Privacy Basics
Phone Privacy Checklist: Simple Steps to Protect Your Personal Information
Phone Privacy Checklist: Simple Steps to Protect Your Personal Information
Phone Privacy Checklist: Simple Steps to Protect Your Personal Information
Your phone knows a lot about you. Where you go, who you talk to, what you search for, even what you buy. And while that's convenient, it also means your privacy matters more than ever.
The good news? Protecting your privacy doesn't require a tech degree or hours of complicated setup. Just a few simple settings and regular check-ins can make a real difference.
This checklist walks you through the most important privacy steps for both iPhone and Android, in plain language, so you can feel confident your phone is actually protecting you instead of sharing everything about you.
Let's get started.
Your phone knows a lot about you. Where you go, who you talk to, what you search for, even what you buy. And while that's convenient, it also means your privacy matters more than ever.
The good news? Protecting your privacy doesn't require a tech degree or hours of complicated setup. Just a few simple settings and regular check-ins can make a real difference.
This checklist walks you through the most important privacy steps for both iPhone and Android, in plain language, so you can feel confident your phone is actually protecting you instead of sharing everything about you.
Let's get started.
Your phone knows a lot about you. Where you go, who you talk to, what you search for, even what you buy. And while that's convenient, it also means your privacy matters more than ever.
The good news? Protecting your privacy doesn't require a tech degree or hours of complicated setup. Just a few simple settings and regular check-ins can make a real difference.
This checklist walks you through the most important privacy steps for both iPhone and Android, in plain language, so you can feel confident your phone is actually protecting you instead of sharing everything about you.
Let's get started.
What I am going to cover
Why Phone Privacy Actually Matters
The Essential Phone Privacy Checklist
iPhone-Specific Privacy Steps
Android-Specific Privacy Steps
Your Monthly Privacy Routine
What I am going to cover
Why Phone Privacy Actually Matters
The Essential Phone Privacy Checklist
iPhone-Specific Privacy Steps
Android-Specific Privacy Steps
Your Monthly Privacy Routine
What I am going to cover
Why Phone Privacy Actually Matters
The Essential Phone Privacy Checklist
iPhone-Specific Privacy Steps
Android-Specific Privacy Steps
Your Monthly Privacy Routine
What to remember
Review app permissions regularly because many apps have access to your location, camera, microphone, and contacts without really needing them.
Control location services carefully by changing "Always" to "While Using the App" and turning off location history to prevent constant tracking.
Stop app tracking by disabling tracking requests on iPhone and deleting your advertising ID on Android.
Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication with a password manager to protect your accounts from breaches.
Delete old and unused accounts to reduce your digital footprint and eliminate potential security risks.
Review connected devices and third-party app access regularly to remove old connections you no longer use.
Clear browsing data regularly and use private browsing for sensitive searches to limit what's tracked.
Update software promptly because security updates fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
Build a simple monthly routine spending just 15 minutes reviewing permissions, updating passwords, and cleaning up accounts.
Small progress matters because even basic privacy steps put you way ahead of most people who never adjust default settings.
What to remember
Review app permissions regularly because many apps have access to your location, camera, microphone, and contacts without really needing them.
Control location services carefully by changing "Always" to "While Using the App" and turning off location history to prevent constant tracking.
Stop app tracking by disabling tracking requests on iPhone and deleting your advertising ID on Android.
Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication with a password manager to protect your accounts from breaches.
Delete old and unused accounts to reduce your digital footprint and eliminate potential security risks.
Review connected devices and third-party app access regularly to remove old connections you no longer use.
Clear browsing data regularly and use private browsing for sensitive searches to limit what's tracked.
Update software promptly because security updates fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
Build a simple monthly routine spending just 15 minutes reviewing permissions, updating passwords, and cleaning up accounts.
Small progress matters because even basic privacy steps put you way ahead of most people who never adjust default settings.
What to remember
Review app permissions regularly because many apps have access to your location, camera, microphone, and contacts without really needing them.
Control location services carefully by changing "Always" to "While Using the App" and turning off location history to prevent constant tracking.
Stop app tracking by disabling tracking requests on iPhone and deleting your advertising ID on Android.
Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication with a password manager to protect your accounts from breaches.
Delete old and unused accounts to reduce your digital footprint and eliminate potential security risks.
Review connected devices and third-party app access regularly to remove old connections you no longer use.
Clear browsing data regularly and use private browsing for sensitive searches to limit what's tracked.
Update software promptly because security updates fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
Build a simple monthly routine spending just 15 minutes reviewing permissions, updating passwords, and cleaning up accounts.
Small progress matters because even basic privacy steps put you way ahead of most people who never adjust default settings.
Why Phone Privacy Actually Matters
Before we dive into the checklist, let's talk about why this matters beyond just feeling a little safer.
Apps collect way more data than you realize. Many apps track your location, access your contacts, monitor your browsing habits, and share that information with advertisers or third party companies. Most of this happens silently in the background.
Your personal information has value. Companies buy and sell data about you, advertisers target you based on your behavior, and data breaches can expose sensitive information if it's not properly protected.
