How to Reset Your Android Advertising ID
The advertising ID is a resettable number apps use for ads. Resetting it breaks the link to your old profile.
By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 22, 2026Google describes the advertising ID as a resettable identifier for advertising and analytics. On Android 6.0 and above, open Settings, tap Google, then Ads. You can press Reset advertising ID, which removes the current identifier and generates a new random one, or opt out of Ads Personalization. Google warns you may still see personalized ads from some networks after opting out. iPhone users have a different control.
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Your phone gives apps a number that advertisers use to recognise your device. On Android it is the advertising ID. Resetting it takes a few taps and gives advertisers a fresh start with no history attached.
What the advertising ID is
Google’s Play help page describes the advertising ID as “a resettable identifier for advertising and analytics”. Ad companies may use it to personalise ads and understand how people use apps. Because it can be reset, it is meant to be less permanent than a hardware identifier.
How to reset it
On Android 6.0 and above, open the Settings app, tap Google, then tap Ads. Press Reset advertising ID. Google says this removes the current identifier and generates a new random ID.
On Android 5.2 and below, open the Google Settings app and tap Ads.
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Opting out of ads personalization
In the same place you can choose Opt out of Ads Personalization. Google says apps are then instructed not to use the advertising ID to build advertising profiles or to target personalised ads.
Google also warns that you may still receive personalised ads from some networks after you opt out, until all ad networks switch to the advertising ID. So treat the control as a strong signal, not a guarantee.
Reset or opt out?
- Reset when you want to break the history tied to the old ID. Ads may feel less targeted for a while.
- Opt out when you do not want apps to build ad profiles from the ID at all.
- Do both if you want a clean slate and a standing request not to profile you.
Google’s page covers resetting. It does not describe deleting the ID, so look at your phone’s settings for any extra option on your version.
Why bother
An advertising ID lets many apps and ad networks recognise the same device. Without a reset, the profile built on that number keeps growing. After a reset, new activity is attached to a new ID, so the old history is no longer connected to what you do next.
Resetting does not stop all tracking
The ID is only one of the ways you can be followed. Apps and websites can use your account, your IP address, cookies and the way your browser looks. Read tracking cookies and browser fingerprinting for the rest.
Why it matters
Our page on the FTC’s X-Mode order mentions advertising identifiers and shows how mobile data can end up with data brokers.
A routine (our suggestion)
Reset the ID every few months, and again after you uninstall a batch of apps. Remove apps you no longer use, since each one is a place the ID can be collected.
Sources
- Google Play Help: Advertising ID (what it is, reset steps, ads personalization opt-out, limits)
Frequently asked questions
What is the advertising ID?
Google calls it a resettable identifier for advertising and analytics.
How do I reset it?
On Android 6.0 and above go to Settings, Google, Ads, then press Reset advertising ID.
What happens when I reset it?
Google says the current identifier is removed and a new random ID is generated.
Does opting out stop all personalized ads?
No. Google warns you may still receive personalized ads from some networks.
Can I delete the advertising ID?
Google’s page covers resetting. It does not describe deleting the ID.
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