Manage security & privacy settings on your Pixel phone (2024)

You can help protect your phone by updating your security and privacy settings. Learn how to check and manage your security status with our step-by-step tutorial.

Important:

  • Some of these steps work only on Android 10 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
  • Some of these steps require you to touch the screen.

Manage your security settings

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Tap Security.
  3. At the top, you’ll see the security status of your device and Google Account. If there are important actions to take to secure your device or accounts, a warning message will appear.

Understand your security status

Manage security & privacy settings on your Pixel phone (1) No problems found: No security issues are present on your device or Google Account.

Manage security & privacy settings on your Pixel phone (2) Security can be improved: You have security recommendations.

Manage security & privacy settings on your Pixel phone (3) Security may be at risk: Please review the security recommendations and take action to secure your account or device.

Manage security & privacy settings on your Pixel phone (4) Security is at risk: There are critical security issues which require your attention. Please review the security recommendations and take action to secure your account or device.

Security settings you can manage

  • App security:
    Play Protect regularly checks your apps & devices for harmful behavior. You’ll be notified of any security risks found.
  • Find My Device
    Make sure your phone can be found if it gets lost. Learn how to be ready to find a lost phone.
  • Security update
    See whether your system is up to date. Learn how to check and update your Android version.
  • Screen lock
    Lock your phone with a PIN, pattern, or password. Learn how to set a screen lock.
  • Face & fingerprint unlock
    Use your fingerprint or face to unlock your phone andauthorize purchases. Learn how to set up fingerprintsor face unlock.
  • Google security checkup
    Review signed in devices, saved passwords, recent activity, and more related to your Google Account.
  • Google Play system update
    Check for updates to your Android operating system.

Advanced security settings

  • Smart Lock
    Set your device to stay unlocked in certain circ*mstances. Learn how to turn on Smart Lock.
  • Device admin apps
    Find or remove apps that can administer your phone.
  • SIM card lock:
    Require a PIN to use your device.
  • Encryption & credentials
    If your phone isn't encrypted by default, learn how to encrypt data on your phone. To manage certificates,learn how to add or removecertificates.
  • Suspicious message alerts
    Get alerts for text messages that may include a suspicious request, fake link, or potential scam.
  • Trust agents
    Let your phone use automatic-unlock options like Trusted Places or Voice Match.Learn how to turn on automatic unlock.
  • App pinning
    You can pin a screen to keep it in view until you unpin it. Learn how to pin screens.
  • Confirm SIM deletion
    Verify it’s you before erasing a downloaded SIM.
  • Open source licenses
    View the Android open source licenses associated with your device.

Work profile security

If you use a work profile on your device, you can also manage these settings:

  • Use one lock: Use the same device screen lock as your personal account on this device.
  • Work profile lock: Set up a different screen lock than your personal account on this device.
  • Face & fingerprint unlock for work: Only access your work profile by unlocking your device with your face or fingerprint lock.

Manage your privacy settings

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Tap Privacy.

Privacy settings you can manage

  • Privacy Dashboard
    Show which apps recently used permissions.
  • Permission manager
    Control app access to your data.
  • Camera access
    Control camera access for all apps and services.
  • Microphone access
    Control microphone access for all apps and services.
  • Show passwords
    To helpyou usepasswords that aremore complex and secure, you can see what you type.
  • Notifications on lock screen
    Decide which notifications to show on lockscreen.
  • Private Compute Core
    Get suggestions based on the people, apps, and content you interact with. Learn more about device learning.
  • Personalize with app data
    Allow apps to send content to the Android system.
  • Show clipboard access
    Show a message when apps access text, images, or other content you’ve copied.
  • Autofill service from Google
    Manage saved passwords, credit cards, and addresses.
  • Google location history
    Save where you go with your device.
  • Activity controls
    Choose the activities and info you allow Google to save.
  • Ads
    Personalize ads and manage your advertising ID.
  • Usage & diagnostics
    Share data to help improve Android.

Need more help?

Try these next steps:

Post to the help community Get answers from community members Contact us Tell us more and we’ll help you get there
Manage security & privacy settings on your Pixel phone (2024)

FAQs

Manage security & privacy settings on your Pixel phone? ›

Anytime you use your Google phone , your data is protected by the Google Tensor chip and the certified Titan M2 security chip, providing multiple layers of security to help keep your personal info safe.

