Data and Privacy Settings for a New Device
The first hour with a new phone or laptop is the best moment to decide what it shares about you. A few settings make a big difference.
Why the setup screen matters
When you set up a device, you are asked a long series of questions: location, diagnostics, personalised ads, backup, voice assistants. Most people tap "accept" to get to the home screen. Each of those choices decides what data leaves the device, so it is worth slowing down.
Accounts and passwords
Use a strong, unique password for the main account, ideally created by a password manager. Turn on multi-factor authentication, which requires a second piece of evidence such as a code or a security key in addition to the password. It is one of the most effective protections against account takeover.
App permissions
Apps ask for access to your location, camera, microphone, contacts and photos. Grant only what an app genuinely needs for the feature you use. Modern operating systems let you allow location "only while using the app" or share an approximate location instead of a precise one. Review permissions every few months and remove access from apps you no longer use.
Advertising and tracking
- Limit or reset the advertising identifier in the privacy settings.
- Turn off ad personalisation in the main account settings if you prefer.
- Check which apps are allowed to track you across other apps and sites.
Backups and encryption
Turn on automatic backup so a lost or broken device does not mean lost photos. Encryption converts data into a form that cannot be read without a key; most modern phones encrypt storage by default when a screen lock is set, so use a passcode rather than none.
Selling or passing on the old device
Before you hand on your old device, back it up, sign out of your accounts, remove it from "find my device" services and perform a full factory reset. Remove any memory card and SIM. This protects you and saves the next owner trouble.
Public Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Turn off automatic joining of open Wi-Fi networks, and forget networks you no longer use. When you are on a network you do not control, avoid entering passwords or payment details on sites that do not use a secure connection. Switch Bluetooth off when you are not using it, and only pair with devices you recognise.
Keep it updated
Enable automatic updates for the system and for apps. Many updates fix security problems that are already known to attackers, so delaying them leaves the door open.
Written by Selim Arda · rev. 2026-11-09