Privacy gives you control. When you adjust these settings, you're deciding what information you share and with whom. It's about having choice instead of just accepting whatever default settings give apps permission to do.
You're not being paranoid. You're being intentional about your digital life.
The Essential Phone Privacy Checklist
Here's your main checklist. Work through these steps at your own pace. You don't have to do everything at once, just start somewhere and keep going.
Review App Permissions
This is the single most important privacy step you can take.
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security. You'll see categories like Location Services, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, Photos, etc. Tap each one to see which apps have access.
On Android: Go to Settings → Privacy (or Security & Privacy) → Permission manager. You'll see similar categories. Tap each to review which apps have permission.
What to do: Go through each category and ask yourself, "Does this app actually need this permission?" A meditation app doesn't need your location. A flashlight app doesn't need your contacts. Remove permissions that don't make sense.
For location specifically, choose "While Using the App" instead of "Always" whenever possible. This lets apps access your location when you're actively using them but not constantly in the background.
Control Camera and Microphone Access
These are particularly sensitive because they can literally see and hear you.
Check who has access. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera (and then Microphone). On Android, go to Settings → Privacy → Permission manager → Camera (and then Microphone).
Remove unnecessary access. Social media apps might need your camera for posting photos, but do random games or utility apps? Probably not. Be selective.
Look for the indicator. Both iPhone and Android now show a small dot at the top of your screen when your camera or microphone is active. If you see it when you're not actively using an app, check which app is accessing it.
Lock Down Location Services
Your location is one of the most revealing pieces of data about you. It shows where you live, work, shop, and spend time.
Review location permissions. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services. On Android, go to Settings → Location → App permissions.
Change "Always" to "While Using." Most apps don't need constant location access. Change them to only access your location when you're actively using the app.
Turn off precise location. On iPhone, many apps have a "Precise Location" toggle. Turn this off for apps that don't need your exact coordinates. Approximate location is usually enough.
Disable location history. On Android, check Settings → Location → Location services → Google Location History and turn it off if you don't want Google tracking everywhere you go. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Significant Locations and turn it off.
Stop App Tracking
Apps love to track your activity across other apps and websites for advertising purposes.
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking. Make sure "Allow Apps to Request to Track" is turned off. This prevents apps from asking to track you across other companies' apps and websites.
On Android: Go to Settings → Privacy → Ads → Delete advertising ID. This makes it harder for advertisers to build a profile about you.
Both platforms also have settings to limit ad personalization. While you'll still see ads, they won't be based on detailed tracking of your behavior.
Review What Apps Can Access
Beyond specific permissions, see what data apps are collecting overall.
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → App Privacy Report. Turn this on, wait a few days, then check back to see which apps are accessing your data, how often, and which websites they're contacting. This can be eye opening.
On Android: Individual app data usage is harder to see system-wide, but you can check each app individually by going to Settings → Apps → select an app → Permissions to review everything it has access to.
Take action. If an app is accessing way more than it should, either remove unnecessary permissions or delete the app entirely.
Secure Your Lock Screen
Your lock screen is your first line of defense.
Use a strong unlock method. Face ID or fingerprint is good. A 6 digit passcode is better than a 4 digit one. Avoid simple patterns that can be guessed.
Hide sensitive notifications. On iPhone, go to Settings → Notifications → Show Previews → When Unlocked. On Android, go to Settings → Notifications → Sensitive notifications → turn on "Hide sensitive content."
This way, message previews won't show on your lock screen where anyone can see them.
Set auto-lock to a short time. On iPhone, go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock and set it to 30 seconds or 1 minute. On Android, go to Settings → Display → Screen timeout and choose a short duration.
Use Strong Passwords and Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Your accounts are only as secure as your passwords.
Use a password manager. Apps like 1Password, Bitwarden, or your phone's built in password manager (iCloud Keychain on iPhone, Google Password Manager on Android) help you create and store strong, unique passwords for every account.
Never reuse passwords. If one account gets breached, hackers will try that password on all your other accounts. Unique passwords everywhere prevent this.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds a second verification step when logging into accounts, usually a code sent to your phone or generated by an app. Turn this on for email, banking, social media, any account that offers it. On iPhone, go to Settings → Passwords → tap an account → Set Up Verification Code. On Android, check individual app settings or use Google Authenticator.
Delete Old and Unused Accounts
Old accounts are privacy and security risks.
Make a list. Think about accounts you created years ago and never use. Old social media profiles, shopping sites, apps you tried once, free trials you forgot about.
Delete them properly. Don't just stop using them, actually delete your account. Search "[service name] delete account" to find instructions. Most services bury this option deep in settings.
Check data broker sites. Consider using services like DeleteMe or manually requesting removal from data broker sites that collect and sell your personal information.
Review Connected Devices and Apps
Your phone connects to lots of things. Make sure you still want all those connections.
Check third-party app access. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your Name] → Password & Security → Apps Using Apple ID. Review what apps can log in with your Apple ID. On Android, go to myaccount.google.com → Security → Third-party apps with account access. Remove anything you don't recognize or use anymore.
Review connected devices. On iPhone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and Settings → [Your Name] → Find My → Check your devices list. On Android, check Settings → Connected devices. Remove old devices you no longer own or use.
