Android Oreo brings a lot of new features which make your Android device even more secure and easy to use. Of all the features that come with the new update, there is one which is my absolute favourite. That feature is called Autofill and I have been waiting for this one since ages. Whether you are using password saving feature inside Chrome or using a password manager like LastPass, it's no secret that how easy they make it, to log into your accounts on different devices. Once you have saved all your passwords, all you need to do is to remember a master password and you are done. However, this feature was missing on the Android apps, that is, until now. With the new Autofill feature in Oreo, you can now log in to your apps with your saved passwords in Google or any other password manager that you are using. This is the best feature of Android Oreo for me, and today I am going to show you how to use it on your device.

Note: I tried the Autofill feature on my Nexus 5X and Google Pixel running Android Oreo 8.0.0.

Using The Autofill Feature in Android Oreo

Since the launch of Android Oreo, most of the major password managers like LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane have rolled out updates to support this feature. Even if you don't use any password manager (which I highly recommend that you do), you can still use it directly using Autofill with Google. Autofill with Google uses the passwords that are saved by Google Smart Lock via its Chrome browser. So, let us take a look at both the methods one by one.

Using Autofill With Google

As I mentioned earlier, Google uses your passwords that you have saved while using the Chrome browser to let you use its auto fill feature. Needless to say, you need to be logged in with the same Google account on your device which you are using the Chrome browser on your desktop. So now, let's just get into the methodology.

1. First of all, make sure that your device is running on Android Oreo. Now open Settings, and go to System->Language & input and tap on “Advanced”.

2. Here scroll down to find "Autofill service" and tap on it. Now, enable "Autofill with Google".

3. Now, let us take an example to learn how to use this feature. Suppose you have just installed Twitter and you already have its login information saved with Google. Launch the app and tap on login.

4. Here, you will see a pop-up card telling you that Google can fill your login information, tap on it. The next screen will show you some information about this feature, ignore it and just hit continue.

5. Now, depending upon how many different Twitter accounts you are using, Google will provide you with options for all of them. Just tap on the one you want to use and all your information will be filled in.

Using Autofill With Password Manager

Using Android Oreo’s Autofill feature with third party password managers is very similar to using it with Google. Before we start make sure that you have a password manager installed on your device. If you have not use any such services till now, I highly recommend that you do. We have already created a list of the best password managers you can get in 2017. You can read all about them here. Now, let's get started.

Note: For this tutorial, we are using LastPass, but you can use any other password manager which has been updated to support this feature. As mentioned earlier, both 1Password and Dashlane now support this feature alongside LastPass. Also, you will need to set up LastPass or the password manager you are using to use Autofill in Android Oreo. 

1. Assuming you have your password manager installed on your device, go to the "Autofill services" settings as we did previously. However, instead of selecting "Autofill with Google"  select LastPass or the password manager you are using.

2. Like before, we will use Twitter as an example, so just launch the Twitter app and tap on login. Here, you will see that you can use your password manager to log in to your account. Tap on the pop-card.

3. Depending upon, whether you have enabled unlocking your password manager with your fingerprint or not, it will either ask you to enter your master password or a fingerprint authentication. After authentication, it will show you your Twitter login saved in your password manager. Tap on it, to auto-fill the login information.

As you can see, the process is almost identical to that used in Autofill with Google section. We are just changing the service which we are using as our password manager and nothing else.

Autofill Information in Apps on Android Oreo Devices

I love using password managers. They allow me to keep strong and unique passwords for all my accounts without having to remember them. But, they always remained a cause of pain whenever I had to use the login information on my Android apps, but, not anymore. Now, with the Autofill integration with Android Oreo, automatic login has become as easy on mobile devices as it was on the desktop. That's why it is my top feature of Android Oreo. What are your favourite features of Android O? Let us know, in the comment section below. Also, do share with us, whether you are excited about the Autofill feature or not.

