Smartphones are used for everything from banking and payments to photography, social media and office work. But many Android users continue using their phones with default settings without checking which apps are consuming battery, accessing personal information or running unnecessarily in the background.

A few simple changes can make an Android phone more efficient and secure. Google itself recommends options such as Adaptive Battery, managing high-battery-use apps and regularly reviewing app permissions.

Here are seven Android settings worth checking.

1. Find Apps Draining Your Battery

If your phone suddenly starts losing charge faster than usual, an app running heavily in the background could be responsible.

Open Settings > Battery > Battery Usage or a similarly named option on your device. Look for apps consuming unusually high amounts of power.

You can restrict background activity for apps you rarely use. However, restricting apps such as messaging or email services may delay notifications.

2. Turn On Adaptive Battery

Many Android phones offer an Adaptive Battery feature that learns which applications you use regularly and limits unnecessary activity from less frequently used apps.

Google recommends keeping Adaptive Battery and battery optimisation enabled where available.

The exact location varies by manufacturer, but it is generally available under Settings > Battery.

3. Check Who Is Using Your Camera and Microphone

Not every application needs permanent access to your camera or microphone.

Android's Privacy Dashboard can show which apps have recently accessed sensitive permissions such as the camera, microphone and location. On supported Android versions, users can review this information from Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy Dashboard.

If an unfamiliar app has accessed something it doesn't appear to need, review its permissions immediately.

4. Change Permissions to ‘While Using the App’

Some apps legitimately need your location, camera or microphone—but they may not need access all the time.

Android allows supported permissions to be set to options such as Allow only while using the app, Ask every time or Don't allow.

For example, a food-delivery app may need your location while you're ordering, but you may decide it doesn't need continuous access after you close it.

5. Remove Apps You No Longer Use

Take a look through your app drawer. You may find games, shopping apps, photo editors and other applications you haven't opened for months.

Unused applications consume storage and may retain permissions previously granted to them.

Android can automatically pause activity and remove permissions for some unused apps, depending on the device and Android version.

Deleting applications you genuinely don't need is an even simpler solution.

6. Keep Google Play Protect Enabled

Be particularly careful when installing APK files received through WhatsApp, Telegram, email or unknown websites.

Google Play Protect checks applications for potentially harmful behaviour and can warn users, disable dangerous apps or prevent certain risky installations.

You can check it through the Play Store by opening your profile and selecting Play Protect.

Before installing a Play Store app, you can also review its Data safety section to understand what information the developer says the app collects or shares.

7. Reduce Screen Battery Consumption

The display can be one of the biggest contributors to battery usage.

Google recommends reducing screen brightness, allowing the screen to switch off sooner and using automatic brightness where appropriate. Dark theme can also reduce power consumption on some devices.

You can additionally lower the refresh rate if your smartphone provides a 90Hz, 120Hz or higher display and maximum smoothness isn't necessary.