Google: ad settings

Last checked: 28 Sep 2026

Google has three places that affect ads: My Ad Center for your account, partner ad settings for ads Google shows on other sites, and Web & App Activity for what's saved to your account. Turning off personalised ads doesn't change how many ads you see; they're based on context instead.

Your Google account (My Ad Center)

Personalised adsAds continue, less personalised

myadcenter.google.com → Personalised ads → Off

Ads on Google services stop being personalised to you and use things like the time of day, the page or video you're on, and your current location instead. Ads Google shows on partner sites aren't personalised by Google either. Your topic and brand choices are deleted.

Applies wherever you're signed in. It doesn't affect ads that Google doesn't show, or sites with their own ad systems. Not available on accounts for under-18s, where ads are never personalised.

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Activity used to personalise adsAds continue, less personalised

My Ad Center → Manage privacy → Activity used to personalise ads

Separate switches for activity on sites and apps, YouTube history, and areas where you've used Google. Turning one off stops that data being used for ads.

Google says this doesn't turn off personalised recommendations, and the activity may still be saved to your account (see Web & App Activity below).

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Customise topics and brandsRelated setting

My Ad Center → Customise ads

See more or fewer ads about particular topics or brands.

Google says this doesn't block topics or brands and doesn't change the number of ads.

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Partner sites, signed out, and saved activity

Partner sitesAds continue, less personalised

adssettings.google.com/partnerads → Get personalised ads when you visit sites that partner with Google

Turn it off to stop Google personalising ads on partner sites in that browser, whether or not you're signed in.

Applies to the browser you use. It may be unavailable if your browser blocks third-party cookies.

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Signed outAds continue, less personalised

adssettings.google.com → Search / YouTube / Web → Personalised ads

Turn off personalised ads for Search, YouTube or the web without an account.

Stored in cookies on that browser or device, so it resets if you clear them.

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Web & App ActivityRelated setting

Google Account → Activity controls → Web & App Activity

Turn it off, or turn it off and delete past activity, to stop Google saving your searches and activity to your account. Sub-options cover Chrome history and activity from sites and apps that use Google services, and voice and audio activity.

This is about saving activity, not ads specifically. Google notes these settings are being updated, so the screens may differ.

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Your phone has separate settings too: see Android or iPhone. On YouTube, Google's ad settings are under Account Settings → Privacy → Google ad settings.

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This page describes your options and how organisations say they handle requests. It isn't legal advice. See About & sourcing to report a correction.