Android gives you more customization than iOS, but also more data collection by default. Google's business model is built on data, and Android reflects that. Here's what to change to take your privacy back.
Turn Off Google's Personalization
Go to Settings → Google → Manage Your Google Account → Data & Privacy. Turn off Web & App Activity, Location History, and YouTube History. These are the three biggest data collection pipelines Google has.
Limit Ad Tracking
Go to Settings → Google → Ads. Tap "Delete advertising ID" — this removes the unique ID Google uses to track you across apps for ad targeting. On older Android versions, look for "Opt out of Ads Personalization" instead.
Review App Permissions
Go to Settings → Privacy → Permission Manager. Work through each permission category — Camera, Microphone, Location, Contacts, etc. Revoke permissions from any app that doesn't genuinely need them.
Pay special attention to location permissions. For each app, choose "Only while using" rather than "Allow all the time" unless there's a specific reason (like a navigation app that needs background location).
Disable "Improve Location Accuracy"
Go to Settings → Location → Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Scanning. Turn both off. These allow apps and Google to use Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices to determine your location even when GPS is off.
Turn Off Personalized Search Results
In Google Search, tap your profile picture → Search History → turn off. Also go to Search Settings and disable personal results.
Use a Privacy-Focused App Store Alternative
F-Droid (f-droid.org) is a free and open-source Android app repository containing apps that respect your privacy. Many popular privacy tools — Shelter, NetGuard, NewPipe — are available there. You can install F-Droid alongside the Play Store.
Consider a Privacy-Focused Android Build
For maximum Android privacy, consider GrapheneOS (grapheneos.org) — a hardened, de-Googled version of Android for Pixel phones. It removes all Google services while maintaining compatibility with most apps through sandboxed Play Services. It's the gold standard for privacy-focused Android.
Use NetGuard as a Firewall
NetGuard (available on F-Droid) is a no-root firewall that lets you block internet access for individual apps. If an app doesn't need internet access to function, you can cut it off entirely. This stops data collection at the network level.