9 Android Settings You Need To Turn Off Now

Summary

In this video, David and David from PayetteForward.com and UpPhone.com guide viewers through essential Android settings to improve battery life, enhance performance, and protect privacy on a Samsung Galaxy S10 running Android 10. They cover disabling nearby device scanning, managing background app activity via developer mode, turning off usage and diagnostic data, opting out of personalized ads, and adjusting location settings. The duo also demonstrates how to restrict background data for specific apps and block installations from unknown sources to prevent malware. The tips are practical, easy-to-follow, and designed to help users optimize their phones safely and efficiently.

Takeaways

• 🔋 Turning off Nearby Device Scanning can save battery life by preventing your phone from constantly searching for nearby devices.
• ⚙️ Enabling Developer Mode allows you to access advanced settings like Background Check to control which apps run in the background.
• 📱 Background Check helps identify and disable apps that use the processor unnecessarily, saving both battery and cellular data.
• 🛑 Disabling Usage & Diagnostic information stops your phone from sending data to Google, improving privacy and conserving battery.
• 📊 Opting out of Ads Personalization limits targeted ads based on your phone usage, enhancing privacy.
• 📍 Turning off Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning improves battery life while GPS functionality remains unaffected.
• 🗺 Pausing Google Location History prevents your phone from storing a detailed log of your movements, increasing privacy.
• 📉 Disabling Network Data Analytics stops your carrier from collecting unnecessary data, reducing background battery usage.
• 📶 Restricting background data for specific apps saves battery and data by preventing unnecessary app updates when not in use.
• 🛡 Blocking the installation of unknown apps protects your device from malware and potential security risks.
• ✅ Reviewing and turning off unnecessary background apps and data usage helps improve overall phone performance.
• 💡 Regularly checking these settings ensures your Android phone runs efficiently, safely, and with better battery life.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the video by David and David?

The main goal is to show Android users settings they should turn off immediately to improve phone performance, save battery life, and enhance privacy.

Why should 'Nearby device scanning' be turned off?

Nearby device scanning constantly searches for nearby devices, which can drain battery life. Turning it off reduces unnecessary background activity.

How do you enable Developer Mode on a Samsung Galaxy phone?

Go to Settings > About phone > Software information, then tap 'Build number' seven times and enter your PIN or passcode to enable Developer Mode.

What is the purpose of the 'Background check' setting in Developer Options?

Background check shows which apps are using the processor in the background, allowing you to disable unnecessary apps to save battery and reduce data usage.

Why is it recommended to turn off 'Usage & diagnostic information'?

Turning it off prevents the phone from sending usage data to Google and Android developers in the background, saving battery life and cellular data.

What does opting out of Ads Personalization do?

It stops Google from using your usage data to deliver interest-based ads. You will still see ads, but they won't be tailored based on your activity.

Which location-related settings are suggested to turn off for better battery life?

Wi-Fi scanning, Bluetooth scanning, Google Location History, and network data analytics should be turned off to save battery while still allowing GPS to function.

How can you restrict background data for specific apps?

Go to Settings > Apps > select the app > Mobile data, then set 'Restrict background data' to 'Always' to prevent the app from using data in the background.

Why is it important to turn off 'Install unknown apps' for most applications?

Disabling this setting prevents apps from installing other apps from unknown sources, reducing the risk of malware or ransomware infections.

What general advice do the presenters give about changing app and phone settings?

Be intentional about which settings and apps you allow to run or collect data, as controlling these can improve performance, save battery and data, and protect privacy.

How does turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning affect GPS functionality?

Turning off these scans does not affect core GPS functionality, which still works for location tracking, but it prevents constant background scanning that drains battery.

What should you do if an app stops working after turning off certain background settings?

You can always return to the settings and re-enable the app’s background activity if necessary.