Where are my Privacy and security settings? ›

Find your security & privacy settings
  • On your phone with Android 13 and up: Tap Settings. Security and privacy.
  • On your phone with Android 12 and lower: For security settings: Tap Settings. Security for security settings. For privacy settings: Tap Settings. Privacy for privacy settings.

What security does Google Pixel use? ›

Anytime you use your Google phone , your data is protected by the Google Tensor chip and the certified Titan M2 security chip, providing multiple layers of security to help keep your personal info safe.

Where are the settings on a Google Pixel phone? ›

To find your first few settings, swipe down from the top of your screen. To find all your Quick Settings, swipe down again.

How do I access Google privacy settings? ›

On your computer, open Chrome. Settings. On the left, select Privacy and security.

How do I find my Google security settings? ›

To access your Google Account security settings, go to myaccount.google.com. In the navigation panel, tap Security.

Should privacy settings be on or off? ›

Double-check all your settings As a recommendation, you may want to turn off all tracking settings and pause all privacy options for optimal security. If you don't want your data tracked, going through all these settings is the best way to prevent it.

How to secure your Pixel? ›

Security settings you can manage
  1. App security: Play Protect regularly checks your apps & devices for harmful behavior. ...
  2. Find My Device. Make sure your phone can be found if it gets lost. ...
  3. Security update. ...
  4. Screen lock. ...
  5. Face & fingerprint unlock. ...
  6. Google security checkup. ...
  7. Google Play system update.

Is Google Pixel trustworthy? ›

One of the best updates is Google's commitment to providing seven years of security updates to the Pixel 8 series, meaning this phone will still be safe to use in at least 2030.

How do I know if my Google pixel has malware? ›

The best way to check for malware on your phone is to use a mobile security app like free AVG Antivirus for Android. Run a scan. After installing AVG Antivirus, open the app and run an antivirus scan to find malware hidden in your device's system.

How do I change my pixel settings? ›

Open your phone's Settings app. Tap Display. Tap the setting that you want to change. To see more settings, tap Advanced.

Where do I find my Google settings? ›

See your Google Account settings
  1. Step 1 of 4. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen.
  2. Step 2 of 4. Open the Settings app .
  3. Step 3 of 4. Tap Google.
  4. Step 4 of 4. Then tap Manage your Google Account.

Can anyone see what I search on Google on my phone? ›

Google can access your search history, especially if you're signed in to your Google account. Internet service providers can see the domain names of the websites you visit. Some apps on your phone might ask permission to access your internet browsing history. If you grant it, they'll be able to view it.

How do I go to security settings? ›

You can change your security settings on Android by navigating to the Settings menu. Then select Biometrics and security or Privacy to view and alter your settings. You may also want to explore your Google account settings to ensure you have enabled privacy settings.

What are privacy controls? ›

By extension, privacy controls are meant to ensure individuals have rights to control how their data is used, and to mitigate threats of unauthorized access, malicious actors, and other potential risks. The focus on protecting the rights and data of individuals is what differentiates data privacy from data security.

How do I get to Privacy and Security settings on my iPhone? ›

You can change your mind anytime and update your preferences from Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.

How do I find my Internet Security settings? ›

Check WiFi Security Settings in Settings or Control Panel

Look for Security Type. You can also open the Control Panel and go to Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings. Click on your Wi-Fi card, and click on Wireless Properties. Click on the Security tab and look at Security Type.

Where is Security and Privacy on Facebook? ›

  1. Tap in the top right of Facebook.
  2. Scroll down and tap Settings & privacy, then tap Settings.
  3. Scroll down to Audience and visibility and tap Posts.
  4. Tap next to Limit who can see past posts.

How do I check my WiFi security settings? ›

How do I know which security type I'm using?
  1. Open the Settings app on your mobile device.
  2. Access the Wi-Fi connection settings.
  3. Find your wireless network on the list of available networks.
  4. Tap the network name or info button to pull up the network configuration.
  5. Check the network configuration for the security type.
Feb 22, 2023

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