Android phones are packed with features, but not every one of them is worth keeping enabled. In fact, some can be downright annoying. Here’s a list of settings I always turn off to make my phone work better for me.
1 Automatic App Updates
Ever had an app suddenly behave differently because it updated on its own? It’s frustrating when features you rely on disappear or change without warning. That’s why I prefer to disable automatic app updates. By updating apps manually, I can check what’s new, decide if it’s worth it, and avoid any unpleasant surprises. It’s a simple adjustment that puts me back in control.
To turn off automatic app updates, open the “Play Store” and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner. Go to “Settings,” select “Network Preferences,” tap “Auto-update apps,” and choose “Don’t auto-update apps.”
2 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Scanning
Even when you turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, your phone doesn’t always stop searching for networks or devices. This little “hidden feature” drains your battery without you realizing it. I always go into the location settings and disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning. After all, if I’ve turned them off, it’s because I don’t want them running. Why let my phone waste power and data looking for connections I’m not interested in?
To turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning, go to “Settings,” then open “Location.” Look for “Location services,” and then toggle both “Wi-Fi scanning” and “Bluetooth scanning” options off.
3 Auto-Play Videos on the Play Store
There’s nothing more annoying than browsing for an app and suddenly being bombarded with an auto-playing video trailer. It’s distracting and often a waste of data if you’re not on Wi-Fi. The first time it happened, I immediately dove into the Play Store’s settings to turn it off. Now, I can browse in peace without random videos playing every time I scroll.
To stop auto-play videos, open the “Play Store” and tap your profile picture. Go to “Settings,” then select “Network Preferences.” Tap “Auto-play videos” and choose “Don’t auto-play videos.”
4 Ads Personalization
Ads are hard to avoid, but when they’re tailored to everything I search or click on, it feels a bit too invasive. I don’t need my phone following my every move just to decide what ads to show me. Turning off ad personalization doesn’t eliminate ads, but it does stop the tracking and makes the whole experience feel a little less intrusive.
To disable ads personalization, go to “Settings” and open the “Google services and preferences” section (or simply “Google,” depending on your phone). Tap your account name and select “Manage your Google Account.” Navigate to the “Data & privacy” section and scroll down to “My Ad Center” under the Personalized ads section. Tap the “Personalized ads” drop-down menu, and when prompted with the “Turn off personalized ads?” page, tap “Turn off,” and you’re all set.
5 Background Data for Specific Apps
Some apps are like toddlers—you can’t leave them unsupervised. Even when you’re not actively using them, they’re busy running in the background, eating up your data and draining your battery. I always go into the app settings and disable background data for apps I don’t use often, like shopping apps or games.
To restrict background data, go to “Settings” and open “Apps.” Select an app, then go to “Mobile data usage” and toggle off “Background data.”
6 Mobile Data Always Active
This one was a real surprise for me when I first found out about it. Even when you’re connected to Wi-Fi, Android keeps mobile data running in the background, just in case you lose your connection. While that might be useful for some, I’d rather save my battery. Once I discovered this setting in the developer options, I turned it off immediately, and I’ve never looked back.
To disable mobile data always being active, first enable Developer Options. Go to Settings, tap About Phone, and tap the Build Number seven times. Then, go to “Settings,” open “System,” and access “Developer Options.” Look for “Mobile Data Always Active” and toggle it off.
7 Add Icons to the Home Screen
Every time I download a new app, Android assumes I want its icon cluttering up my home screen. Spoiler: I don’t. I like to keep my home screen clean and only add the apps I use regularly. Disabling the option to “add icons to home screen” was one of the first things I did when I set up my phone, and it’s been a game changer for keeping things tidy.
To stop new apps from adding icons, long-press on your home screen, then tap “Home Settings.” Find “Add app icons to home screen” and toggle it off.
8 Sensitive Notifications on Lock Screen
Your lock screen is often visible to people around you, and the last thing I want is for someone to catch a glimpse of a sensitive message. Turning off sensitive notifications was a no-brainer for me. Now, I still see alerts for things like emails or messages, but the actual content stays hidden unless I unlock my phone. It’s a simple privacy win.
To hide sensitive notifications, go to “Settings” and tap “Notifications.” Look for the option to disable “Sensitive notifications” and toggle it off.
9 Notification Vibration
Vibration alerts can be useful, but for me, they’re more of an annoyance than a help. Every time my phone buzzes on a hard surface, it’s like a mini earthquake—distracting and unnecessary. That’s why I turn off notification vibrations system-wide. With this setting disabled, I still get sounds and visual alerts, but my phone stays calm and silent, just how I prefer it.
To turn off notification vibration, go to “Settings” and tap “Sound & vibration.” Select “Vibration & haptics,” then find the “Notification vibration” bar under the “Notifications and alarms” section and slide it all the way back to turn it off.
10 Auto-Rotate Screen
Auto-rotate is a feature I thought I needed—until it started flipping my screen every time I moved slightly while lying in bed. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to fix your screen’s orientation over and over. These days, I keep auto-rotate turned off and manually switch it on when I need it.
To disable auto-rotate, swipe down from the top of your screen to open the “Quick Settings” panel. Tap the “Auto-rotate” icon to turn it off.
Final Thoughts
These were my picks—small tweaks that made a big difference in how I use my Android. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve got any features you always disable (or swear by disabling). Share your picks in the comments below!