Check smart home connections. If you use smart home devices, review which apps and services have access through Settings or the manufacturer's app.
Clean Your Browsing Data Regularly
Your browser collects a lot of information about what you do online.
Clear cookies and cache. On iPhone Safari, go to Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data. On Android Chrome, go to Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data.
Use private browsing. When searching for sensitive topics or shopping for gifts, use private/incognito mode. On iPhone Safari, tap the tabs icon and select Private. On Chrome, tap the three dots and select New Incognito Tab.
Consider privacy-focused browsers. Browsers like DuckDuckGo or Brave offer stronger privacy protection than default browsers.
Review saved passwords in browser. Delete any old or unused login credentials stored in your browser.
Manage Notification Permissions
Notifications can reveal sensitive information and also indicate which apps are constantly checking in on you.
Review notification settings. On iPhone, go to Settings → Notifications and review each app. On Android, go to Settings → Notifications → App settings.
Turn off unnecessary notifications. Most apps don't need to send you notifications. Keep them only for truly important apps like messages, calendar, and maybe email.
Disable lock screen notifications for sensitive apps. Banking apps, health apps, or messaging apps should not show previews on your lock screen.
Update Your Software Regularly
This one's simple but crucial.
Install updates promptly. Both iOS and Android release security updates regularly. These fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Go to Settings → General → Software Update (iPhone) or Settings → System → System update (Android) and install available updates.
Update your apps too. Outdated apps can have security issues. Turn on automatic updates or manually update apps regularly through the App Store or Google Play Store.
Review App Subscriptions and Recurring Charges
While not strictly privacy, this helps you spot apps that are still accessing your accounts and billing you.
Check subscriptions. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions. On Android, go to Google Play Store → Profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions.
Cancel what you don't use. If you're not using a service, cancel it. Fewer active accounts mean fewer potential privacy concerns.
Check What's Backed Up to the Cloud
Cloud backups are convenient but also mean your data lives on someone else's servers.
Review what's backing up. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage. On Android, go to Settings → Google → Backup.
Remove sensitive data from backup. You might not want certain apps or data backed up to the cloud. Disable backup for specific apps if needed.
Enable encryption. On iPhone, iCloud backups are encrypted. On Android, make sure "Encrypt backups" is enabled in Google Backup settings.
iPhone-Specific Privacy Steps
Here are a few extra steps just for iPhone users.
Hide your email address. When signing up for apps or services, use Settings → Your Name → iCloud → Hide My Email to generate random email addresses that forward to your real one. This keeps your actual email private.
Review App Library privacy. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements and turn off sharing diagnostic data with Apple and developers.
Check Safety Check. Settings → Privacy & Security → Safety Check lets you quickly review who has access to your information and on which devices you're logged in. Great for a quick audit.
Disable Siri suggestions. Go to Settings → Siri & Search and turn off suggestions for apps you want to keep private.
Android-Specific Privacy Steps
Here are extra steps for Android users.
Review Google account activity. Go to myactivity.google.com to see everything Google has tracked. You can delete specific items or set up auto-delete for history older than 3, 18, or 36 months.
Use Google Privacy Checkup. Visit myaccount.google.com/privacycheckup for a guided walkthrough of your privacy settings.
Disable Google Assistant history. Go to Settings → Google → Manage your Google Account → Data & privacy → Web & App Activity and turn it off or set auto-delete.
Check app permissions dashboard. Android 12 and newer have a Privacy Dashboard showing which apps accessed permissions recently. Go to Settings → Privacy → Privacy dashboard.
Your Monthly Privacy Routine
Privacy isn't a one-time thing. Here's a simple monthly checklist to maintain your privacy settings.
Review app permissions. Spend 5 minutes checking if any apps have gained new permissions you didn't notice. Remove what's unnecessary.
Check connected accounts. Review third-party apps connected to your Apple ID or Google account. Remove anything you don't recognize.
Update passwords. Change passwords for one or two important accounts each month, especially if you've been using the same password for years.
Clear browsing data. Clear your browser history, cookies, and cache.
Review location history. Check if any apps are tracking your location that shouldn't be.
Delete old accounts. Pick one or two old accounts to properly delete each month.
Install updates. Make sure your phone and apps are fully updated.
This routine takes maybe 15 minutes a month and keeps your privacy settings in good shape instead of letting things slowly degrade.
Why Phone Privacy Actually Matters
Before we dive into the checklist, let's talk about why this matters beyond just feeling a little safer.
Apps collect way more data than you realize. Many apps track your location, access your contacts, monitor your browsing habits, and share that information with advertisers or third party companies. Most of this happens silently in the background.
Your personal information has value. Companies buy and sell data about you, advertisers target you based on your behavior, and data breaches can expose sensitive information if it's not properly protected.
Privacy gives you control. When you adjust these settings, you're deciding what information you share and with whom. It's about having choice instead of just accepting whatever default settings give apps permission to do.
You're not being paranoid. You're being intentional about your digital life.
The Essential Phone Privacy Checklist
Here's your main checklist. Work through these steps at your own pace. You don't have to do everything at once, just start somewhere and keep going.
