7 lesser-known Google account settings you should change

When you jump Between the many different apps that Google offers — Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, and all the rest — you might not think much about the Google Account that powers them all or the countless settings you have access to that help define your experience across all of them.

If you’ve never opened your Google Account page on the web or on your phone, there are a bunch of options to browse through. They cover everything from data security and browsing history to the backup email Google needs in case you’re locked out of your account.

Here we’ll focus on seven of the lesser-known settings: those that don’t necessarily get a lot of attention but are still an important part of how your Google account and apps work. It’s worth taking a few minutes to review these items and make sure they’re set up the way you want.

Also stop to think about how much personal information you’re willing to share with Google, or how much information you’re making visible on the web. Let your comfort level guide your decisions about how to adjust these settings.

The starting point for all of these settings is your Google Account web page.

Set your home and work addresses

Google will use information about where you live and work to personalize your experience. This is very useful in Google Maps, because it means you can get directions back home or to your office with one click instead of typing in an address every time. (Home and Work shortcuts should appear when you search for a destination.)

There are benefits to getting more accurate weather forecasts and more relevant search results, too. The usual Google Privacy Policy rules apply: No one else will see the address information you’ve saved, but you may start seeing more ads for sandwich shops in your local area.

To set these addresses from your Google Account page, click Personal information Then either Home address or Work address. You can either type the address manually, or select a location on a map.

Edit your Google profile information

Your Google profile information settings

Courtesy of David Nield

You may not think of your Google Account the same way you think of your Facebook or Instagram profile, but Google shares some information about you with other people. If you email someone through Gmail, they can click on your profile picture and see everything public on your Google Account page. Likewise, if you leave a review on Google Maps, viewers of that comment can click on your name or photo and see any general information on your Google Account page.