How to Stop Apps from Tracking You on Android and iPhone (2025 Guide)

In today’s digital world, most apps silently track your location, online activity, and habits to serve targeted ads or collect data. While some tracking improves functionality, too much can threaten your privacy.
If you value your personal information, here’s how you can stop apps from tracking you on both Android and iPhone — step by step.

🔒 How to Stop Apps from Tracking You on Android

1. Turn Off Ad Personalization

  1. Open Settings → Privacy → Ads.
  2. Tap “Delete advertising ID” (Android 12+) or “Opt out of Ads Personalization.”
    ✅ This prevents apps and advertisers from using your unique ID to track you across other apps.

2. Manage App Permissions

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Permission Manager.
  2. Review permissions like Location, Camera, Contacts, and Microphone.
  3. Choose “Allow only while using the app” or “Deny” for apps that don’t need constant access.

💡 Tip: Regularly review app permissions every few weeks to ensure no app regains access after updates.

3. Disable Location Tracking

  1. Head to Settings → Location → App location permissions.
  2. Set each app to “Allow only while using” or “Don’t allow.”
  3. You can also toggle “Use Location” off completely for extra privacy.

4. Use Private DNS

You can block trackers and malicious sites using DNS filters.

  1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS.
  2. Select Private DNS provider hostname and enter: 
    dns.adguard.com

    or

    dns.quad9.net

🛡️ These services block most advertising and tracking domains automatically.

5. Use a Privacy-Focused Browser

Instead of Chrome, try:

  • Brave Browser – blocks ads and trackers by default.
  • DuckDuckGo Browser – no data collection, no history tracking.
  • Firefox Focus – auto-clears browsing data after each session.

🍏 How to Stop Apps from Tracking You on iPhone

1. Ask Apps Not to Track

  1. Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
  2. Turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track.”
    👉 Apps won’t even be able to ask permission to track you anymore.

2. Control Location Access

  1. Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services.
  2. Set access for each app to “While Using the App” or “Never.”
  3. Disable Precise Location for apps that don’t need your exact position.

3. Turn Off Personalized Ads

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising.
  2. Turn off “Personalized Ads.”
    This prevents Apple from using your activity data to target you with ads.

4. Disable Background App Refresh

  1. Open Settings → General → Background App Refresh.
  2. Choose Off or Wi-Fi only.
    💡 This stops apps from sending or receiving data when you’re not using them.

5. Strengthen Safari’s Privacy

  • Go to Settings → Safari.
  • Turn on:
    • Prevent Cross-Site Tracking
    • Hide IP Address (from Trackers)
    • Fraudulent Website Warning

🧩 Bonus: Extra Tools for Privacy Lovers

  • VPNs: Hide your IP and encrypt all data (try ProtonVPN, Mullvad, or NordVPN).
  • Tracker Blockers:
    • DuckDuckGo App Tracking Protection (Android)
    • Lockdown Privacy (iOS)
  • Private Messaging: Use Signal or Telegram instead of apps that sell data.

⚙️ Final Privacy Tip

Review your app permissions regularly — especially after updates.
Many apps re-enable tracking permissions quietly.
With just a few minutes of maintenance, you can keep your phone and personal data safe from unwanted snooping.