To use the Exposure Notifications System, some public health authorities customize a template app provided by Google. With the template app, public health authorities can customize how an exposure is defined and some of the content within the app, such as the guidance provided after an exposure.
In some regions, public health authorities can choose a version of the Exposure Notifications that allows you to enable the Exposure Notifications System directly through the settings on your Android device. To make this functionality available, public health authorities customize the same information as with the template app, including the guidance provided after an exposure.
This functionality, which integrates the Exposure Notifications System directly into your device’s Settings, is automatically distributed by the Google Play Store, so it is able to work immediately if you decide to turn it on. You may see this functionality listed in your device Settings or in the Play Store on your device.
Exposure Notifications are not automatically turned on. You decide whether to turn on this functionality and whether to share information through the system to help warn others of possible exposure. Learn how to use the Exposure Notifications System on your phone.
Set up your Exposure Notifications through Settings
Get started
- On your Android device, open the Settings app.
- Tap Google
COVID-19 Exposure Notifications
- If your region supports Exposure Notification through Settings, you won’t need to download a separate app.
COVID-19 Exposure Notifications Remove a region from Settings
- On your Android device, open the Settings app.
- Tap Google
- Select the region you want to remove.
- Tap Remove region.
Remove a deactivated region from Settings
- On your Android device, open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps
- Select a region to remove from your device, or tap Exposure Notifications Settings.
- Tap Uninstall
Disable COVID-19 Exposure Notifications
- On your Android device, open the Settings app.
- Tap Google
- Turn off Use Exposure Notifications.
Share Exposure Notifications usage & performance data with Google
To help maintain and improve Exposure Notifications, you can choose to share some limited, de-identified data about Exposure Notifications performance and usage with Google.
What information is shared with Google
If the “Usage & diagnostics“ setting is on, your device sends limited info to Google about the feature’s performance, such as data about errors, battery usage, and connection issues. This info helps us make sure the feature works as intended.
This data doesn't identify you, and is only used to maintain and improve the feature, in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy.
Turn usage & diagnostics on or off
Important: If you turn off "Usage & diagnostics," you can still use Exposure Notifications.
- On your Android device, open the Settings app.
- Tap Privacy
- Turn Usage & diagnostics on or off.
What happens if you travel
If you travel between countries:
- The feature stores the mobile country codes for the countries you've been to in the last 14 days. This can let Exposure Notifications check if you were exposed to people who use the feature in those countries, which depends on how your public health authority set up their configuration.
- If you report that you have COVID-19, you can choose to share if you traveled to other countries. This can help inform others you were near that they may have been exposed, which depends on how your public health authority set up their configuration. The specific countries you traveled to won't be shared.
Share analytics data with your health authority
Your public health authority may ask you to share limited, non-identifying analytics data. The public health authority may use the data to calculate and analyze aggregate statistics in accordance with its privacy policy to help improve its COVID-19 containment efforts. The analytics data is aggregated and encrypted, is provided directly to the health authority, and isn't linked to you or your phone.
These analytics may include the number of exposures in your region and whether you tapped on the notification. The analytics are generated using privacy-preserving technologies and give public health authorities insight into aggregate statistics while it protects the privacy of individual users. The aggregate statistics can help public health authorities determine if their containment efforts work and evaluate their risk parameters.
Turn analytics sharing on or off
A public health authority determines whether they want to ask for and collect these analytics. You can change your analytics settings for a public health authority.
- On your Android device, open the Settings app.
- Tap Google
- Select the region.
- Tap Exposure Notifications analytics sharing.
- Turn the setting on or off.
If this setting isn’t available, these analytics aren’t collected.