Insurance Curator Your smartphone knows more about you than your closest family member does. It knows where you sleep, what you buy, who you text, and when you’re home alone. This data isn’t just valuable to advertisers—it’s a growing target for identity thieves and can complicate estate planning if your digital life is left unprotected.
When you think of estate planning, you probably imagine wills, trusts, and asset distribution. But your digital footprint—passwords, financial accounts, sentimental photos—is now part of your estate. Securing your phone’s privacy settings is the first step. The next is documenting everything in a proper estate plan. That’s why resources like Living Trusts, Wills & Estate Planning for Seniors – The Complete 3-in-1 Guide and the Living Trusts + Wills, Retirement, Tax & Estate Planning – The 6-in-1 Guide are essential reads.
Below, we’ll walk through the exact privacy settings you must change on iOS and Android right now. Then we’ll connect the dots to protecting your digital legacy.
Why Smartphone Privacy Is Part of Estate Planning
Your phone is the key to your digital kingdom. In the event of incapacity or death, your family may need access to banking apps, email, social media, and cloud storage. If those accounts are locked behind strong privacy settings that also block recovery options, your loved ones could be locked out forever.
Conversely, if your privacy settings are too lax today, your data could be harvested, sold, or exposed. That data can be used to impersonate you, drain accounts, or steal your identity—even after you’re gone.
The goal is balanced privacy: you lock down what’s unnecessary now, but you plan for trusted access later. That’s where estate planning documents like those from Nolo’s Guide to Estate Planning become invaluable.
The Biggest Privacy Leaks on iOS and Android
Let’s start with the most invasive settings. These are the ones that broadcast your location, share your app usage, and let third parties build a detailed profile of your life.
1. Location Services: The Most Dangerous Permission
iOS: Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services
Android: Settings > Location > App Permissions
Location data reveals your home address, work schedule, medical visits, and habits. Apps often request location for features they don’t truly need.
| What to turn off | iOS | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Background location for most apps | Set to “While Using” or “Never” | Set to “Allow only while using” or “Deny” |
| System location services (Share My Location, HomeKit, etc.) | Turn off System Services one by one | Disable Google Location Accuracy |
| Precise location toggle | Flip off if app only needs approximate | Use “Approximate location” option |
Expert insight: The “Share My Location” system service on iOS is especially risky if you share your location with someone who isn’t a trusted family member. Turn it off unless you actively use it.
2. App Tracking and Ad Personalization
iOS: Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking
Android: Settings > Privacy > Ads > Delete advertising ID / Opt out of Ads Personalization
After iOS 14.5, Apple requires apps to ask before tracking you across other apps and websites. Android still allows ad tracking by default.
- On iOS: Turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” Most apps will respect this, and you won’t even get the pop-ups.
- On Android: Tap “Reset advertising ID” and then enable “Opt out of Ads Personalization.” This does not prevent all tracking, but it sends a signal.
Important: Even with tracking off, apps can still collect data through fingerprinting. Combine this setting with a good VPN and Browser Privacy Tools: Ad Blockers, Vpns, and Private Search Engines Explained.
3. Background App Refresh
iOS: Settings > General > Background App Refresh
Android: Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Mobile data & Wi-Fi > Background data
Apps refresh in the background to fetch new content—and to send your data back to their servers. This drains battery and leaks information.
- Best practice: Turn off Background App Refresh globally, then enable it only for apps you need (e.g., messaging, navigation).
- On Android, you can also restrict background data per app. This is under “Data usage” in individual app settings.
4. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Always-On
Most people leave Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on constantly. On both iOS and Android, these radios can be used to track your location (through Wi‑Fi triangulation or Bluetooth beacons).
- iOS Control Center: Tap the Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi icons to disconnect from current connections. To completely disable the radios, go to Settings > Bluetooth / Wi‑Fi and toggle off.
- Android Quick Settings: Long-press the icons to go into settings and disable “Scanning always available” under Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth.
Turn off both radios when you’re not actively using them.
5. Lock Screen Notifications
Your lock screen can expose your most private messages and two-factor authentication codes.
| iOS | Android |
|---|---|
| Settings > Notifications > Show Previews > “When Unlocked” or “Never” | Settings > Lock screen > Notifications > “Don’t show notifications” or “Show only silent notifications” |
If you receive a text with a one-time passcode, anyone glancing at your phone can see it. Change this setting immediately.
6. Analytics and Diagnostics Sharing
iOS: Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements > Turn off everything
Android: Settings > Privacy > More > Usage & diagnostics > “Don’t send”
These settings send usage data and crash logs to Apple and Google. While not directly tied to your identity, they can be correlated with your device.
7. Siri and Google Assistant Privacy
Voice assistants record your commands and sometimes unintentionally record conversations.
- iOS: Settings > Siri & Search > Turn off “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’” and “Press Side Button for Siri.” Then go to Siri & Search History > Delete Siri & Dictation History.
- Android: Google App > More > Settings > Google Assistant > Assistant tab > Your data > Delete activity. Also, turn off “Hey Google” if you rarely use it.
8. Photo Metadata (Geotags)
Every photo you take contains EXIF data, including GPS coordinates. When you share a photo, that location can be extracted.
- iOS: In the Photos app, when sharing, tap “Options” and toggle off Location.
- Android: In Google Photos, tap your profile > Photo settings > Remove geo location. For manual sharing, use a tool like Scrambled EXIF.
To disable geotagging entirely for new photos:
- iOS: Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Camera > “Never”
- Android: Camera app settings > Save location (or Geo-tag) > Off
The Estate Planning Connection: Protecting Digital Assets
After you tighten your phone’s privacy, your digital accounts become more secure—but also harder for family to access in an emergency. That’s why you need a digital estate plan.
