Turn Off Tracking Secria

How to turn off tracking on Google TV

According to Consumer Reports, Google says Google TV itself doesn't use ACR, but the TV brands that build on it may.4 So there are two layers: Google's settings below, and your TV maker's own.

Checked 29 October 2026 against the sources. Applies to TVs that run Google TV.

Google's settings

All start from the Google TV home screen.

Advertising ID

Privacy › AdsDelete advertising ID

Checked against Google TV Help, read 29 October 2026.1

  1. At the top of the home screen, select Settings.1
  2. Select Privacy › Ads › Delete advertising ID.1
  3. Press the D-pad twice to focus on Delete advertising ID, then press Select.1Reset advertising ID, in the same menu, swaps in a new ID instead of removing it.1

Google says a new ID isn't assigned after you delete it. You still see ads, and they can still be based on other things, like what you've shared with apps.1

Location

PrivacyLocation

From Google TV Help's page on how Google TV handles your data.2

  1. Go to Settings › Privacy › Location and turn it off.2

With Location off, Google says it stops collecting wireless signals and sensor info to improve location accuracy, but Google or third parties may still get your general location from your IP address while the TV is online.2

Personalized recommendations

Accounts & Sign InApps only mode

From Google TV Help's page on hiding personalized recommendations.3

  1. From the home screen, select Settings › Accounts & Sign In.3
  2. Select your profile, then Apps only mode › Turn on.3The home screen then shows your installed apps instead of personalized recommendations, plus sponsored content and teasers.3
  3. Check Web & App Activity in your Google Account as well.Google says that while Web & App Activity is on, Google TV keeps improving your recommendations even in Apps only mode.3

Then your TV maker's setting

Google TV sets may come with a second set of permissions from the TV brand.4

What Google TV collects anyway

From Google's own list.

What Google says it can collect

Your watchlist, watch activity and streaming services for recommendations, approximate location, user and device IDs, app interactions, installed apps, crash logs and diagnostics, and information for advertising and personalization.2

Google says this data is encrypted in transit.2

What the switches can't do

Google says you can't turn off ads, only control how the advertising ID is used for personalized ads.1 In Apps only mode, apps such as YouTube can still show recommendations based on your history.3

After a reset, apps can still send you personalized ads.1

Questions people ask

Does Google TV use ACR?

Consumer Reports says that, according to Google, the Google TV platform itself doesn't use ACR to capture what you watch. Individual TV brands may, under their own privacy policies and user agreements.4

Can I use Google TV without a Google account?

Only as a basic TV. Consumer Reports found you can choose basic TV during setup, which gives you live TV and content from HDMI devices. For Google TV you have to sign in and accept Google's privacy policy and terms.4

How do I delete Google TV data from my account?

For the Google TV mobile app, Google says to open My Activity in a browser, search for Google TV or Play Movies, then choose More and Delete. Likes, dislikes, watched titles and watchlists are managed on each title's page in the app.2

Other TV guides

Sources 4
  1. Change ad settings for your Google TV, Google TV Help, undated. Read 29 October 2026.
  2. How Google TV handles your data, Google TV Help, undated. Read 29 October 2026.
  3. Hide personalized recommendations on Google TV, Google TV Help, undated. Read 29 October 2026.
  4. How to Turn Off Smart TV Snooping Features, James K. Willcox, Consumer Reports, section Android and Google TVs, updated 19 October 2025. Read 29 October 2026.

Every Google step comes from Google TV Help. How we check