Android is one of the most preferred operating systems out there, simply because of the customizability it offers. The user can change almost every aspect of one’s device, and even tweak it in certain ways to make sure their devices perform better. All of this is primarily dependent on your device’s config file, that is, the build.prop file. This file contains all the configuration data for your device as well as the Android system installed on it. Many power users modify this file in order to tweak their device furthermore. We recently did an article on some of the coolest build.prop tweaks for your Android device. Sadly though, since this is a system file, the general conception is that you need a rooted device. Well, don’t worry, as there is a way around that as well. So, if you’re an Android user looking to the build.prop file on their Android device but don’t have root access, read on, as we share with you our guide on how to e dit build.prop without root access:

Edit Build.prop Without Root Access

Note: The following method requires you to have a custom recovery like TWRP or CWM. You can either install the custom recovery or even choose to simply boot through it for this process. This is because you have full access to system files in recovery mode. Also, this is only possible if the system partition is mounted, something which stock recoveries don’t allow. I tried the following method on Samsung Galaxy S8 and Moto X Play, and it worked just fine.

• To begin with, download and install ADB and Fastboot drivers onto your system, as shown here.

• Install an advanced text editor like Notepad++ or Sublime Text on your system. This is will be used later on to edit the build.prop file.

• Next up, switch off your device and head over to the recovery mode. Once there, tap on “Mount”. A list of all the partitions on your device will open up. Make sure the checkbox next to ‘System’ is checked, and the checkbox next to “Mount system partition read-only” is unchecked.

• Once you’ve mounted the /system partition, connect your device to your PC and open the ADB window. Once there, type in the following command to transfer the build.prop file onto your system:

adb pull /system/build.prop <path to save file>

For example, I wish to transfer the file to C:\Beebom on my system, hence the command that I’ll be inputting will be:

adb pull /system/build.prop  C:\Beebom

As you can see below, the build.prop file will now be transferred to the specified path, in my case,  C:\Beebom.

• Now that your build.prop file has been transferred to your system, you can edit it easily using the text editor you downloaded previously. To do so, simply right-click on the build.prop file and select “Edit with Notepad++” or any other text editor that you may have downloaded.

• A new Notepad++ window should now open and you should easily be able to modify the build.prop file. Once you’re done with your edits, simply save the changes.

• Now that you’ve edited the build.prop file, we need to transfer it back to your device. To do so, run the following command in the ADB window:

adb push <path to your file> /system/build.prop

So, since my file is located at C:\Beebom\, the command that I’ll be inputting will be:

adb push C:\Beebom\build.prop  /system/build.prop

• Now that you’ve transferred the modified build.prop file, you need to set its permissions as well. To do so, open up the ADB shell by typing in the following command:

adb shell

• Once you’re inside the ADB shell mode, type in the following command to set the right permissions:

chmod 644 /system/build.prop

And that’s it. You can now close the ADB window. Your build.prop file has now been modified as per your preferences.

Edit Build.prop Without Root on Your Android Device

Modifying your build.prop file can help you make more out of your Android device. The strongest advantage of Android over other operating systems is its level of customizability, something which is primarily dependent on the build.prop file. And while not everyone has root access, one can still modify their build files using the above method. Do note that whatever you do with your build.prop file, always and always have a backup ready just in case. Well, that’s all from my side but I would love to hear the multiple tweaks you tried to implement on your device in the comments section below.

Star Wars: Battlefront II is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated AAA gaming titles of the year, and with Star Wars: The Last Jedi on the horizon, my excitement for this game has reached an all-time high. Sure, I’ll admit the fact that the original Battlefront was mediocre at best, but this time around, EA & DICE have played smart by adding a promising single-player campaign. As a player, you'll be able to customize and upgrade your heroes, starfighters and troopers with abilities that you can exploit in battles.

This epic first-person shooter is all set to be released on November 17th, but you can access it right now even if you haven’t purchased the full game. In order to start playing right away, you need an Origin Access subscription if your preferred platform is PC or EA Access subscription if your preferred platform is Xbox One. The subscription can be availed at either $4.99 on a monthly basis or $29.99 on a yearly basis. Such a subscription based service is not available for the PS4 platform, so if you’re planning to play it on Sony’s console, you’ll have to wait a little longer.

