Android 14
What the default settings do
Android 14 includes several privacy features such as granular photo and video permissions, improved permission controls, and the ability to revoke permissions for unused apps. However, Google Play services still collect device diagnostics by default, ad personalization is on, and Google activity controls retain data indefinitely unless you change them.
The default experience varies by device manufacturer. Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus, and other brands may add their own data collection and settings. This guide covers settings available on stock Android 14 and Google’s built-in services.
A reasonable privacy baseline
These settings are found in the Settings app and in your Google Account settings on the device.
App permissions
Settings → Security & Privacy → Privacy → Permission manager → Review all categories
Android 14 groups permissions by type (Location, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, etc.). Review each category and revoke access for apps that do not need it. Pay particular attention to Location, Camera, and Microphone.
Per-app location access → Set to "Allow only while using the app" instead of "Allow all the time" where practical
Most apps work correctly without continuous location access. Android 14 continues to require apps to request foreground location before requesting background location, giving you a clear decision point.
Per-app photo and video access → Set to "Select photos and videos" where practical
Android 14 lets you grant apps access to specific photos and videos instead of your entire library. Use this option for apps that only need occasional access to media, such as messaging or social media apps.
Settings → Security & Privacy → Privacy → Camera access / Microphone access → On (leave enabled, but review per-app access)
These global toggles let you quickly disable all camera or microphone access. Leaving them on while reviewing individual app permissions is more practical for daily use.
Location
Settings → Location → Location services → Google Location Accuracy → Off
When enabled, your device sends Wi-Fi, cell tower, and sensor data to Google to improve location accuracy. Turning it off means the device relies on GPS only, which is slightly slower but does not send network data to Google.
Settings → Location → Location services → Google Location History → Off
Controls Google's Timeline feature, which records everywhere you go. Turning it off stops new location data from being saved. Existing history can be deleted separately in your Google Account.
Ads and personalization
Settings → Security & Privacy → Privacy → Ads → Delete advertising ID
Android 14 supports deleting your device's advertising ID. Once deleted, apps that request the ID receive a zeroed-out identifier, which reduces cross-app tracking.
Google Account → Data & privacy → Ad personalization → Off
Stops Google from using your activity to build an ad profile. You will still see ads across Google services, but they will not be targeted to your behavior.
Google activity controls
Google Account → Data & privacy → Web & App Activity → Off or On with auto-delete set to 3 months
This is Google's broadest data collection control. It covers searches, Maps activity, and interactions with Google services. Turning it off reduces personalization across all Google products.
Google Account → Data & privacy → YouTube History → On with auto-delete set to 3 months
YouTube recommendations rely heavily on watch history. Keeping it on with a short retention period balances recommendation quality with data retention.
Diagnostics and usage data
Settings → Security & Privacy → More security & privacy → Usage & diagnostics → Off
Stops your device from sending crash reports, performance data, and usage statistics to Google.
Google Play privacy
Google Play → Profile → Settings → General → Account and device preferences → Device-level personalization in apps → Off
Prevents Google Play from sharing device-level signals with apps for ad personalization purposes.
Trade-offs
- Turning off Google Location Accuracy means location fixes rely on GPS alone, which is slower and less accurate indoors. Navigation and ride-sharing apps may take longer to find your position.
- Deleting your advertising ID means ads will be less relevant. Some free apps depend on personalized ads for revenue.
- Disabling Web & App Activity makes Google Search and Assistant less personalized. Search results will be more generic.
- Turning off Usage & diagnostics means Google receives less data to identify and fix bugs affecting your device and Android version.
- Selecting individual photos and videos for apps is more private but requires an extra step each time the app requests media access.
- Turning off Google Location History removes the Timeline feature in Google Maps.
Who should not change these settings
- If you rely on Google Assistant for personalized recommendations and routines, keeping Web & App Activity on (with auto-delete) provides a better experience.
- If you use Google Maps Timeline as a travel log, turning off Location History removes that functionality.
- If you depend on fast indoor location accuracy for navigation, maps, or ride-sharing, keeping Google Location Accuracy on is practical.
- If you prefer relevant ads over generic ones, keeping ad personalization enabled and your advertising ID active is a valid choice.
- If you want to help Google improve Android and identify issues on your device, leaving Usage & diagnostics on is reasonable.
- If selecting individual photos each time an app requests access feels burdensome, granting full photo library access to trusted apps is an acceptable compromise.