You can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your sensitive data on your Android device. Since Google wants to help keep your Android device safe, it has a feature called Android Play Protect.
But what is it exactly, and how do you enable it if you decide to use it or turn it off? One of many things to keep in mind is that it won’t cause any issues with the antivirus you currently have on your Android device.
What Is Google Play Protect?
Google Play Protect is an update of the Verify Apps that was used some years ago for Android. What Play Protect does is that it analyses the apps you install and the ones you already have on your device to see if an app is a threat.
Google Play Protect is on by default, but if for some reason, it’s not, below, you’ll see the steps to follow to turn it on to keep your Android device safe.
If you’re trying to decide if it’s best to have it on or not, it’s best to have it enabled. It’s an extra layer of protection, and once you enable it, you can forget about it. Play Protect works in the background protecting your data, device, and apps.
How to Check If Your Android Device Has Google Play Protect
To see if your device has Play Protect go to:
- Settings
- Security
- Google Play Protect
If you tap on the last option, it’ll show you the previous apps that were scanned. If Play Protect were to detect a malicious app, you’d see a warning so you can decide if you want to uninstall or disable the app.
Also, if you were to install a malicious app from somewhere that’s not Google Play, Play Protect will let Google know about it so it can take the necessary precautions.
How to Disable Play Protect
It’s best that you leave Play Protect on, but if you need to turn it off for whatever reason, you’ll need to go to:
- Settings
- Security
- Google Play Protect
- Tap on Cog-wheel
- Select Scan apps with Play Protect to turn it off
Conclusion
Google Play Protect will contribute to keeping your device safe, and it won’t cause any performance issues. It gets along with other antivirus apps, and once you turn it on, you’ll forget it’s even there. Do you think it’s worth having on?
LucyLastic says
Play protect is an invasive app!
I have turned it off, so it won’t scan, and remove permissions for apps I haven’t use in some time.
YET! It is still scanning and removing permissions, this nothing but pisses me off! An app is on my phone because I put it there… I have apps for my convenience not your comfort level. Some don’t need to be used much but are available when I need to use them. And somehow it’s okay to just scan “my” phone and do what “you” want available.
Teresa Rogers says
No. I am trying to disable Google play protect on my moto g pure phone so I can install mobile tracker free. Com. I disable it but it still says that I must disable it when I try to finish downloading the mobiletrackerfree.com.app
alleyrunner says
security link n/a on a53, went to g store, disabled play protect there
A Worth says
How do you disable that useless play protect program…
Vampy says
I see where to turn it off, I slide it over to the left. I get a popup saying:
Turn off app scanning?
Play Protect won’t be able to scan apps outside of Play
I click “Turn off”
It’s still green, and enabled. I keep doing it and i can’t turn it off!
The only thing I can turn off there is “Improve harmful app detection”..
My phone is rooted too so this doesn’t make any sense.
Jamie the plumber says
Play Protect is a POS. None of the documentation is accurate and turning it off is not enough.
I used to be a proponent, no longer
Dedra says
I have a Note 4. It’s still at Android 6.0.1.. It’s all I need. But Play Protect has ruined it and now I’m going to be out of money buying a new phone. Why? Because even tho I never enabled it, I can’t disable it (This OS doesn’t have all the “features” in your article) and when it pops up, my phone calls are disconnected. I don’t need a phone that does more than this one and I’m going to be forced to buy one. IT WON’T BE ANDROID !!!, Google. I’m done with you.
Gene Alvarez says
Play Protect removing permissions is not acceptable. Security scans are fine.
Gustavo Avitabile says
In my phone (Galaxy M32, Android 11) there is no Security entry under Settings > Google
Peter says
I’ve been using a 3rd party app for years without any problems until Play Protect came along.
Fortunately I found out from here how to disable it and I now have my app back. It’s pointless selecting
“allow 3rd party apps” if play protect is going to over ride them. Yet more of the Nanny State!!!
Ivan says
How do I find play protect I can not find it anywhere
Not A Fanboy says
This feels like Google fan wankery. You ignore the invasive nature of this app, and of Google’s behaviour.
Steve Anderson says
“Google Play Protect” is not only a service to simply allow users to “Enable & Disable” by Android users to to remove the annoying experience in installing/uninstalling Android apps. Even after the Play Protect service has been so-called “Disabled”, the performance of apps, and in particular, the privileged ones and those which have root accesses.
“Google Play Protect” is not an app, and there is nowhere to uninstall this “Google Play Protect Service”.
The only way is to restore to an earlier custom backup, but again when you use “Google Play Store”, the evil will chance your entire system structure to frustrate users; whether not you are at vanguard or a novice level of experience. The sad truth is Alphabet pays more to any Google employee who has a wicked mind to frustrate end users than those who are committed to serve the end users. The more you can frustrate them, you will have a higher status than your Google peer. Unfortunately, this is the temperament and norm of the entire Google Management Team, today.