Ad Privacy

The Privacy Sandbox module that gives apps on-device ad topics and measurement in place of cross-app tracking. It is safe to disable: you lose nothing most people will miss.

What it does

This package is Google's build of the AdServices Mainline module, the Privacy Sandbox on Android, added in Android 13. It offers apps privacy-preserving advertising interfaces, such as Topics, which picks a few broad interest categories on the device from the apps you use, plus Protected Audience and Attribution Reporting for ad selection and measurement. Its switches live in Settings under Ad privacy, and it updates through Google Play system updates.

Also shown as Ad privacy, Android System, AdServices, Privacy Sandbox.

If you disable it

Apps that use the Privacy Sandbox ad interfaces get no topics or measurement results. You will not notice anything in normal use.

How to disable it

On most phones Settings greys out Disable for this package, so ADB is the way to turn it off. The commands below work without root and can be undone.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.adservices.api

adb shell pm enable com.google.android.adservices.api

The stronger option removes it for your user only; the original copy stays on the phone and a factory reset brings it back. Prefer disabling: it is easier to undo.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.adservices.api

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.adservices.api

New to ADB? Set it up in about ten minutes.

Data and battery

Keeps ad interest topics and measurement data on the device and shares limited results with apps that call it, subject to your Ad privacy settings.

Where it appears

• Made by Google LLC.
• Android versions: 13 and later.