The game is now available as part of the EA’s Play First Trials that exclusive to subscribers. As part of the trial, players will have a time-limit of 10 hours to play the game’s campaign missions and various multiplayer modes. If you actually enjoyed playing the game, you can purchase the game with a 10% discount that’s exclusive to Origin/EA Access users. However, if you’re a PS4 user, you can simply purchase the Star Wars: Battlefront II Elite Trooper edition that’s priced at $10 over the Standard Edition to access the full game 3 days before the actual release without any time limitations. It’s worth noting that the Elite Trooper edition is available across all the three platforms.

If you care even a little bit about your online security, ideally, you should enable two-factor authentication on all your accounts. However, although this practice is good for security, it makes logging in your accounts a little cumbersome. Waiting for a code and then entering it manually just doesn’t feel natural. However, if the inconvenience is the only thing stopping you from this security feature, there’s a very nifty solution for you, that is, if you use Google as your primary account. In 2016, Google launched its Google Prompt feature which made two-factor authorization very easy to use, however, it still kept the SMS and Calling as the default options. But today, Google made its Google Prompt feature the default two-factor authentication option. So, if you are interested in security, this is how you can set up and use Google Prompt for two-factor authentication:

Use Google Prompt For Two-Factor Authentication

Google makes it very easy to use two-factor authentication. This is really good because now you get the security of the two-factor authentication without the hassle that comes with it. But, before we can use this feature, we will first have to set this up, so, let’s see how to do that, shall we?

• Setting Up Google Prompt For Two-Factor Authentication

1. First, launch a browser on your desktop/laptop and then log into your google account. Now click on the following link to head to your Account Settings.

2. Now, under “Sign-in & security” click on the link that reads, “Signing in to Google”.

3. Here, under the “Password & sign-in method” you will find the “2-Step verification” setting. First, click on it and then on the “Get Started” button on the next page.

4. After you click on the Get Started button, you will be asked to sign in again for security reasons. Once you log in, you will see your mobile device (Android/iOS) on the screen. Click on the “TRY IT NOW” button. Now, Google will send a prompt on your device, just unlock the device and tap on “Yes”.

5. The last step is to add a backup two-factor authentication method in case the Google Prompt method fails. If you already have a number attached to your Google account, you can choose either the SMS or Call option. If not, you will either need to link your phone number or you can choose other methods provided by Google.

6. The last step is to enable the two-factor authentication. Just click on the “TURN ON” button.

• Logging In Your Google Account Using Google Prompt

Now, let’s see how we are going to log in our Google account.

1. Load Gmail on your browser and click on log in. Now enter your password as you always did. As soon as you enter the password, you will see Google asking for you to authenticate the login attempt on your smartphone using the Google Prompt.

2. As we did during the testing, unlock your phone and tap on “Yes” and you will be redirected to your account. See, how easy it is!

Google Prompt: Easiest Two-Step Verification Process

Although Google Introduced this feature last year, it kept SMS and Calls as default options for its two-step verification process. However, now Google has made its Google Prompt feature the default option for its two-factor authentication service. This shows that even Google thinks that the Google Prompt is a better solution for the two-factor authentication problem. Set it up for your account now and tell us, if now, you are  more likely to use the two-factor authentication then before, or not, either way, we will love to hear from you. Drop down your thoughts in the comments section below.

Twitter is one of the most influential social networking platforms on the Internet and has placed extensive focus on the security of its users. It has included SMS-based verification of account logins on the platform for multiple years but it isn’t the most reliable. Imagine you’re on the move and have no network, or want to log into your account on a tablet PC then SMS is obviously not the handiest option. Hence, Twitter recently debuted the ability to use third-party authentication apps to verify your sign-in attempt.

