Keep Google Play Protect switched on
Keep Android’s built-in app scanning enabled so potentially harmful apps can be checked during installation and through periodic device scans.
Check the setting
Open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, then Play Protect → Settings. Keep Scan apps with Play Protect on.
Understand the protection
Google says Play Protect checks apps during installation, periodically scans the device, and may warn, disable, remove, or block known harmful software. It can offer to scan unfamiliar apps installed outside Google Play.
Keep judgment involved
Continue checking the developer, source, privacy information, and whether the app is genuinely needed; also confirm that each requested permission matches the app’s purpose. Play Protect is an important layer, not a guarantee about every app.
Last verified: 5 September 2026 · Google Play Help: Play Protect