Android’s hidden advanced protection feature can safeguard your data: Here’s how to enable it

Android 16

Google is quietly rolling out one of its most comprehensive security upgrades for Android users, but most people will never know it exists unless they dig into their phone’s settings. The new feature, called Advanced Protection, is part of Android 16 and is designed to protect your phone and Google account from phishing, data theft, and targeted online attacks. Yet, despite its importance, the feature is disabled by default.

If you use a smartphone running Android 16 or newer, enabling Advanced Protection takes less than a minute and can drastically improve your device’s safety. Once active, it blocks unverified apps from accessing sensitive Google account details, including your name, birthday, and saved passwords. It also extends Google’s built-in phishing protection beyond Gmail to downloads from Chrome and the Play Store.

To enable it on a Google Pixel phone, open Settings, then head to Security and privacy, and look for Advanced Protection under Other Settings. Tap Device Protection and enrol in it. On Samsung devices such as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the option sits under Settings > Google > All Services. Scroll down to Personal and device safety, tap Advanced Protection, and turn on the toggle to activate it.

The process is nearly identical on non-Google Android phones, and you can disable it at any time by revisiting the same menu. However, Google strongly recommends keeping it on, since it receives automatic updates that adapt to newer forms of cyber threats.

In effect, Advanced Protection functions like an integrated antivirus and privacy manager rolled into one. It provides real-time defences against malicious links, harmful file downloads, and unauthorised access attempts. As online scams continue to become more sophisticated, this single setting could make a significant difference in protecting your personal data.

For a feature so crucial, its buried placement in Settings might come as a surprise. But with one quick activation, your Android phone instantly becomes far harder to compromise.