The third-party authentication apps are quite simple to setup and would come in handy for users who regularly sign in and out of their accounts. So, if you’re one of these individuals and were planning to simplify the verification process, we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide on how to set up a third-party authentication app. Follow the steps defined underneath to complete the setup:

Step 1: Setting Up Twitter Verification

Before you can set up a third-party authentication app to verify your sign-in attempts on Twitter, you’ll need to enable login verification for your account. This is the standard two-factor authentication that’ll help secure your account via SMS-based verification. Let us check out how to go about it:

Note: I set up login verification on my Redmi Note 3, running Twitter v7.28.0-alpha.636 and it worked perfectly fine. The method works almost similarly on both Android and iOS.

1. Open the Twitter app (Free) on your Android device, swipe towards the right to open the hamburger menu and tap on the “Settings and privacy” option at the bottom and go to the ‘Account’ section.

2. Under the Accounts menu, you need to navigate to ‘Security’ and tap on the ‘Login Verification’ checkbox to kickstart the process.

Note: Before you can set up login verification, you’ll need to add both your email address and phone number to your Twitter account.

3. You will first be informed on how the verification process works and asked to re-enter your password to move ahead with the process. You’ll then need to verify your mobile number by entering the 6-digit code you receive in the same window.

4.  Once the two-factor authentication is enabled, you will have to provide a unique code everytime you try to log back into Twitter. You can even use the backup code generated by Twitter (as shown in the screenshot below) once this process is complete.

Note: Don’t forget to save your backup code somewhere safe (e-mail or print copy), so you can use the same to access your Twitter account if you ever lose your device.

Upon a new login attempt, the login code will be sent to your message inbox since SMS is the default method for verification purposes. However, Twitter just recently made an important change to their two-factor authentication process and now allows you to use 3rd-party authentication apps to verify your login attempts.

Step 2: Use Third-Party Authentication Apps

Now that you’ve enabled login verification for your Twitter account, you can now follow the steps defined underneath to handover the verification process to a third-party app such as Authy, Google Authenticator or 1Password. Let’s check out the process:

Note: It is important to enable the standard SMS-based two-factor authentication, talked about in Step 1, on your Twitter account before shifting to a 3rd-party authentication app. I’m using Google Authenticator for this purpose as it is the easiest once to use and is also compatible with Twitter.

1. If you just completed the 2FA activation process, you’re already in the login verification section of the Twitter settings menu. Now, you’ll need to tap the “mobile security app” checkbox that’s underneath the Text message option.

2. You’ll now see a prompt with a ‘Start’ button, tap on the same and enter your password to start the setup process for a third-party authenticator app, i.e Google Authenticator (Free).

3. On the next screen, you just need to tap the ‘Set up now’ button and Twitter will automatically recognize any compatible third-party authentication app available on the device and register your account on the same.

Note: If you’re performing the verification process on your desktop, you’ll need to scan the QR code shown on your screen via any third-party authenticator mobile app. You then need to verify the same by entering a passcode shown in that app.

4. As you can see in the screenshots below, Google Authenticator pops-up with my Twitter credentials and you only need to tap “OK” to add your account to the same.

5. The final step requires you to verify the third-party authenticator app by entering a code from the same into Twitter. And voila, that’s it. Your third-party authentication app is now set up and ready for use.

Use Authentication Apps with Twitter Login Verification

Twitter is a hotbed for conversations and no user wants their privacy to be compromised, especially out of the blue. Thus, the added layer of security will give them some peace of mind, assuring them that their account cannot be logged in to without a code. Third-party authentication apps simplify the login process as you can enter the currently active code and do not have to wait for an OTP to land in your message inbox.

So, are you planning to secure your Twitter app with a third-party authentication app? Do share your experience with us in the comments down below.

Every year, a new version of Android arrives, with a lot of improvements and additional features. To take advantage of those improvements, developers keep updating their apps every now and then. They also keep adding new features to their apps to make sure their apps remain viable. However, updates don’t necessarily make an app better. Well, here’s why:

• Developers have to cease support for older versions of Android in order to accommodate some change in the code.

