What does Google know about you? | Allconnect.com

Key takeaways If you’re using any of Google’s cloud-based services, such as Google Maps, Google Chrome or Gmail, the company is gathering and analyzing your personal data By tracking your online activities, Google develops a detailed profile of who you are and what you’re up to in order to optimize and monetize their services Discover what information Google may already know and what you can do if you’re looking to get a bit more private with your personal data Jump to What data does Google have on me? How to check what data Google has about you How does Google get information? How to limit what Google collects Other online security resources What information does Google know about me? Even if you only use Gmail or Google Chrome, as opposed to the entire suite of Google Workspace services, Google is still able to gather much more info about you than you’d expect.For example, Google tracks interactions with services like Google Assistant, YouTube and online ads to compile data about your personal preferences and habits.While Google states that it doesn’t sell your personal information to third-party sites, it does maintain partnerships with hundreds of supplementary services, with which it shares anonymized, aggregated data.

What data does Google have on me? Google collects data by using your online activity from any web-enabled device (cellphone, tablet, smart watch, etc.) and cookie-tracking technology, in which small files, or cookies, are stored by your web browser to track and analyze your movements around the web.How to check what data Google has about you If you’re concerned about the amount of information Google has about you, there’s no need to panic.You can manage or delete much of this data through your privacy settings in just a few simple steps.

Check out what Google knows about you already by logging in to your account profile.You can also access account settings from Gmail, by selecting your profile picture in the upper-right corner, then “Manage your Google Account” On the left-hand side, click on the Personal info section of the main menu to see basic info like your name, date of birth and email addresses on file In the Data & Personalization section under the Activity controls, you’ll find all data stored for your profile categorized by the Google services you frequent Click on any section to view more details on what’s already been recorded How does Google get information from you? Google has many methods of collecting your personal info:  Google Chrome Search queries (what you Google) Gmail Photos  Ads Google Maps Google Calendar  Waze News  Shopping history YouTube  Books How to limit what Google collects It’s safe to say that Google can extract a good bit of information from the services you frequent and can use this data to serve up personalized advertisements just for you through any one of their associated apps.Luckily, there are ways to opt out of sharing so much with the tech giant if you know where to look.

Edit your privacy settings According to Google, all data collected is only to help make their service more useful to you.But if you’re willing to take a hit in quality for the sake of privacy, you can disable any collection settings via the Data & Personalization menu mentioned above.To stop all data collection altogether, you can simply disable Web & App Activity across all Google services.

If you’re looking to pause tracking on certain platforms like YouTube or stop specific forms of data from being used to inform ads (your location history, for instance), those options are also available.If you don’t want your data influencing your ads at all, you’ll also have the option to disable ad personalization in the Ad Settings menu in your activity controls.There are additional ways to restrict Google’s access and use of your personal data, including browsing in incognito mode or deleting your Google accounts altogether.

However, if you want to continue using your Google services and the convenient features they offer (Password auto-save, for instance), you’ll need to alter your settings to fit your privacy needs.You can also use VPNs to add an extra layer of security while you’re online.VPNs will encrypt your data so it’s not accessible to third parties.  The bottom line If you’re a Google account user, then there’s a good chance your personal data has been collected.

It’s a good idea to look at what exactly Google has collected through your personal account settings.If you want to keep your data private, edit your privacy settings within your Google account and consider other online security measures like VPNs.  For more information on protecting yourself online, check out our online safety guide.   What to read next Read more Featured Best internet options for travel Joe Supan — 9 min read Featured Learn how to manage your internet browser history Robin Layton — 4 min read Featured Internet and TV bundles are the most popular, survey shows Camryn Smith — 4 min read Latest Thursday, July 17, 2025 What does Google know about you? Here’s what you need to know Camryn Smith — 4 min read Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Guide for schools and students: Resources for free internet, computers and tech Camryn Smith — 7 min read Wednesday, July 16, 2025 All about Spectrum services: Your ultimate guide Camryn Smith — 6 min read