Mobile application VK is one of the most popular software products in Russia, but its interface regularly undergoes changes. Users often encounter a situation where familiar icons move to new sections or change their appearance. This can cause confusion, especially if you urgently need to change your privacy settings or turn off annoying notifications.
In this article we will look in detail at where the VKontakte settings are located on devices with an operating system Android in the current version of the client. We will go through all the key sections, explain the purpose of hidden functions and give recommendations for optimizing the application to suit your personal needs.
Understanding the menu structure will allow you not only to personalize your news feed, but also to significantly increase the level of security of your account. Proper configuration of settings is the first step to comfortable use of a social network without unnecessary noise and potential threats.
Main entrance to the settings menu
To get to the main configuration menu, you need to perform a standard action, which, however, may not be obvious to new users or those who have not updated the application for a long time. At the bottom of the screen there is a navigation panel with the main tabs: Services, Clips, Feed, Friends and Profile.
This tab Profile is the starting point. Click on your avatar icon in the lower right corner. After going to your profile page, pay attention to the upper right corner of the screen. There you will see an icon in the form of three horizontal stripes (the so-called “hamburger menu”) or a gear, depending on the current design theme.
Clicking on this element opens a drop-down menu, where at the very top of the list is the item Settings. It is usually highlighted in bold or has a different icon from the rest of the elements. This is the central hub through which you can access all system parameters of the application.
☑️ Quick access to settings
It is worth noting that in some beta versions or when using experimental design themes, the arrangement of elements may differ slightly. If you don't see the gear right away, try scrolling down the drop-down menu - sometimes developers move this item to the bottom of the list to save space in the top area.
Application section: managing the interface and data
The first large section you will see after logging in is called “Application”. Here are the parameters responsible for the appearance, behavior of the app and work with the cache. This is a critical section for users who want to speed up the client or change the color scheme.
In this menu you can switch between light, dark and system themes. Selecting a system theme means that VK will automatically adapt to the settings of your smartphone Android. If you have system-level power saving mode enabled, the app will also switch to dark mode to save battery power on OLED screens.
The cache control item deserves special attention. The social network actively stores images, videos and music on your device for quick loading when you watch it again. Over time, this volume can reach several gigabytes.
- 🧹 Clearing the cache frees up space in the phone's memory without deleting your personal data.
- 📱 Setting the font size affects the readability of posts and comments throughout the application.
- 🌐 Selecting the interface language allows you to switch the menu to the language you prefer, regardless depending on the system language.
If the application starts working slowly or slows down when scrolling the feed, first go to the “Application” section and click “Clear cache”. This will solve 90% of performance problems without reinstalling.
Also in this section there is a switch to activate the “Offline” mode. This feature allows you to view messages and feed while remaining invisible to other users. However, it is worth remembering that when sending messages or comments, your status will still change to “Online.”
Notification and sound settings
The “Notifications” section is one of the most visited, since this is where users solve the problem of information noise. The modern rhythm of life dictates its own rules, and constant notifications about likes or new subscribers can greatly distract you from work or leisure.
Here you can flexibly configure exactly what events your smartphone should inform you about. The system allows you to turn off sounds for specific types of activity, leaving only important messages from friends or community administrators. This helps maintain a balance between staying informed and not being overloaded with information.
Pay special attention to setting up sounds and vibrations. You can choose a unique tone for private messages to distinguish them from system alerts without taking your phone out of your pocket. You can also customize the behavior of the LED (if your phone model has one) and pop-ups on the lock screen.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling push notifications in the application does not guarantee complete silence if you also have notifications enabled in the Android system settings. Check the “Applications” section in the settings of the phone itself to make sure that the rights to send notifications for VK are configured correctly.
For those who use multiple accounts, it is important to know that notification settings can be applied globally or individually, depending on the client version. In the latest updates, it became possible to fine-tune each added profile separately.
Privacy and account security
The “Privacy” (or “Confidentiality”) block is a digital shield of your profile. This is where you decide who can see your photos, friends lists, audio recordings, and other personal information. Proper configuration of this section protects you from stalkers, spammers and unwanted attention.
The “Who can see basic information” option allows you to hide your city, date of birth and marital status from all users except friends. This is especially true for those who use a social network only for a narrow circle of communication and do not want to advertise personal data.