Review App Permissions
This is the single most important privacy step you can take.
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security. You'll see categories like Location Services, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, Photos, etc. Tap each one to see which apps have access.
On Android: Go to Settings → Privacy (or Security & Privacy) → Permission manager. You'll see similar categories. Tap each to review which apps have permission.
What to do: Go through each category and ask yourself, "Does this app actually need this permission?" A meditation app doesn't need your location. A flashlight app doesn't need your contacts. Remove permissions that don't make sense.
For location specifically, choose "While Using the App" instead of "Always" whenever possible. This lets apps access your location when you're actively using them but not constantly in the background.
Control Camera and Microphone Access
These are particularly sensitive because they can literally see and hear you.
Check who has access. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera (and then Microphone). On Android, go to Settings → Privacy → Permission manager → Camera (and then Microphone).
Remove unnecessary access. Social media apps might need your camera for posting photos, but do random games or utility apps? Probably not. Be selective.
Look for the indicator. Both iPhone and Android now show a small dot at the top of your screen when your camera or microphone is active. If you see it when you're not actively using an app, check which app is accessing it.
Lock Down Location Services
Your location is one of the most revealing pieces of data about you. It shows where you live, work, shop, and spend time.
Review location permissions. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services. On Android, go to Settings → Location → App permissions.
Change "Always" to "While Using." Most apps don't need constant location access. Change them to only access your location when you're actively using the app.
Turn off precise location. On iPhone, many apps have a "Precise Location" toggle. Turn this off for apps that don't need your exact coordinates. Approximate location is usually enough.
Disable location history. On Android, check Settings → Location → Location services → Google Location History and turn it off if you don't want Google tracking everywhere you go. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Significant Locations and turn it off.
Stop App Tracking
Apps love to track your activity across other apps and websites for advertising purposes.
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking. Make sure "Allow Apps to Request to Track" is turned off. This prevents apps from asking to track you across other companies' apps and websites.
On Android: Go to Settings → Privacy → Ads → Delete advertising ID. This makes it harder for advertisers to build a profile about you.
Both platforms also have settings to limit ad personalization. While you'll still see ads, they won't be based on detailed tracking of your behavior.
Review What Apps Can Access
Beyond specific permissions, see what data apps are collecting overall.
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → App Privacy Report. Turn this on, wait a few days, then check back to see which apps are accessing your data, how often, and which websites they're contacting. This can be eye opening.
On Android: Individual app data usage is harder to see system-wide, but you can check each app individually by going to Settings → Apps → select an app → Permissions to review everything it has access to.
Take action. If an app is accessing way more than it should, either remove unnecessary permissions or delete the app entirely.
Secure Your Lock Screen
Your lock screen is your first line of defense.
Use a strong unlock method. Face ID or fingerprint is good. A 6 digit passcode is better than a 4 digit one. Avoid simple patterns that can be guessed.
Hide sensitive notifications. On iPhone, go to Settings → Notifications → Show Previews → When Unlocked. On Android, go to Settings → Notifications → Sensitive notifications → turn on "Hide sensitive content."
This way, message previews won't show on your lock screen where anyone can see them.
Set auto-lock to a short time. On iPhone, go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock and set it to 30 seconds or 1 minute. On Android, go to Settings → Display → Screen timeout and choose a short duration.
Use Strong Passwords and Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Your accounts are only as secure as your passwords.
Use a password manager. Apps like 1Password, Bitwarden, or your phone's built in password manager (iCloud Keychain on iPhone, Google Password Manager on Android) help you create and store strong, unique passwords for every account.
Never reuse passwords. If one account gets breached, hackers will try that password on all your other accounts. Unique passwords everywhere prevent this.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds a second verification step when logging into accounts, usually a code sent to your phone or generated by an app. Turn this on for email, banking, social media, any account that offers it. On iPhone, go to Settings → Passwords → tap an account → Set Up Verification Code. On Android, check individual app settings or use Google Authenticator.
Delete Old and Unused Accounts
Old accounts are privacy and security risks.
Make a list. Think about accounts you created years ago and never use. Old social media profiles, shopping sites, apps you tried once, free trials you forgot about.
Delete them properly. Don't just stop using them, actually delete your account. Search "[service name] delete account" to find instructions. Most services bury this option deep in settings.
Check data broker sites. Consider using services like DeleteMe or manually requesting removal from data broker sites that collect and sell your personal information.
Review Connected Devices and Apps
Your phone connects to lots of things. Make sure you still want all those connections.
Check third-party app access. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your Name] → Password & Security → Apps Using Apple ID. Review what apps can log in with your Apple ID. On Android, go to myaccount.google.com → Security → Third-party apps with account access. Remove anything you don't recognize or use anymore.
Review connected devices. On iPhone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and Settings → [Your Name] → Find My → Check your devices list. On Android, check Settings → Connected devices. Remove old devices you no longer own or use.
Check smart home connections. If you use smart home devices, review which apps and services have access through Settings or the manufacturer's app.
Clean Your Browsing Data Regularly
Your browser collects a lot of information about what you do online.
Clear cookies and cache. On iPhone Safari, go to Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data. On Android Chrome, go to Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data.
