Smartphone being a smart device knows very much about you and in somewhere too much. Since various features and settings are already enabled on Android by default, you might want to know or want to disable the same.
Also, disabling some settings will not probably return you to the stage the day when you bought it but certainly, it helps you out to some extent.
Also, we recommend enabling Developer options before heading toward this list. In order to enable it, just go through Settings > About phone > Build number. Also, Tap it seven times and enter your PIN o pattern, now this will give access to the wonderful world of enhancing functionality.
Limit background processes
For users, who are carrying an older phone with a limited amount of RAM. You certainly need to limit or disable the standard background process limit. Although, this doesn’t give you an instant difference but limiting concurrent background apps will prove useful. Here you find the limit in order to adjust the limit as per your choice.
Open Settings > Developer options > Background process limit.
Wi-Fi + Bluetooth scanning
This is another alternative to potentially decrease battery usage is to disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning. In other words, these features mean that your phone is able to scan for Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices even in case of both settings are disabled for better location accuracy or GPS.
To do the changes, step to Settings > Location > Wi-Fi scanning and Settings > Location > Bluetooth scanning, and toggle these options to “off”.
Google Location History
Since your Android phone and Google Maps are potentially tracking your movement history. Whereas some people simply do not aware, while you might not want to let that happen as a default.
To deal with it, there are a couple of options that can be proven useful. On the other hand, you can disable the feature entirely, or set your location history to auto-delete. To adjust or disable the Google Location history default settings on your Android device.
Open Settings > Location > Location Services > Google Location History > Sign in to your Google Account.
Now by doing the above steps, it should open the “Activity controls” page, where you can toggle Location History off completely or scroll down and select “Choose an auto-delete option”, then select the “Auto-delete activity.
Add icons to the home screen
Since most Android phones these days will automatically add brand new apps or re-installed apps to your home screen. Also, depending on your device launcher, there’s an option to enable or disable this function.
This is achieved, by long pressing any blank space on your home screen and tapping “Home settings” or “Settings.” There you find the option to check or uncheck the “Add app icons to home screen” toggle to suit your personal preferences.
Restrict background data usage
Most of the time apps on your Android device will access mobile data or your Wi-Fi connection to do things. Such as updating your feeds in the background and saving time on loading until you re-open. While this can consume huge data at times.
The easiest and most obvious way to disable the background data usage is to head to the app in question by opening:
Settings > Apps > Select an app you want to adjust data, and then settings > Mobile data and Wi-Fi> Background data.
Disable Mobile always active data
In a similar manner to the apps that own background data access, you also have the option to limit how mobile data is utilized by your device.
Also, it is recommended you disable this functionality right away because there’s no real penalty when leaving a Wi-Fi network and reconnecting to data channels. To disable this, all you need to do this:
Settings > System > Developer options > Mobile data is always active > Toggle off.
Notify public networks
Public Wi-Fi networks are a bit irritating sometimes if you have no intention of connecting to public/unsecured networks. As these create congestion and leave out some important information. Therefore, it is recommended to remain active, if you have a low data allowance but for others, you can disable this by heading to:
Settings > Network and Internet or Wi-Fi > Network preferences > Notify for public networks > Enable/disable. This might be hidden under an “Advanced” section on some Android devices.
Usage and diagnostics
In order to improve the Android OS, users are not aware that certain diagnostic and usage information is shared with Google when they encounter issues, app crashes, or slowdowns. While it is fair for you to disable these added settings on your Android. To disable usage and diagnostic information:
Open Settings > Google > tap the upper-right three-dot menu > Usage & diagnostics > “Off”.
Opt-out of ads personalization
Whether or not you’re signed in to your Android phone with your Google Account, you’ll get search or banner ads across some two million+ websites that use Google’s ad platform. Understandably, you might not want such ads appearing and Google does make it fairly simple to disable and adjust these ad settings on your Android phone.
Irrespective of the fact that you’re signed in to your Android phone with a Google Account, you’ll certainly get search or banner ads across almost every website. While it is quite understandable that no one wants these ads as these create hindrances. The setting to disable and adjust ad settings are given below:
Settings > Google > Ads > Tap your Google Account > Data and privacy > Ad Settings > Ad personalization.
Require device unlock for NFC
Although this option should be disabled by default on almost every phone. Also, we recommend checking and must ensure 100% as this can mean that NFC payments are possible for anyone using your phone. So, it is recommended to have the device unlocked for making any kind of payment.
In order to check head to Settings > Connection preferences > NFC > Require device unlock for NFC.
Sensitive notifications
Notably, Android makes you hide notifications in a similar fashion to what iOS handles. Instead, display a message or notification coming from, better to see in terms of notification is waiting. You can even disable notifications that seem to appear on your lock screen.
Enabling is by heading to Settings > Notifications > Sensitive notifications. On Samsung phones: Settings > Lock screen > Notifications > Hide content.
