A Practical Guide on How to Stop Your Devices from Listening

Take control of your privacy by stopping your devices from eavesdropping—learn how to disable voice assistants and manage listening settings.

In a world where technology constantly listens for voice commands, many users are concerned about privacy. Devices like smartphones, smart speakers, and home assistants are designed to respond to wake words like “Hey Siri” or “Alexa,” but they may also unintentionally record conversations. Here’s a guide to take back control and limit how much your devices listen.

1. Disable Voice Assistants

The first step is turning off voice assistants on your smartphone or smart speaker. For iPhone users, go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle off options like “Listen for Hey Siri” or “Allow Siri When Locked.” Similarly, on Android devices, head to Settings > Google Assistant, and disable the “Hey Google” option.

For Amazon Alexa, open the Alexa App, go to Settings > Device Settings, and turn off the microphone. You can also mute your Amazon Echo by pressing the microphone button on the device.

2. Review Privacy Settings

Next, ensure your apps and devices don’t have access to the microphone unless absolutely necessary. On both Android and iPhone, you can control which apps have access to your microphone. Simply go to Settings > Privacy > Microphoneand toggle permissions for each app.

For smart TVs and other connected devices, it’s crucial to review privacy policies and settings. Many smart TVs come with voice recognition, but most offer the ability to turn off this feature via settings.

3. Physically Disconnect

For maximum privacy, some users opt to physically disconnect the microphones. Certain devices, such as Amazon’s Echo, feature buttons that allow you to mute the microphone entirely. For users seeking more advanced control, you can purchase hardware that allows you to cut off the device’s ability to listen in without turning it off completely.

4. Manage Data Storage

Tech companies often store audio data on their servers. Periodically reviewing and deleting this data can be an extra safeguard. For instance, Amazon, Google, and Apple offer options to delete recordings from their servers, usually through their apps or website. You can also set auto-delete options for these recordings to clear older data regularly.

5. Regular Updates and Audits

Keeping your devices up to date with the latest security updates is critical for safeguarding your privacy. Additionally, conducting regular audits of your privacy settings ensures that no new apps or updates change your listening preferences without your knowledge.

Final Thoughts

In an era where privacy concerns are paramount, disabling unnecessary listening features and regularly reviewing your settings are simple steps to protect yourself. While completely cutting off devices may not be feasible, these strategies help ensure you retain control over what your devices hear.

By taking these steps, you can maintain privacy without sacrificing the convenience of your devices.