Reset Advertising ID & Limit Ad Tracking

Resetting your advertising ID and limiting ad tracking gives you more control over the ads you see and the data apps collect about you. This guide walks you through the exact steps on both Android and iPhone, plus what to do if something doesn’t work as expected.

What You’ll Need

• Your Android phone or iPhone (any recent model)
• Access to the Settings app (no special permissions required)
• Your device passcode or biometric unlock (for some steps)

Step-by-Step

On Android (stock Android / Samsung / Pixel)

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and tap Google (on some devices it’s under “Accounts” or “Google Services”).
3. Tap Ads (it may be listed as “Ads & privacy” or “Advertising”).
4. You’ll see your current Advertising ID and two options: Reset advertising ID and Delete advertising ID.
5. Tap Reset advertising ID. A confirmation dialog appears—tap Reset to confirm.
6. To limit tracking, toggle Opt out of Ads Personalization (or “Delete advertising ID”) to the ON position. This tells apps not to use your ID for ad targeting.

Note: On some Android versions, the option is called “Delete advertising ID” instead of “Reset”. Deleting does the same thing—it removes the current ID and generates a new one.

On iPhone (iOS)

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security (on older iOS versions it’s just “Privacy”).
3. Tap Tracking at the top of the list.
4. You’ll see a list of apps that have requested permission to track you. To globally block all tracking requests, toggle Allow Apps to Request to Track to OFF.
5. To reset your advertising identifier, go back to Privacy & Security and tap Apple Advertising.
6. Tap Reset Advertising Identifier. Confirm when prompted.
7. To limit ad tracking further, toggle Personalized Ads to OFF on the same screen.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting that resetting doesn’t delete the ID—it just gives you a new one. Apps can still track you with the new ID unless you also limit tracking.
• Only limiting tracking on one device—if you have multiple Android or Apple devices, you need to repeat the steps on each one.
• Expecting immediate results—resetting your ID won’t instantly change the ads you see. It takes time for ad networks to recognize the new ID.
• Turning off tracking on iPhone but not resetting the ID—these are separate actions. Do both for full effect.

Tips

• Reset your advertising ID regularly (e.g., every few months) to reduce the data profile built about you.
• On Android, you can also tap Delete advertising ID which removes the ID entirely, but some apps may then use a non-resettable identifier instead.
• On iPhone, the Allow Apps to Request to Track toggle only affects apps that use Apple’s tracking framework. Apps can still collect data through other means, so also review app permissions individually.
• If you want to see how many apps are tracking you, iPhone’s Tracking page shows a list of apps that have asked. You can revoke permission individually by toggling each app off.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find the “Ads” option on Android.

On some Android skins (like older Samsung or Xiaomi), the path may be slightly different. Try: Settings → Google → Ads, or Settings → Privacy → Ads. If you still can’t find it, search for “Ads” in the Settings search bar.

The “Reset” button is grayed out on Android.

This can happen if you have a work profile or if your device is managed by an organization. Check with your IT administrator—you may not be able to reset the ID on a corporate-managed device.

I toggled off tracking on iPhone but apps still show personalized ads.

Turning off tracking only prevents apps from tracking you across other apps and websites. Ads within an app that are based on the app’s own data may still appear personalized. Also, check that you’ve also turned off Personalized Ads under Apple Advertising.

After resetting, my apps logged me out or reset my preferences.

This is normal. Some apps tie your advertising ID to your session or preferences. You’ll need to log in again or reconfigure those apps.

I reset my ID but the same ads still appear.

Ad targeting uses many signals beyond the advertising ID, such as IP address, device type, and browsing history. Resetting the ID helps but doesn’t guarantee entirely different ads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does resetting my advertising ID delete my app data?

No. It only changes the identifier used for ad tracking. Your app data, settings, and logins remain intact.

Will limiting ad tracking stop all ads?

No. You’ll still see ads, but they’ll be less personalized. You won’t see ads based on your previous app usage or browsing history.

Is it legal to reset my advertising ID?

Yes. Both Google and Apple provide this feature as a privacy control. It’s your right to reset or delete your advertising identifier.

How often should I reset my advertising ID?

There’s no official recommendation. Some privacy advocates suggest doing it monthly, but even a few times a year helps reduce tracking.

Does resetting the ID on Android affect my Google account?

No. It only affects the advertising ID on that device. Your Google account, emails, and other services are unaffected.

Can I use a different advertising ID for each app?

No. The advertising ID is device-wide. All apps on the same device see the same ID (unless you reset it).

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