Use private browsing. When searching for sensitive topics or shopping for gifts, use private/incognito mode. On iPhone Safari, tap the tabs icon and select Private. On Chrome, tap the three dots and select New Incognito Tab.
Consider privacy-focused browsers. Browsers like DuckDuckGo or Brave offer stronger privacy protection than default browsers.
Review saved passwords in browser. Delete any old or unused login credentials stored in your browser.
Manage Notification Permissions
Notifications can reveal sensitive information and also indicate which apps are constantly checking in on you.
Review notification settings. On iPhone, go to Settings → Notifications and review each app. On Android, go to Settings → Notifications → App settings.
Turn off unnecessary notifications. Most apps don't need to send you notifications. Keep them only for truly important apps like messages, calendar, and maybe email.
Disable lock screen notifications for sensitive apps. Banking apps, health apps, or messaging apps should not show previews on your lock screen.
Update Your Software Regularly
This one's simple but crucial.
Install updates promptly. Both iOS and Android release security updates regularly. These fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Go to Settings → General → Software Update (iPhone) or Settings → System → System update (Android) and install available updates.
Update your apps too. Outdated apps can have security issues. Turn on automatic updates or manually update apps regularly through the App Store or Google Play Store.
Review App Subscriptions and Recurring Charges
While not strictly privacy, this helps you spot apps that are still accessing your accounts and billing you.
Check subscriptions. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions. On Android, go to Google Play Store → Profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions.
Cancel what you don't use. If you're not using a service, cancel it. Fewer active accounts mean fewer potential privacy concerns.
Check What's Backed Up to the Cloud
Cloud backups are convenient but also mean your data lives on someone else's servers.
Review what's backing up. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage. On Android, go to Settings → Google → Backup.
Remove sensitive data from backup. You might not want certain apps or data backed up to the cloud. Disable backup for specific apps if needed.
Enable encryption. On iPhone, iCloud backups are encrypted. On Android, make sure "Encrypt backups" is enabled in Google Backup settings.
iPhone-Specific Privacy Steps
Here are a few extra steps just for iPhone users.
Hide your email address. When signing up for apps or services, use Settings → Your Name → iCloud → Hide My Email to generate random email addresses that forward to your real one. This keeps your actual email private.
Review App Library privacy. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements and turn off sharing diagnostic data with Apple and developers.
Check Safety Check. Settings → Privacy & Security → Safety Check lets you quickly review who has access to your information and on which devices you're logged in. Great for a quick audit.
Disable Siri suggestions. Go to Settings → Siri & Search and turn off suggestions for apps you want to keep private.
Android-Specific Privacy Steps
Here are extra steps for Android users.
Review Google account activity. Go to myactivity.google.com to see everything Google has tracked. You can delete specific items or set up auto-delete for history older than 3, 18, or 36 months.
Use Google Privacy Checkup. Visit myaccount.google.com/privacycheckup for a guided walkthrough of your privacy settings.
Disable Google Assistant history. Go to Settings → Google → Manage your Google Account → Data & privacy → Web & App Activity and turn it off or set auto-delete.
Check app permissions dashboard. Android 12 and newer have a Privacy Dashboard showing which apps accessed permissions recently. Go to Settings → Privacy → Privacy dashboard.
Your Monthly Privacy Routine
Privacy isn't a one-time thing. Here's a simple monthly checklist to maintain your privacy settings.
Review app permissions. Spend 5 minutes checking if any apps have gained new permissions you didn't notice. Remove what's unnecessary.
Check connected accounts. Review third-party apps connected to your Apple ID or Google account. Remove anything you don't recognize.
Update passwords. Change passwords for one or two important accounts each month, especially if you've been using the same password for years.
Clear browsing data. Clear your browser history, cookies, and cache.
Review location history. Check if any apps are tracking your location that shouldn't be.
Delete old accounts. Pick one or two old accounts to properly delete each month.
Install updates. Make sure your phone and apps are fully updated.
This routine takes maybe 15 minutes a month and keeps your privacy settings in good shape instead of letting things slowly degrade.
Why Phone Privacy Actually Matters
Before we dive into the checklist, let's talk about why this matters beyond just feeling a little safer.
Apps collect way more data than you realize. Many apps track your location, access your contacts, monitor your browsing habits, and share that information with advertisers or third party companies. Most of this happens silently in the background.
Your personal information has value. Companies buy and sell data about you, advertisers target you based on your behavior, and data breaches can expose sensitive information if it's not properly protected.
Privacy gives you control. When you adjust these settings, you're deciding what information you share and with whom. It's about having choice instead of just accepting whatever default settings give apps permission to do.
You're not being paranoid. You're being intentional about your digital life.
The Essential Phone Privacy Checklist
Here's your main checklist. Work through these steps at your own pace. You don't have to do everything at once, just start somewhere and keep going.
Review App Permissions
This is the single most important privacy step you can take.
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security. You'll see categories like Location Services, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, Photos, etc. Tap each one to see which apps have access.
On Android: Go to Settings → Privacy (or Security & Privacy) → Permission manager. You'll see similar categories. Tap each to review which apps have permission.