• Devices with older hardware find it difficult to adapt to the changes made for the current gen hardware.

• UI changes sometimes make the updated version cumbersome to use.

• Some beneficial features from the previous versions get omitted.

Thus, people often want to rollback to the previous version of the app or look for older versions, that are more suited for their device. We know that the Google Play Store doesn’t let you rollback an app to its previous versions. However, there are a number of third-party sources that offer older versions of Android apps for download. Here are some of the online repositories that let you download old versions of Android apps:

1. APKMirror

If you want to get the latest APK files of the most popular apps or hunt down its oldest available version, APKMirror is the place to go. The site provides APK files for the majority of apps from the Play Store. You can get the versions of an app released 2 years ago, from its repository. Unfortunately, you can’t get extremely older versions of that app, as they might not be compatible with the current set of codes on the app’s servers.

Getting the desired version of the APK is easy. You have to search for the app on the site’s search bar and scroll down to check out for all the older versions listed that can work with the current changes.

Then, just hit the link to your desired version to download it and install it on your Android device.

Visit Website

2. uptodown

uptodown is a repository for apps from all the major platforms. You can get old versions of your favorite apps from platforms like Android, iOS, Ubuntu, Mac and web apps. Like APKMirror, you can get the older versions of your desired app that are supported by the developer’s servers. However, unlike APKMirror, the variety of apps are limited, with only the well-known ones taking the stage.

To download an app’s older version, you will have to search for the app in the site’s search bar and tap on the “Versions” button to see a listing of all the previous version APKs. Then, you can just download the version of the app you want and install it.

Visit Website

3. APK4Fun

APK4Fun is another well-known repository for getting older versions of Android apps. Generally known for providing safe and secure APKs for side-loading them to your Android phone, the site provides a number of previous version APKs of popular apps.

Downloading them is easy too, you have to search for your desired app and you will find older versions of it listed below the download button. The website provides a lot of details around the version of the apps and you are given a choice of additional mirror links to download your preferred version of the app.

Visit Website

Note: These online app repositories let you download APK files of the older version of an app. To install APK files, you’ll have to enable the “Unknown Sources” option in Android Settings->Security.

Also, you’ll have to disable “Auto updates” from Play Store to make sure the apps don’t get updated to the latest version automatically. You can do so by going to Play Store Settings->Auto-update apps and tap on “Do not auto-update apps”.

How to Install Third Party Apps as System Apps in Android

 Get Older Versions of Apps easily on Android

The online repositories of the apps we have mentioned above are safe and secure. There are many other sites that host old APK files but not all of them are safe. Some sites offer APK files with malware, so make sure you download APKs from the aforementioned websites online.

So, if an app update has removed your favorite feature or it’s just not working well enough on your device, just install the older version and you should be good. If you know of any other websites that are equally good as the ones mentioned here, do write it down in the comments section below.

Out of the numerous hardware components that make up our computers, Hard Disks (or SSDs) are one of the most important. After all, they hold all of our confidential files, valuable personal data, and of course, even the OS.

However, just like everything electronic, Hard Disks have a limited lifespan, and their performance starts degrading over time, and eventually they stop working. And when they do, data loss can (and often does) follow. So it’s extremely important that you regularly monitor your PC’s hard disk health, so that necessary steps (like backing up data) can be taken if the hard disk starts being problematic. But how to do it?

Not a problem, as that’s exactly what this article is all about. Keep reading, and find out how to check Hard Disk health in Windows.

Different Ways To Check Hard Disk Health

1. Using Windows’ built-in CHKDSK tool

Probably the easiest and the most convenient method of assessing the computer’s Hard Disk health is via CHKDSK. Short for Check Disk, CHKDSK is Windows’ built-in system tool that can scan hard disk (partitions) for logical errors, file system problems, as well as bad sectors. Not only that, it can also fix file system errors, and attempt to recover bad sectors. CHKDSK can be run both via the Command Prompt, and also through Windows Explorer. Here’s how:

Via Command Prompt

Launch Command Prompt with administrator privileges, and type in “X:\chkdsk” (without quotes). Here, X stands for the drive letter of the hard disk partition to be scanned. Chkdsk will now scan the disk partition, and display the scan report when it’s done.

