Before you turn off Google Play Protect, here’s what you need to know

Google launched Play Protect in 2017 to serve as a free, built-in protection system for your Android device. This is your first line of defense, there to protect against harmful applications, even if you don’t have a third-party antivirus program installed. The company said Play Protect detected more than 27 million new malicious apps in 2025 and warned users or blocked them from running.

Play Protect not only checks apps from the Play Store before downloading them; it also scans your device for malware and other potentially harmful programs that you may have obtained elsewhere. It will send you privacy alerts about apps that can access your personal information and warn you about deceptive apps, such as those that rely on the installation of another app or hide their true function.

If you sideload apps, Play Protect will tell you if you’re downloading malicious files or even prevent you from installing them altogether. It might also disable or automatically delete apps from your device. Google said the program blocked 266 million sideloading installation attempts of risky apps in 2025.

Yes, these latest features are not very popular with people who want the freedom of being able to install whatever they want on their Android devices. If that’s how you feel and would prefer to turn off Play Protect, we’ll walk you through the steps in a moment. Just note that you will lose the guarantees it offers if you do so. You’ll have a higher chance of getting infected with malware because you’ll no longer receive warnings about suspicious apps you download, especially if you don’t have a third-party anti-malware program. You’re also more likely to install apps that can steal your sensitive information.

Before continuing, you should know that there are cases in which you may not be able to disable Play Protect. If you have a Google account managed by your school or workplace and you can’t find a way to turn it off, the administrator may have restricted your ability to turn off security features.

You also won’t be able to disable it if you’re enrolled in Google’s Advanced Protection program. This is the highest level of security offered by the company, designed specifically for users most at risk of targeted attacks, such as journalists, activists, celebrities, and people working on political campaigns.

You should also know that Google has been reported to remove sideloaded apps that it deems risky anyway, even with Play Protect turned off. That said, it is quite simple to disable this feature.

Screenshot from Mariella Moon (Google)

1. On your Android phone, go to the Google Play Store.
2. Tap your profile icon in the upper right corner of the Play Store interface.
3. Scroll down and tap on the Play Protect option. On this interface, you will see when the feature last scanned your apps.
4. Click the Settings gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
5. Disable “Scan apps with Play Protect”.

On this last screen, you can also enable or disable the “Improve harmful application detection” feature. When enabled, your account automatically sends apps you download outside of the Play Store to Google, so they can be inspected for malware or other suspicious behavior.

If you’re enrolled in Google’s Advanced Protection program, you’ll need to turn it off first:

1. Log in to your Google account on a browser and go to the Security & sign-in menu.
2. Search for “Advanced Protection Program,” then select “Opt Out.”

You may need to restart your device and wait a while before advanced protection stops working and you can turn off Play Protect.