What to do: Go through each category and ask yourself, "Does this app actually need this permission?" A meditation app doesn't need your location. A flashlight app doesn't need your contacts. Remove permissions that don't make sense.
For location specifically, choose "While Using the App" instead of "Always" whenever possible. This lets apps access your location when you're actively using them but not constantly in the background.
Control Camera and Microphone Access
These are particularly sensitive because they can literally see and hear you.
Check who has access. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera (and then Microphone). On Android, go to Settings → Privacy → Permission manager → Camera (and then Microphone).
Remove unnecessary access. Social media apps might need your camera for posting photos, but do random games or utility apps? Probably not. Be selective.
Look for the indicator. Both iPhone and Android now show a small dot at the top of your screen when your camera or microphone is active. If you see it when you're not actively using an app, check which app is accessing it.
Lock Down Location Services
Your location is one of the most revealing pieces of data about you. It shows where you live, work, shop, and spend time.
Review location permissions. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services. On Android, go to Settings → Location → App permissions.
Change "Always" to "While Using." Most apps don't need constant location access. Change them to only access your location when you're actively using the app.
Turn off precise location. On iPhone, many apps have a "Precise Location" toggle. Turn this off for apps that don't need your exact coordinates. Approximate location is usually enough.
Disable location history. On Android, check Settings → Location → Location services → Google Location History and turn it off if you don't want Google tracking everywhere you go. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Significant Locations and turn it off.
Stop App Tracking
Apps love to track your activity across other apps and websites for advertising purposes.
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking. Make sure "Allow Apps to Request to Track" is turned off. This prevents apps from asking to track you across other companies' apps and websites.
On Android: Go to Settings → Privacy → Ads → Delete advertising ID. This makes it harder for advertisers to build a profile about you.
Both platforms also have settings to limit ad personalization. While you'll still see ads, they won't be based on detailed tracking of your behavior.
Review What Apps Can Access
Beyond specific permissions, see what data apps are collecting overall.
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → App Privacy Report. Turn this on, wait a few days, then check back to see which apps are accessing your data, how often, and which websites they're contacting. This can be eye opening.
On Android: Individual app data usage is harder to see system-wide, but you can check each app individually by going to Settings → Apps → select an app → Permissions to review everything it has access to.
Take action. If an app is accessing way more than it should, either remove unnecessary permissions or delete the app entirely.
Secure Your Lock Screen
Your lock screen is your first line of defense.
Use a strong unlock method. Face ID or fingerprint is good. A 6 digit passcode is better than a 4 digit one. Avoid simple patterns that can be guessed.
Hide sensitive notifications. On iPhone, go to Settings → Notifications → Show Previews → When Unlocked. On Android, go to Settings → Notifications → Sensitive notifications → turn on "Hide sensitive content."
This way, message previews won't show on your lock screen where anyone can see them.
Set auto-lock to a short time. On iPhone, go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock and set it to 30 seconds or 1 minute. On Android, go to Settings → Display → Screen timeout and choose a short duration.
Use Strong Passwords and Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Your accounts are only as secure as your passwords.
Use a password manager. Apps like 1Password, Bitwarden, or your phone's built in password manager (iCloud Keychain on iPhone, Google Password Manager on Android) help you create and store strong, unique passwords for every account.
Never reuse passwords. If one account gets breached, hackers will try that password on all your other accounts. Unique passwords everywhere prevent this.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds a second verification step when logging into accounts, usually a code sent to your phone or generated by an app. Turn this on for email, banking, social media, any account that offers it. On iPhone, go to Settings → Passwords → tap an account → Set Up Verification Code. On Android, check individual app settings or use Google Authenticator.
Delete Old and Unused Accounts
Old accounts are privacy and security risks.
Make a list. Think about accounts you created years ago and never use. Old social media profiles, shopping sites, apps you tried once, free trials you forgot about.
Delete them properly. Don't just stop using them, actually delete your account. Search "[service name] delete account" to find instructions. Most services bury this option deep in settings.
Check data broker sites. Consider using services like DeleteMe or manually requesting removal from data broker sites that collect and sell your personal information.
Review Connected Devices and Apps
Your phone connects to lots of things. Make sure you still want all those connections.
Check third-party app access. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your Name] → Password & Security → Apps Using Apple ID. Review what apps can log in with your Apple ID. On Android, go to myaccount.google.com → Security → Third-party apps with account access. Remove anything you don't recognize or use anymore.
Review connected devices. On iPhone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and Settings → [Your Name] → Find My → Check your devices list. On Android, check Settings → Connected devices. Remove old devices you no longer own or use.
Check smart home connections. If you use smart home devices, review which apps and services have access through Settings or the manufacturer's app.
Clean Your Browsing Data Regularly
Your browser collects a lot of information about what you do online.
Clear cookies and cache. On iPhone Safari, go to Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data. On Android Chrome, go to Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data.
Use private browsing. When searching for sensitive topics or shopping for gifts, use private/incognito mode. On iPhone Safari, tap the tabs icon and select Private. On Chrome, tap the three dots and select New Incognito Tab.
