Your smartphone knows a remarkable amount about you — where you go, what you search for, which apps you use, and sometimes even what you say. Most of that data collection happens quietly in the background, enabled by default settings that were never really designed with your privacy in mind.
The good news is that you have more control than you might think. A few straightforward changes can dramatically reduce how much of your personal information gets shared with apps, advertisers, and tech companies. You don't need to be technically savvy to make these adjustments — just a bit of time and this guide.
Location: The Biggest One to Get Right
Location data is among the most sensitive information your phone collects. Many apps request access to your location even when they have no legitimate need for it. A weather app might genuinely need to know where you are — a flashlight app absolutely does not.
On an iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services. You'll see a list of every app that has ever requested your location. For each one, you can choose:
- Never — the app can't access your location at all
- While Using the App — only when the app is open on screen
- Always — even when the app is running in the background
For most apps, "While Using the App" is the right choice. "Always" should be reserved for things like navigation apps you use regularly. Go through the list and switch anything that seems unnecessary to "Never" or "While Using."
On Android, the path is Settings → Location → App permissions (the exact wording varies slightly by phone brand). You'll find the same categories. Take 10 minutes to go through the list — you may be surprised at what you find.
App Permissions: What Are They Allowed to Access?
Beyond location, apps can request access to your camera, microphone, contacts, photos, calendar, and more. Each of these deserves a look.
On iPhone: Settings → Privacy & Security. You'll see a list of categories (Camera, Microphone, Contacts, Photos, etc.). Tap each one to see which apps have been granted access.
On Android: Settings → Privacy → Permission Manager (or Apps → App Permissions on some devices).
Ask yourself: does this app need this permission to do its job? A video calling app needs camera and microphone access — that makes sense. A recipe app that wants access to your contacts probably doesn't. When in doubt, revoke the permission. If an app genuinely needs it, it will ask again when you try to use that feature.
Ad Tracking: Opting Out of the Data Economy
Advertisers build detailed profiles of users to serve targeted ads. Your phone has built-in tools to limit this.
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking. You'll see a toggle called "Allow Apps to Request to Track." When this is turned off, apps can't ask for permission to track your activity across other apps and websites. Turn it off.
Also visit Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising and turn off "Personalized Ads" if you'd prefer not to have Apple use your data to target ads within its own apps.
On Android: Go to Settings → Privacy → Ads. You'll find an option to "Delete advertising ID" or "Opt out of Ads Personalization." Choose the most restrictive option available.
Lock Screen and Biometrics
While you're reviewing privacy settings, it's worth making sure your phone is locked properly. A six-digit PIN is better than a four-digit one, and a strong alphanumeric passcode is better still. Face ID and fingerprint unlock are both convenient and reasonably secure for everyday use.
On iPhone, go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on older models). On Android, look in Settings → Security → Screen Lock.
Also check what's visible on your lock screen. Do you want text message previews showing up before you've unlocked your phone? On iPhone: Settings → Notifications → Show Previews. Set it to "When Unlocked" so only you can read them.
Browser and Search Privacy
Your phone's web browser is another place worth examining. Safari on iPhone has built-in privacy protections — make sure they're enabled by going to Settings → Safari and turning on "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" and "Hide IP Address."
On Android, Chrome's privacy settings are found in the app itself under the three-dot menu → Settings → Privacy and Security. Consider enabling "Enhanced protection" for safer browsing.
If you use Google as your search engine, you can review and delete your search history through your Google account at myaccount.google.com. You can also set searches and browsing activity to auto-delete after 3 months.
A Note on Social Media Apps
Apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are particularly aggressive about data collection. In addition to revoking unnecessary permissions through your phone's system settings, it's worth visiting the privacy settings within each app itself. Look for options to limit data sharing with third parties and turn off personalized advertising.
Making Privacy a Habit
Privacy settings aren't a one-time task. When you install a new app, pay attention to the permissions it requests — and don't just tap "Allow" automatically. If a permission request seems odd, tap "Don't Allow" and see if the app works fine without it.
Every few months, take 10 minutes to revisit your location and app permissions. Apps you haven't used in a while can still be sitting there with access to your microphone or contacts. Cleaning that up regularly is one of the easiest things you can do for your digital privacy.
You don't need to live in fear of your phone. You just need to know where the controls are — and now you do.