How to Check Your Privacy Settings on Google, Apple and Meta

Your Google, Apple and Meta accounts hold more personal information than most people realise. The settings that control it are scattered across menus and can change after updates. A short review every few months keeps you in control.

Google account

• Open the account’s data and privacy page and review Web and App Activity, Location History and YouTube History. You can pause them or set automatic deletion.
• Check ad personalisation and turn it off if you prefer.
• Run the security checkup to see signed-in devices and third-party access.

Apple account

• In Settings, review Privacy and Security, including Location Services and Tracking, and set apps to ask before tracking.
• Check which apps can access photos, microphone and contacts.
• Review the devices signed in to your Apple account and remove ones you no longer use.

Meta accounts (Facebook and Instagram)

• Review the privacy checkup to control who sees your posts and profile information.
• Look at which apps and websites have access to your account and remove ones you do not recognise.
• Review ad preferences and the off-platform activity settings.

Every account

1. Turn on two-factor authentication.
2. Update recovery email and phone number.
3. Remove old devices and unknown sessions.
4. Delete accounts you no longer use.