Via Windows Explorer

Right click on the disk partition to be scanned, and click on Properties. Now, under the Tools tab, click the Check now button, and CHKDSK will do the rest.

In a nutshell, if you just want to run basic diagnostics to see if the Hard Disk is running fine, CHKDSK is more than sufficient.

2. Using Advanced Third Party Hard Disk Utilities

The just discussed Windows native CHKDSK tool does a fine job of of checking hard disk health, but it’s far too basic. To get a detailed analysis of the hard disk’s health parameters, it’s better to use third party utilities. There are many of them available, with two of the best being briefly discussed below:

HDDScan

One of the most powerful disk monitoring applications, HDDScan automatically detects the computer’s connected hard disk(s), and shows information such as model name, firmware number, and serial ID. It can also be used to test the hard disk(s) for everything from bad blocks to corrupted sectors.

But that’s not all. HDDScan’s primary functionality involves running S.M.A.R.T tests on the hard disk, and returning the analyzed data. Essentially, S.M.A.R.T (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) is a monitoring system included on all hard disks and solid state drives, which provides information about the general reliability of the disks. This is calculated on the basis of certain parameters (e.g. raw read error rate, seek time performance, spin retry count). To view the S.M.A.R.T statistics for the disk, all you have to do is click the namesake button. HDDScan’s S.M.A.R.T report details the calculated value of all the attributes, as well as the threshold for them. The report can be printed as well.

Apart from this, HDDScan supports numerous other tests. These tests can be queued together to run one after another, via the Test Manager window. Some of them are as follows:

• Surface Tests: Can be used to read/write data to certain areas of hard disk (or all of it) to see if the disk is working well.

• S.M.A.R.T. Offline Tests: This includes two types of tests, namely Short (lasts 1-2 minutes) and Extended (lasts 0.5-2 hours). Accordingly, these tests scan a part or all of the hard disk’s surface to see if any sectors exhibit read/write errors. There’s also a third Conveyance test, but it couldn’t be run during our testing.

Extended S.M.A.R.T. results window, as displayed during our testing.

• Temperature Monitor: Used to monitor disk’s temperature in real-time.

You can view detailed information about a test anytime by double-clicking on its entry in the Test Manager window (refer to the screenshot above). All in all, if you’re looking for a comprehensive hard disk monitoring utility that doesn’t cost a dime, go for HDDScan.

Platform Availability: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

Price: Free.

Download

CrystalDiskInfo

The previously discussed HDDScan is no doubt a really great disk monitoring utility, but its numerous tests and stuff can be a little bit overwhelming to get a handle on. This is where CrystalDiskInfo can help. A lightweight yet robust portable application, it generally includes all the features of HDDScan, and displays S.M.A.R.T. parameters, as well as detailed hard disk status information that’s updated in real-time. It can even be configured to trigger automatic email and sound alerts if the hard disk’s running behavior begins to show signs of failure.

However, CrystalDiskInfo doesn’t have the plethora of tests that can be scheduled one after another. In essence, it’s a well rounded application that just shows detailed working stats (S.M.A.R.T. parameters, disk temperature, overall status) of the hard disk in real-time, and is therefore, much simpler. So if you’re looking for a disk monitoring utility that shows de tailed information but is still easy enough to grasp, go for CrystalDiskInfo.

Platform Availability: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

Price: Free.

Download

3. Using disk manufacturer specific diagnostic utilities

Almost all of the popular disk manufacturers have diagnostic tools which can similarly be used to check the hard disk’s health. So if you want to use a utility that’s been developed by your computer’s hard disk manufacturer, you can always do that. Here is a listing of some of these diagnostic utilities, from major disk vendors:

SeaTools (by Seagate)

Essentially having the same functionality as HDDScan, SeaTools can be used to run multiple short and extended tests on hard disks to detect read/write errors, bad sectors etc. in them. It can also read the information as detailed by S.M.A.R.T parameters.

