Your smartphone knows more about you than you think. Every time you open an app or visit a website, the system sends a unique tag to advertisers. This hidden code, known as GAID, allows you to collect a detailed profile of your interests, purchases and movements. Many users are not even aware that their online activities are being carefully analyzed to serve personalized ads.
Fortunately, the operating system Android provides built-in tools to manage this feature. Regularly cleaning your advertising ID helps break the connection between your current behavior and previously accumulated data. This does not block advertising completely, but makes it less intrusive and relevant to you, since the algorithms lose track of your digital footprint.
In this article we will look in detail at where to find the identifier settings on different versions of the system and how to reset correctly. You will learn the difference between simply resetting and completely disabling personalization, and whether it is worth doing this regularly to improve the level of digital hygiene.
What is an advertising identifier and how it works
An advertising identifier is a unique set of characters assigned to each device based on Android. Unlike IMEI, this code is not permanent and can be changed by the user at any time. Its main task is to allow advertising networks to track the effectiveness of campaigns without violating the user's anonymity in a global sense.
Google Advertising ID (GAID) works like cookies in the browser, but at the level of the entire operating system. When you install a new application and accept the terms of use, it gains access to this ID. Next, all your actions within the application are associated with this code and transmitted to analytical centers.
The accumulated information is used to create a so-called “digital portrait”. Algorithms analyze what products you view, what groups you are in, and what videos you watch. Based on this data, a feed of offers is formed that guesses your desires with frightening accuracy.
It is important to understand that resetting the identifier does not instantly delete the already collected data. It creates a new "blank slate" by breaking the connection between old history and future actions. For advertising networks, you become a new user about whom nothing is known yet.
⚠️ Attention: Some applications may require access to the identifier for the analytics functions to work correctly. Complete disabling may lead to errors in displaying content or the inability to use certain services.
Technical details of GAID operation
The identifier is generated randomly when the device is first activated or after resetting the settings. It is stored in a protected section of system memory and is accessible only through special APIs provided by Google Play services. Applications cannot access it without the user's explicit permission in the privacy settings.
Step-by-step guide: resetting the identifier on modern versions of Android
The settings interface in Android is constantly changing, and the location of the necessary items may differ depending on the firmware version and the manufacturer's shell. However, the general principle remains the same: you need to find the section responsible for privacy and advertising.
On devices with “clean” Android (for example, Google Pixel or Moto) the path to the settings is as simplified as possible. You need to go to menu Settings → Google → Advertising. Here you will see two main options: removing the identifier and disabling personalization.
For devices with proprietary skins, such as MIUI ot Xiaomi or One UI from Samsung, the path may be a little longer. Often these settings are duplicated in the system privacy menu. For example, in One UI you need to go to Settings → Privacy → Advertising.
The reset process takes only a few seconds. After clicking the confirmation button, the system generates a new random code. The old ID will no longer be used for targeting, although advertisers may keep it in their databases as inactive for a while.
☑️ GAID reset algorithm
It is recommended to perform this procedure regularly, for example, once a month. This doesn't require much effort, but it does make it much harder for the algorithms to build your long-term profile. Frequently changing your “digital face” makes you less transparent to marketing machines.
Features of settings on devices from different manufacturers
Smartphone manufacturers often modify the standard interface Androidby adding their own analytics services and advertising modules. This means that in addition to the main identifier Google, the device may also contain other trackers built in by the manufacturer.
Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco should pay attention to system advertising MIUI. It is managed by a separate service msa (MIUI System Ads). To completely clear a device from tracking, it is not enough to reset the GAID alone; it is also necessary to disable recommendation services in the system settings.
Users Samsung face the integration of services Bixby and the company's own analytics. In the menu Settings → Privacy you can find the item "Personalization Services". Disabling this feature prevents the collection of application usage data to improve the performance of branded services.
Devices from Huawei and Honor after the imposition of sanctions use their own services instead Google. Here, the analogue of GAID is OAID (Open Advertising ID). It is managed through the app HMS Core or in the system privacy settings, where the reset function is also available.
| Brand / Shell | Path to settings | Additional tracker | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel / Moto | Settings → Google → Advertising | None | Standard Android interface |
| Samsung (One UI) | Settings → Privacy → Advertising | Samsung Analytics | Account integration Samsung |
| Xiaomi (MIUI) | Settings → Passwords and security → Privacy | MIUI System Ads (msa) | Requires disabling system advertising separately |
| Huawei (EMUI/HarmonyOS) | Settings → Privacy → Advertising | OAID (via HMS Core) | Uses its own identifier standard |
⚠️ Attention: Shell interfaces are updated frequently. If you cannot find the specified items, use the search in the settings by entering the query “advertising” or “identifier”.