Start by creating a secure inventory of your accounts, passwords, and recovery keys. Use a password manager (like 1Password or Bitwarden) and store the master password in your estate planning documents.
Then, document your wishes in a legally binding format. Books like Estate Planning For Dummies break down the process of including digital assets in your will or living trust.
When you purchase a comprehensive guide like Living Trusts, Wills & Estate Planning for Seniors – The Complete 3-in-1 Guide, you get fillable forms to list your online accounts and specify who gets access. This is critical because each platform (Google, Apple, Facebook) has its own policy for handling deceased users.
For example, Apple’s Digital Legacy program lets you add up to five Legacy Contacts who can access your iCloud data after your death. You must set this up in Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Legacy Contacts. Do this today. Android users can use Google’s Inactive Account Manager to automatically share data after a period of inactivity.
Without these steps, your family may face months of legal battles to unlock your phone or recover your accounts.
Additional Privacy Layers for Your Smartphone
Use a VPN
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address. This is especially important on public Wi‑Fi. For a deep explanation, see How to Use a Vpn Safely and When You Actually Need One?.
- Choose a VPN that doesn’t log your activity.
- Enable the VPN kill switch feature.
- On Android, look for a VPN that offers a “kill switch” built into the app.
Audit App Permissions
Every quarter, review the permissions granted to your apps. Delete apps you no longer use and revoke unnecessary permissions.
- iOS: Settings > Privacy & Security > see each category (Camera, Microphone, Contacts, etc.)
- Android: Settings > Privacy > Permission manager
Remove Your Data from People-Search Sites
Data brokers collect your public records and sell them. This includes your address, phone number, and relatives—information that adversaries can use. To opt out, see Data Brokers and People-search Sites: How to Remove Your Information.
Disable Ad Tracking ID (for Android)
We mentioned this earlier, but it bears repeating. On Android, your ad ID is used to build a profile. Reset it and opt out of personalization.
Turn Off Significant Locations (iOS)
iOS keeps a history of places you’ve been. This is used for predictive traffic and Memories in Photos, but it’s a privacy risk.
Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations > Turn off (and clear history).
How to Secure Messaging Apps
Messaging apps are often the least secure part of your phone. Business conversations, health discussions, and family chats get intercepted if you don’t use end-to-end encryption.
- Use Signal or WhatsApp (with encryption enabled).
- For iMessage, ensure “Send as SMS” is turned off in Settings > Messages.
- On Android, set your default SMS app to one that supports E2E encryption (e.g., Google Messages with RCS).
For more on this topic, read Email Privacy: Securing Sensitive Messages and Avoiding Tracking Pixels.
Social Media Privacy: Don’t Overshare
Social media apps are notorious for leaking location, friend lists, and browsing habits. Tighten settings inside each app, but also consider:
- Turning off background app refresh.
- Limiting location to “never” unless you’re posting.
- Removing old posts with geotags.
See our full guide: Privacy Settings You Should Change on Major Social Media Platforms.
Final Checklist: What to Do Right Now
- Turn off Location Services for most apps (set to “While Using” or “Never”).
- Disable app tracking on iOS; reset ad ID on Android.
- Turn off Background App Refresh for unnecessary apps.
- Disable Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi when not in use.
- Hide lock screen notification previews.
- Opt out of analytics sharing.
- Disable voice assistant “listening” modes.
- Remove geotags from future photos.
- Set up Apple Digital Legacy or Google Inactive Account Manager.
- Document all accounts in an estate planning workbook.
Recommended Estate Planning Books to Secure Your Digital Legacy
You’ve locked down your phone. Now lock down your digital afterlife. These books will help you create a comprehensive plan.
Living Trusts, Wills & Estate Planning for Seniors – The Complete 3-in-1 Guide (4.4 stars, $22.97)
Includes will and trust forms, plus a full section on digital asset management.
Living Trusts + Wills, Retirement, Tax & Estate Planning – The 6-in-1 Guide (4.5 stars, $24.97)
Covers wealth management and tax strategies for high-net-worth individuals.
Nolo’s Guide to Estate Planning (4.7 stars, $27.89)
The gold standard from Nolo—legal, thorough, and updated regularly.
Estate Planning For Dummies (4.3 stars, $20.99)
Perfect for absolute beginners; explains digital assets in plain English.
I’m Dead, Now What? Planner (4.6 stars, $11.63)
A fill-in organizer for your passwords, accounts, and final wishes.
Each of these resources will help you document the passwords, security questions, and recovery methods that your smartphone privacy settings protect. Buy one today and complete your digital estate plan before the end of the week.
FAQ: Smartphone Privacy and Estate Planning
Q: If I turn off tracking, will apps still collect my data?
A: Yes, some apps use fingerprinting or server-side tracking. That’s why you should also use a privacy-focused browser and VPN.
Q: Do I need a separate password manager for estate planning?
A: Use a regular password manager, but store the master password in your estate planning documents. The “I’m Dead, Now What?” planner has a dedicated section for this.
Q: Can my family access my iPhone after I die without my password?
A: If you set up Legacy Contacts, yes. Otherwise, Apple will require a court order. Set it up now.
Q: Should I turn off location sharing for elderly parents’ phones?
A: Be careful—location sharing can be a safety feature. Instead, limit location to trusted apps and family sharing. Document permissions in their estate plan.
Q: How often should I review my smartphone privacy settings?
A: After each major OS update (iOS and Android typically release annual updates) and after installing any new apps.
Your smartphone privacy settings are the front door to your digital life. Lock them down today, then protect your family’s access with a solid estate plan. The guides above will walk you through the legal details. Start now—your future self (and your heirs) will thank you.