Data Lifeguard Diagnostic (by Western Digital)

Generally has the same feature set as other major disk checking utilities. Data Lifeguard Diagnostic can run short and long read/write tests, as well as analyze S.M.A.R.T data.

Drive Fitness Test (by Hitachi)

Drive Fitness Test can be used to test the hard disks for read and write errors, without overwriting the existing data on the disks. It also includes utilities for wiping the data from the hard disk.

Time to begin checking your hard disk’s health

It’s of utmost importance that the hard disks (or SSDs) are routinely analyzed for any signs of problems, so that valuable data can be timely backed up. And as seen above, doing so isn’t really that hard. If you just want basic disk monitoring and error checking, go for Windows’ built in CHKDSK tool. And if you’d prefer much more detailed analysis, go for disk utilities like HDDScan and CrystalDiskInfo. Try them, and see how they work out for you. Aware of any similar disk checking utilities that could’ve been included above? Do mention in the comments below.

Today we cannot imagine our lives without Google. The company has become synonymous with searching and is probably the gateway to the internet for most of the people in the world. However, the service comes at a price which in this case is your privacy. It's no secret that Google stores all your internet search data. If you are still oblivious to this fact then either you have been living under a rock or are just plain naive. But, did you know that Google also keeps a history of all the searches you have made on your Android device? Google not only stores that data, now it is also giving you easy access to it, bundled in a Recent tab inside your Google Now page.

How to Access Recent Cards in Google App or Google Now page

By default, the Recent tab is enabled inside the Google Now Page and it is very easy to access it on your Android device. There are a couple of ways you can go about doing it. The Recent tab is an addition to your Google Now cards and works with it. If you are using the swipe from left gesture to access your Google Now page, then tap on the hamburger menu on the top left and then select the Recent option to open the Recent tab.

However, If you are using the Google app, look at the bottom of the page and you will find the Recent tab icon at the right side (look at the picture below). Tap on the icon to open the Recent Page.

How to Disable Recent Cards

It is very easy to disable the Recent tab on your Android device. Just tap on the 3-dots menu on the top right of your screen in the Google app and tap on “Settings”. Here, you will find the option to disable the Recent tab just as shown in the picture. However, one thing to note here is that disabling the Recent tab doesn't stop Google from saving your search data. To disallow Google from saving your data, you will have to go through some extra steps which are given below.

How to Stop Google From Saving Your Data

If you want to stop Google from saving all your data you will have to do that from the “My Activity” tab. To go to the My Activity tab, tap on the 3-dots menu on the Recent page and select My Activity. There click on the hamburger menu which is marked in the picture below.

In the hamburger menu, tap on "Activity controls" and then disable the information which you don't want to be tracked. Here you will get the option to disallow Google from saving your your Web & App activity, Location History, Device Information, Voice & Audio Activity, and YouTube Search & Watch History. Disable those activities which you don’t want Google to save.

How to Delete Your Previously Saved Data

To delete the data which is already saved by the Google, choose "Delete activity by" from the hamburger menu. Here, you can select how and what data you want to delete. You can either delete all your saved data or delete specific ones based on time, device, and type of activities.

To delete all your data tap on the drop down menu where it's written Today and then select All time. Now hit the Delete button and all your data will be deleted.

Keep Your Internet Activities Private by Disabling Recent Cards in Google Now

Although, there are a lot of tools to save your internet activity data from prying eyes when you are browsing the web on a desktop, your choices on your Android device is pretty limited. Use the above steps to disable Google from saving all your search data. However, remember that many of the Google’s functions depend upon the data it is collecting, hence once you disable it, expect to get a below par service from Google. You will have to decide how much you want to trade for the conveniences you get by using Google and its products. Let us know your thoughts about the subject, as well as the new Google Recent cards in the comment section below.