Change these 3 settings on Google now to avoid being tracked

If you’ve ever felt uneasy about how Google seems to “know” you, you’re not alone. From your search history to where you’ve been to your daily app habits, Google records and stores nearly every aspect of your digital behavior. The goal is to personalize your experience, but that convenience comes at the cost of privacy.

Whether you're concerned about personal data, concerned about targeted advertising, or simply want to take control of the information online platforms are collecting, the good news is you can take action yourself.

With just a few changes to your account settings, you can significantly reduce the amount of data Google collects and limit how it uses your information. Here are three important settings you should adjust now to increase your privacy in the digital age.

1. Turn off activity tracking in Google apps

Every time you search, speak, or tap anything in Google apps, it's all saved in the “Web and App Activity”. Imagine someone is silently recording every step you take every day.

To stop this, go to theGoogle account settings, selectData & Privacy, then go to the sectionWeb and App Activity. Here you can turn off tracking and delete all previously saved data with just a few simple steps.

You should also enable the optionAuto delete activityperiodically every 3, 18, or 36 months to minimize long-term risk. If you want even more control, Google lets you delete data by app likeMaporNewsor even individual activity items.

2. Turn off location tracking and delete your Personal Timeline

Google Timelineor also known asTimelineis a hyper-detailed diary of every place you’ve ever been: from your long trips to your daily commute to the grocery store. If the thought of that makes you nervous, you have good reason.

To control this feature, open the appGoogle MapsOn your phone, tap your profile picture and selectTimelineyour. Tap the cloud icon to stop syncing your location history between devices. Then, go toLocation & Privacy Settings(via the three dots icon) to completely disable the featureTimeline, stop backing up locations, or delete all saved data.

You can also set up the system to automatically delete location data every 3, 18, or 36 months, a great option if you want to maintain privacy while still having the flexibility to use Google services.

3. Disable Google personalized ads

Just because you’re okay with Google collecting some of your data doesn’t mean you have to let it be used to serve you ads. Google’s ad system mines your search history, location, YouTube viewing habits, and more to build a detailed “advertising profile” that can target you more precisely.

To prevent this, visitGoogle Accountyours, go toData & Privacy, selectAd settings, then clickMy Ads Center. Here you can turn off the optionPersonalized advertising.

For stronger privacy protection, scroll down to thePartner Ad Settingsand turn the option off here. This prevents Google from sharing your advertising profile with third-party platforms, a small but worthwhile step toward greater control over your personal data.