The possibility of contacting you is also configured here. You can prevent anyone other than your friends from sending you private messages or invitations to communities. This is an effective way to combat intrusive advertising and bots.
| Privacy parameter | Possible values | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Who sees my photos | Everyone, Friends, Only I | Only friends |
| Who can write to me | Everyone, Friends and subscribers | Friends and subscribers |
| Who sees my audio recordings | Everyone, Friends, Only me | Optional |
| Who is visible in the friends list | Everyone, Hidden friends | Set up hidden ones |
Don't forget about two-factor authentication. Although this item is often included in a separate security section, it is closely related to privacy. Enabling 2FA requires entering a code from SMS or an authenticator application when logging in from a new device, which virtually eliminates account hacking.
What are “hidden friends”?
This feature allows you to remove certain users from the public list of your friends. They will remain in your contacts, but other people will not see them in the list on your page. However, it is impossible to completely hide mutual friendship: if you go to the page of a hidden friend, you will still see your profile in the list of his friends.
Blacklisting and blocking of users
Sometimes communication on a social network becomes toxic, and the only way out is complete isolation from a certain user. The Blacklist section (often found within your privacy settings or as a separate item in your profile) allows you to permanently block access to your content from unwanted people.
When you add a person to the blacklist, they cannot message you, comment on your posts, invite you to groups, or view your page (it will appear to them as deleted or blocked). At the same time, you can still see his profile if you do not block viewing.
You can add a user to the Emergency Not only through the settings, but also directly from the dialogue or from its page. Usually, to do this, you need to click on the three dots in the corner of the screen and select the appropriate item. In the settings, you can manage the list of blocked people: remove people from there or view the blocking history.
⚠️ Attention: Adding to the blacklist does not delete previous correspondence. If you want to unblock the user, the entire message history will be saved. However, while the user is in an emergency, new messages from him will not be delivered.
This feature is indispensable when faced with trolls, aggressive commentators, or ex-partners with whom you no longer want to maintain contact. Use this tool without hesitation to maintain your mental health.
Additional features and experimental features
Sections often hidden deep within the settings are designed for advanced users or testing new features. The "Advanced" or "Experimental Features" section may contain toggles for new player designs, message grouping methods, or media loading methods.
Here you can also find settings related to the application running in the background. For example, the ability to disable autoplay of videos in the feed when using the mobile data. This helps to significantly save traffic if you do not have an unlimited tariff.
Another important option is session management. This subsection displays a list of all devices from which you logged into your account. You can see the phone model, login city and time of last activity.
Settings → Security → Activity historyIf you notice a device that does not belong to you, or login from an unfamiliar city, you should immediately end this session and change the password. This is a direct indicator that your data may have been compromised.
Regular checking of active sessions is the best hack prevention. Check this section at least once a month to make sure that no one is using your account secretly.
The developers are constantly adding new options, so the contents of this section may change from update to update. Follow the news of the official community VK Teamto be aware of new useful tools.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why can’t I find privacy settings in the new update?
In the latest versions of the VK application, developers often change the structure menu. If you don't see the "Privacy" option on the main settings screen, try using the search inside the settings section (magnifying glass icon) or scroll to the very end of the list. Sometimes these functions are moved to the “Account” subsection.
How to save settings when reinstalling the application?
Most VKontakte settings are stored on the server and linked to your account. After deleting and reinstalling the application, as well as logging into your profile, the main settings (privacy, blacklist) will be restored automatically. However, local settings, such as the cache size or the selected theme (if not the system one), may be reset.
Is it possible to set up different notifications for different accounts?
Yes, in current versions of the client, when switching between accounts, notification settings can be applied individually. However, Android's global system permissions work for the app as a whole. To fine-tune sounds, it is better to use the built-in multimedia mixer in the notification section of the application itself.
What to do if the settings are not saved after exit?
If the changes are reset, check the stability of the Internet connection at the time of saving. Also try clearing the application cache. In rare cases, the problem may be on the side of the VKontakte servers, then you should wait a few hours and try again.
Where can I find the settings for the “Offline” mode?
This function is located in the “Settings” → “Application” → “Online” section. There you need to switch the slider to the “Off” position. Remember that the status is not updated instantly, and with any active actions (sending a message, liking) you may appear online briefly.