We generally care less about privacy on our mobile phones and tablets. But this could cost us dearly in many situations. But when you take care of some Android settings to protect your privacy, you are going to be much safe.
If you are one among many people who are not worried at all about privacy on your phone, especially with open access to your device, that is not a good practice. It is the right time for you to tweak some settings right now.
Android Settings to Protect Your Privacy
Privacy should be our top priority the best privacy tips for Android can give you a hint. Here we go with the important settings that you need to change at the earliest:
Utilize Screen Pinning
Our mobile phone belongs to us but a family member or a friend can ask for it anytime to make a call, send a text message, or search for something online. No matter what excuse they give you to lend them your device, there is a way to not let them explore the rest of your device.
This is called the Screen pinning option which locks the phone except for that single app that you have enabled. For this simply go to Settings and find ‘Biometrics and Security’ and locate the ‘Other Security Settings.’ Here you will find the ‘Pin Windows.’
Now go back to the home screen and open the app. Press the ‘Back’ button on the navigation bar and bring the recent apps. Now tap the app icon above your app and find ‘Pin App’ to enable the feature.
Say No to Notification Previews
Notification previews are a great way of staying up to date with recent progress. You can have a direct glance at the messages from your friends and family circle without having to tap open the complete application.
But this could also mean anyone looking at the screen can read what the message or notification is all about. But with some settings, you can now hide the content of these notifications from prying eyes. For this, go to ‘Settings’ and find ‘Apps,’ here you can see all the apps that are installed on your device.
Now select the app that you want the notifications preview off. For this go to ‘App info’ and find ‘Notifications’ and ‘Show Notifications’ and turn it off.
Use the Lock or Hide Items Option
Not all the apps and items on our mobile phones are meant to be seen and accessed by others. This is why you should be careful about what to give access to and what not. For example, your financial apps have an inbuilt lock system to protect you.
But not all apps have this feature. Even there is something called hiding apps and files. You can use this method as well to protect your apps and other items from the unwanted attention of the people who might have access to your machine. Simply go to ‘Settings’ and find ‘Home Screen’ where you can see the ‘Hide Apps’ and select the apps that you want to disappear from the background.
Use Incognito Mode or Create a Guest Profile
If the smartphone that you own is used by multiple people then the best option for you is to create a guest account from them. This way, they will only have access to the relevant sections that are meant for them.
On the other hand, your private and personal information will not be available to them. At the same time, while looking up items to buy online, the best way is to use an incognito mode or a VPN. With this, you will not only get the best bargains but also protect your online activity.
Conclusion
Here we discussed some of the best Android settings to protect your privacy when the device is accessible to more than one user. These are really helpful and keep your data and personal information along with applications and activities away from other people by restricting their access.