Use the search in the settings. At the top of the settings menu of almost all smartphones there is a search bar. Enter the word “advertising” there, and the system will immediately show the desired section, regardless of the firmware version.
Disabling personalized advertising versus a full reset
Many users confuse two different functions: resetting the identifier and disabling personalization. Understanding the difference between the two is critical to proper privacy management. These settings are nearby, but perform fundamentally different tasks.
The function "Disable ad personalization" prohibits Google the use of your ID to select ads based on your interests. However, the code itself continues to be generated and transmitted to advertisers. They see you, but don't know what to show you, so they show random or contextual advertising.
On the other hand, the "Remove advertising identifier" (or "Reset") button generates a new code. Personalization can remain enabled. This means that data collection will continue, but will start from scratch. The interest profile will be built anew.
For maximum protection, it is recommended to use both functions simultaneously. First, reset your current ID to clear your history, and then turn off personalization to prevent new targeting data from being collected.
It's worth noting that even if personalization is turned off, the number of ads will not decrease. You'll see the same number of banners, they'll just no longer be relevant to your needs. This is the price for using free applications and services.
The combination of resetting the identifier and disabling personalization provides the best balance between privacy and system functionality.
Third-party applications for managing privacy
If the built-in settings are not enough for you, you can use specialized software. There are a number of utilities developed by enthusiasts and cybersecurity companies that automate the process of cleaning and blocking trackers. One of the most popular solutions is an application or various ad blockers that work through local. apps such as
One of the most popular solutions is the application AppManager or various ad blockers working through local VPN. apps such as Blokada or AdGuardcan filter traffic at the device level, preventing the identifier from being sent to ad network servers.
For advanced users with root accessmore radical methods are available. Using modules Magenta or special scripts, you can completely freeze services Google Play Servicesresponsible for advertising, or replace the identifier with random values with each request.
- 🛡️ AdGuard - blocks advertising and trackers at the system-wide level without the need root access.
- 🔄 TrackerControl —shows which applications are sending data and allows you to block connections to specific domains.
- 📱 Blokada 5 —a lightweight open source blocker that works as a local VPN filter.
- 🔧 XPrivacyLua —a powerful tool for users with Root access that allows you to replace the data sent applications.
Using third-party software requires caution. Giving an app permission to create a VPN connection or access system settings gives it broad control over the device. Download such utilities only from official stores or trusted repositories, such as F-Droid.
⚠️ Attention: Applications that require Root access may void the device warranty and disrupt the operation of banking applications that use SafetyNet or Play Integrity protection.
Risks of using VPN blockers
Because such applications create a local tunnel to filter traffic, they can theoretically intercept your data. Trust only open source projects with a good reputation in the community.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Does resetting the advertising identifier affect the speed of the smartphone?
No, this operation does not affect the performance of the device in any way. An identifier is simply a string of data in memory. Changing or removing it does not affect the processor, RAM or application loading speed. You will not notice any changes in the operation of the system, except for the possibly more random nature of advertising.
Is it possible to completely remove the advertising identifier permanently?
It is impossible to completely remove it, since it is part of the service architecture Google Play. However, you can reset it an infinite number of times or disable its use for personalization. In the latter case, applications will receive an identifier, but it will not be used for targeting.
Will the identifier be reset when the phone is reset to factory settings?
Yes, when performing a full reset (Factory Reset), the advertising identifier is generated again. This is one of the most effective ways to “clean” the device, but it requires deleting all data and re-setting up the smartphone, which is not always convenient to do regularly.
Why, after resetting, do I still see advertisements for the products I was looking for yesterday?
Advertising networks use not only GAID. They also track you through your IP address, account data, browser search history, and device fingerprinting. Resetting the identifier removes only one of the tracking channels, so complete anonymity is only achievable with an integrated approach. Google, browser search history Chrome and device fingerprinting. Resetting the identifier removes only one of the tracking channels, so complete anonymity is only achievable with an integrated approach.
Do you need to reboot your phone after changing advertising settings?
Usually, a reboot is not required. Changes take effect immediately after clicking the confirm button. However, if you want to make sure that all background processes have updated their data, you can reboot the device, but this is not a prerequisite.