Consider privacy-focused browsers. Browsers like DuckDuckGo or Brave offer stronger privacy protection than default browsers.
Review saved passwords in browser. Delete any old or unused login credentials stored in your browser.
Manage Notification Permissions
Notifications can reveal sensitive information and also indicate which apps are constantly checking in on you.
Review notification settings. On iPhone, go to Settings → Notifications and review each app. On Android, go to Settings → Notifications → App settings.
Turn off unnecessary notifications. Most apps don't need to send you notifications. Keep them only for truly important apps like messages, calendar, and maybe email.
Disable lock screen notifications for sensitive apps. Banking apps, health apps, or messaging apps should not show previews on your lock screen.
Update Your Software Regularly
This one's simple but crucial.
Install updates promptly. Both iOS and Android release security updates regularly. These fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Go to Settings → General → Software Update (iPhone) or Settings → System → System update (Android) and install available updates.
Update your apps too. Outdated apps can have security issues. Turn on automatic updates or manually update apps regularly through the App Store or Google Play Store.
Review App Subscriptions and Recurring Charges
While not strictly privacy, this helps you spot apps that are still accessing your accounts and billing you.
Check subscriptions. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions. On Android, go to Google Play Store → Profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions.
Cancel what you don't use. If you're not using a service, cancel it. Fewer active accounts mean fewer potential privacy concerns.
Check What's Backed Up to the Cloud
Cloud backups are convenient but also mean your data lives on someone else's servers.
Review what's backing up. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage. On Android, go to Settings → Google → Backup.
Remove sensitive data from backup. You might not want certain apps or data backed up to the cloud. Disable backup for specific apps if needed.
Enable encryption. On iPhone, iCloud backups are encrypted. On Android, make sure "Encrypt backups" is enabled in Google Backup settings.
iPhone-Specific Privacy Steps
Here are a few extra steps just for iPhone users.
Hide your email address. When signing up for apps or services, use Settings → Your Name → iCloud → Hide My Email to generate random email addresses that forward to your real one. This keeps your actual email private.
Review App Library privacy. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements and turn off sharing diagnostic data with Apple and developers.
Check Safety Check. Settings → Privacy & Security → Safety Check lets you quickly review who has access to your information and on which devices you're logged in. Great for a quick audit.
Disable Siri suggestions. Go to Settings → Siri & Search and turn off suggestions for apps you want to keep private.
Android-Specific Privacy Steps
Here are extra steps for Android users.
Review Google account activity. Go to myactivity.google.com to see everything Google has tracked. You can delete specific items or set up auto-delete for history older than 3, 18, or 36 months.
Use Google Privacy Checkup. Visit myaccount.google.com/privacycheckup for a guided walkthrough of your privacy settings.
Disable Google Assistant history. Go to Settings → Google → Manage your Google Account → Data & privacy → Web & App Activity and turn it off or set auto-delete.
Check app permissions dashboard. Android 12 and newer have a Privacy Dashboard showing which apps accessed permissions recently. Go to Settings → Privacy → Privacy dashboard.
Your Monthly Privacy Routine
Privacy isn't a one-time thing. Here's a simple monthly checklist to maintain your privacy settings.
Review app permissions. Spend 5 minutes checking if any apps have gained new permissions you didn't notice. Remove what's unnecessary.
Check connected accounts. Review third-party apps connected to your Apple ID or Google account. Remove anything you don't recognize.
Update passwords. Change passwords for one or two important accounts each month, especially if you've been using the same password for years.
Clear browsing data. Clear your browser history, cookies, and cache.
Review location history. Check if any apps are tracking your location that shouldn't be.
Delete old accounts. Pick one or two old accounts to properly delete each month.
Install updates. Make sure your phone and apps are fully updated.
This routine takes maybe 15 minutes a month and keeps your privacy settings in good shape instead of letting things slowly degrade.
You are not the only one asking this
How can I quickly improve my phone's privacy?
Start with the three biggest wins: review and remove unnecessary app permissions (especially location, camera, and microphone), enable two-factor authentication on important accounts, and turn off app tracking. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security to review permissions and disable tracking. On Android, go to Settings → Privacy → Permission manager. These three steps take about 10 to 15 minutes and immediately improve your privacy significantly.
What privacy settings matter the most?
The most important settings are app permissions (especially location, camera, microphone, and contacts), app tracking settings, strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and keeping your software updated. Location is particularly revealing since it shows exactly where you go. Camera and microphone access can literally see and hear you. Tracking lets companies build detailed profiles about your behavior. Focus on these areas first for maximum privacy impact.
How do I check what permissions my apps have?
On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security, then tap each category like Location Services, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, or Photos to see which apps have access. On Android, go to Settings → Privacy (or Security & Privacy) → Permission manager to see the same categories. Review each one and ask yourself if each app actually needs that permission. Remove access for apps that don't have a clear reason to need it.
How can I stop apps from tracking me?
On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking and turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track." This prevents apps from tracking you across other apps and websites. On Android, go to Settings → Privacy → Ads and delete your advertising ID. Also review location permissions and change "Always" to "While Using the App" for most apps. Disable location history in your Google account settings. These steps significantly reduce how much apps can track your activity.
