., Samsung, Pixel) running Android 12 or later, as of August 2025. Note that menu names may vary slightly by manufacturer.

1. Disable Usage & Diagnostics:

   • Open Settings > Privacy (or Security & Privacy).

   • Tap Usage & Diagnostics or Diagnostics & Usage Data.

   • Toggle it off (gray) to stop sending device and app usage data to Google.

2. Turn Off Web & App Activity:

   • Go to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Data & Privacy.

   • Under History Settings, tap Web & App Activity.

   • Toggle it off. Consider pausing Location History and YouTube History too for extra privacy.

3. Opt Out of Personalized Ads:

   • In Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Data & Privacy.

   • Tap Ads or Ad Personalization under Ad Settings.

   • Toggle Personalized Ads off and consider resetting your Advertising ID.

4. Disable Google Assistant Data:

   • Navigate to Settings > Google > Settings for Google Apps > Search, Assistant & Voice > Google Assistant.

   • Tap Hey Google & Voice Match or Personalization.

   • Toggle Voice & Audio Activity off to stop voice data collection.

5. Bonus Tip: Restrict App Permissions:

   • Go to Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager.

   • Review and revoke unnecessary permissions (e.g., location, microphone) for apps to further limit data collection.

Final Thoughts

Your Android phone is a powerful tool, but it’s also a data-collection hub. Turning off these settings is a quick, effective way to reclaim your privacy without sacrificing functionality. Regularly check Privacy and Google Account settings, especially after Android updates, to stay in control. Want more tips on securing your device or navigating privacy laws? Keep exploring ways to make your digital life yours alone!

Note: Settings may vary by Android version or manufacturer. Always verify in Privacy or Google menus for the latest options.