---
title: "How Much Data Does Google Collect from Your Android Phone"
language: en
topics: ["Freedom", "data", "smartphone"]
full_article_url: https://willem.com/en/2018-10-09_using-a-budget-android-as-main-smartphone/
---
# How Much Data Does Google Collect from Your Android Phone

*The hidden tracking inside a stock Android phone — and what you can do about it.*

> When Willem set up a budget Android phone, he discovered just how much data Google collects by default — location history, app usage, voice recordings, and more. Here's what he found and how to reduce it.

A stock Android phone with a Google account sends a remarkable amount of data back to Google. During setup, Willem documented each permission request and data collection toggle.



The defaults are aggressive: **location history** is on, **web & app activity** is on, **voice & audio activity** records what you say to Google Assistant, **YouTube history** tracks what you watch. All of this is tied to your Google account and used for advertising.

You can disable most of it: go to Settings → Google → Manage your Google Account → Data & Privacy. But the opt-out is buried deep, and some tracking can't be fully disabled without going Google-free entirely.

Willem eventually went further — running Android without Google services at all. That's documented in the [Android without Google narrative](https://willem.com/en/android-without-google-smartphones-on-your-own-terms/).