How do I build a simple privacy routine?
Set aside 15 minutes once a month for privacy maintenance. Review app permissions and remove unnecessary access. Check which third-party apps are connected to your accounts and remove old ones. Update passwords for one or two important accounts. Clear your browser history and cookies. Check location history. Delete one or two old accounts you no longer use. Install any available software updates. This simple monthly routine keeps your privacy settings healthy without being overwhelming or time-consuming.
You are not the only one asking this
How can I quickly improve my phone's privacy?
Start with the three biggest wins: review and remove unnecessary app permissions (especially location, camera, and microphone), enable two-factor authentication on important accounts, and turn off app tracking. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security to review permissions and disable tracking. On Android, go to Settings → Privacy → Permission manager. These three steps take about 10 to 15 minutes and immediately improve your privacy significantly.
What privacy settings matter the most?
The most important settings are app permissions (especially location, camera, microphone, and contacts), app tracking settings, strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and keeping your software updated. Location is particularly revealing since it shows exactly where you go. Camera and microphone access can literally see and hear you. Tracking lets companies build detailed profiles about your behavior. Focus on these areas first for maximum privacy impact.
How do I check what permissions my apps have?
On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security, then tap each category like Location Services, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, or Photos to see which apps have access. On Android, go to Settings → Privacy (or Security & Privacy) → Permission manager to see the same categories. Review each one and ask yourself if each app actually needs that permission. Remove access for apps that don't have a clear reason to need it.
How can I stop apps from tracking me?
On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking and turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track." This prevents apps from tracking you across other apps and websites. On Android, go to Settings → Privacy → Ads and delete your advertising ID. Also review location permissions and change "Always" to "While Using the App" for most apps. Disable location history in your Google account settings. These steps significantly reduce how much apps can track your activity.
How do I build a simple privacy routine?
Set aside 15 minutes once a month for privacy maintenance. Review app permissions and remove unnecessary access. Check which third-party apps are connected to your accounts and remove old ones. Update passwords for one or two important accounts. Clear your browser history and cookies. Check location history. Delete one or two old accounts you no longer use. Install any available software updates. This simple monthly routine keeps your privacy settings healthy without being overwhelming or time-consuming.
You are not the only one asking this
How can I quickly improve my phone's privacy?
Start with the three biggest wins: review and remove unnecessary app permissions (especially location, camera, and microphone), enable two-factor authentication on important accounts, and turn off app tracking. On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security to review permissions and disable tracking. On Android, go to Settings → Privacy → Permission manager. These three steps take about 10 to 15 minutes and immediately improve your privacy significantly.
What privacy settings matter the most?
The most important settings are app permissions (especially location, camera, microphone, and contacts), app tracking settings, strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and keeping your software updated. Location is particularly revealing since it shows exactly where you go. Camera and microphone access can literally see and hear you. Tracking lets companies build detailed profiles about your behavior. Focus on these areas first for maximum privacy impact.
How do I check what permissions my apps have?
On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security, then tap each category like Location Services, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, or Photos to see which apps have access. On Android, go to Settings → Privacy (or Security & Privacy) → Permission manager to see the same categories. Review each one and ask yourself if each app actually needs that permission. Remove access for apps that don't have a clear reason to need it.
How can I stop apps from tracking me?
On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking and turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track." This prevents apps from tracking you across other apps and websites. On Android, go to Settings → Privacy → Ads and delete your advertising ID. Also review location permissions and change "Always" to "While Using the App" for most apps. Disable location history in your Google account settings. These steps significantly reduce how much apps can track your activity.
How do I build a simple privacy routine?
Set aside 15 minutes once a month for privacy maintenance. Review app permissions and remove unnecessary access. Check which third-party apps are connected to your accounts and remove old ones. Update passwords for one or two important accounts. Clear your browser history and cookies. Check location history. Delete one or two old accounts you no longer use. Install any available software updates. This simple monthly routine keeps your privacy settings healthy without being overwhelming or time-consuming.
Privacy can feel overwhelming, especially when you realize how much access apps have by default. But you're taking control, and that matters.
You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to lock down every single thing. Just working through this checklist puts you way ahead of most people who never adjust their privacy settings at all.
Start with the steps that feel most important to you. Come back to this checklist when you have time to tackle more. Small progress is still progress.
Your privacy is worth protecting. You're doing it right.
Privacy can feel overwhelming, especially when you realize how much access apps have by default. But you're taking control, and that matters.
You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to lock down every single thing. Just working through this checklist puts you way ahead of most people who never adjust their privacy settings at all.
Start with the steps that feel most important to you. Come back to this checklist when you have time to tackle more. Small progress is still progress.
Your privacy is worth protecting. You're doing it right.
Privacy can feel overwhelming, especially when you realize how much access apps have by default. But you're taking control, and that matters.
You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to lock down every single thing. Just working through this checklist puts you way ahead of most people who never adjust their privacy settings at all.
Start with the steps that feel most important to you. Come back to this checklist when you have time to tackle more. Small progress is still progress.
Your privacy is worth protecting. You're doing it right.
Stay in the loop.
Tiny useful tips sent with zero pressure and zero noise.