Android has added a host of privacy features in the past few years to help address new challenges as they emerge. This has been important because of the proliferation of smartphones in our daily lives and with conversations around privacy becoming a regular topic globally.

On top of all the existing features, your Android phone is set to get two new useful privacy-focused features to help protect you and your mobile devices.

1. Revamped Find My Device App

Find My Device provides a simple way to locate your Android phone. But the app is only efficient if the device is connected to the internet with Location enabled.

A big revamp is coming, which will see the app offer more tracking capabilities by leveraging Bluetooth proximity. First, this means Find My Device will offer offline tracking support by using other devices in the Find My Device network.

The company is also making the app more powerful to track more devices. Until now, Find My Device has only been used for tracking Android devices linked with the same Google account. That's changing soon after the revamp. You'll be able to track more devices like your keys, headphones, and other things that don't have GPS by attaching a Bluetooth tracker.

Using the app, you'll be able to locate them easily, either by ringing the device (if it's compatible) or viewing the exact location inside the app. Find My Device will also offer a hand of help in guiding you to the device based on your current position.

2. Unknown Tracker Alerts to Curb Unwanted Tracking

The launch of Apple's AirTags in 2021 quickly became a major privacy nightmare. Some started using the trackers for nefarious purposes like tracking other people without their knowledge and even stealing cars. Apple added a way to detect and disable AirTags on iOS devices in 2022, as did Tile, the well-known Bluetooth tracker manufacturer.

But if you have an Android phone, it's still tough to tell whether there's an unknown tracker with you. Android's upcoming unknown tracker alerts feature will help address the issue.

If there's a foreign tracker with you, your phone will notify you. Tapping on the notification will display a map with the exact location of where it was seen traveling with you. Below the map, you can play sound on the tracker to locate it (without notifying the owner). Your device will also provide additional safety instructions, like disabling the tracker to stop it from updating its location.

The feature will work with the most popular Bluetooth trackers—including AirTags—and all trackers compatible with Google's Find My Device network.

More Privacy-Focused Features on Android Are Welcome

Android has been a laggard in privacy and security, an area where iOS shines. But in recent years, Google has stepped up to the challenge by adding more privacy and security features to the platform. More privacy features are always welcome, especially now because of the ease of tracking. The updates will come to all Android users in the summer of 2023.