Ever talked about new shoes with a friend, and then an hour later shoe ads were shown on your phone? Kind of creepy, right? A lot of people just ignore it. But it is not magic. Most of the time, your data is being collected by some apps in the background all day long.
The good news is that this can be checked by you. Both iPhone and Android let you see which apps are using your location, photos, mic, and more. You just need to know where to look. This guide is written in plain words, step by step. No tech skills are needed.
First, what app tracking means will be explained. Then the check will be done on iPhone and on Android. After that, ways to stop apps from tracking you are shown. For more simple tech guides, visit Rubic.
What Does App Tracking Mean?
App tracking means that info about what you do is collected by an app, and then it is shared with other companies. It can be the places you go, the things you search for, and the stuff you buy. A profile of you is built from all this. Then ads are shown to you with it.
Not all tracking is bad. Your location is needed by a map app so the way can be shown. The trouble starts when way more is asked for than is needed. Are contacts needed by a flashlight app? No. That is a red flag.
Tracking is done in two main ways. One, a special ID on your phone is used by apps. It is called an advertising ID, and you are followed from app to app with it. Two, permissions like location or camera are asked for, and the data is taken straight from you.
Signs That Apps May Be Tracking You
Small hints are given by your phone sometimes. Once you know what to look for, they make sense. Here are some common signs. Keep them in mind as the steps below are followed.
- Ads are seen for stuff that was only talked about one time
- The battery is drained fast, even when the phone is not being used
- Your data runs out faster than before
- Your location, mic, or contacts are asked for by an app, and there is no good reason
- The phone gets warm while it is just sitting there
- A colored dot is shown on the screen when no app was opened
None of these signs prove anything alone. But if two or three of them are seen together, it is smart to check your settings. It only takes a few minutes.
How to Check App Tracking on iPhone
This is made pretty easy by Apple. Let’s start with the tracking list. Every app that asks to follow you around other apps and websites is shown in it. Each one can be turned off with one tap.
Open Settings, then tap Privacy & Security, then tap Tracking. A switch called Allow Apps to Request to Track will be seen. Under it, a list of apps is shown. If a green switch is next to an app, it is allowed to track you. The ones you do not trust should be turned off. The main switch can also be turned off.
Next, the app permissions on the iPhone should be checked. Stay in Privacy & Security. Things like Location Services, Photos, Camera, Microphone, and Contacts will be seen. When any one of them is tapped, the apps that can use it are shown. Take your time with each one.
Location is the big one. Open Location Services and look at each app. Choices like Never, Ask Next Time, While Using the App, and Always are shown. For most apps, While Using the App is enough. Precise Location should be turned off when it can be.
One more place is worth a look. Go to Privacy & Security, then App Privacy Report, and turn it on. After one week, you are shown which apps used your camera, mic, and location. It is a good way to catch an app that is acting strange.
How to Check App Tracking on Android
Its own tools are had by Android too. The names are changed a bit from phone to phone, but the steps are close. Let’s start with the permission manager, because the clearest picture is given by it.
Open Settings, then tap Security and privacy, then Privacy, then Permission manager. On some phones it is found under Apps instead. A list like Location, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, and Files is shown. When one is tapped, the apps that can use it right now are seen.
Inside each permission, apps are put into groups. You will see Allowed all the time, Allowed only while in use, Ask every time, and Not allowed. The first group should be looked at closely. Those apps can use that feature even when the screen is not being looked at by you.
Now the advertising ID will be handled. Go to Settings, then Security and privacy, then Privacy, then Ads. Tap Delete advertising ID. Because of this, it can not be used by apps to follow you anymore. On older Android versions, Opt out of Ads Personalization might be seen instead.
A privacy dashboard is also had by Android. It is found under Privacy. A 24 hour timeline is shown, with the apps that used your location, camera, and mic. If an app that is hardly used keeps showing up, its access should be cut. It only takes a moment.
iPhone and Android Tools Side by Side
A good job is done by both phones. Different names and paths are just used by them. The main tools are put side by side in the table below. It makes things quicker. And none of it is hard.
| What you want to check | iPhone | Android |
| Stop tracking across apps | Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking | Settings > Privacy > Ads > Delete advertising ID |
| Check app permissions | Settings > Privacy & Security | Settings > Privacy > Permission manager |
| Check location access | Privacy & Security > Location Services | Permission manager > Location |
| See recent app activity | App Privacy Report | Privacy dashboard |
| Spot mic or camera use | Orange and green dots at the top | Green dot at the top |
How to Stop Apps From Tracking You
Checking is just step one. Now action has to be taken. Learning how to stop apps from tracking you is mostly about saying no. Most apps work fine with fewer permissions. If one stops working after something is taken away, it can always be given back. Nothing is forever. Small changes add up.
- Tracking should be turned off on iPhone, or the ad ID should be deleted on Android
- Location should be set to “only while using” for every app
- Camera, mic, and contacts access should be taken away from apps that do not need it
- Apps that are not used anymore should be deleted
- Personalized ads should be turned off in your Google and Apple accounts
Don’t forget your accounts. Ad settings are kept in your Apple and Google account too. Ad personalization should be turned off there as well. Every ad will not be stopped, but they will be less targeted. That is still a win.
Extra Habits That Help
Be careful with new apps. Before one is installed, what it asks for should be read. If your contacts and mic are wanted by a simple game, skip it. The app’s privacy label in the App Store or Google Play should also be looked at. A few seconds are needed to read it.
Tracker blocking should be turned on in your browser, or a private window can be used. Settings for this are had by both Safari and Chrome. Websites track you too, not just apps. Think of it like a second lock on your door. It works great with the steps above.
Make it a habit. A reminder should be set to check your app permissions every few months. Apps are changed, and so are their updates. An app that was fine last year might ask for more now. A quick check four times a year keeps things under control.
Final Thoughts
Having apps tracking you is not something to panic about, but it is worth a look. A lot of data sharing can be cut down by a few minutes in your settings. Your permissions should be checked, the apps you dont use should be deleted, and the list should be looked at again every now and then. For more easy guides like this, visit Rubic.