How to Keep Your Info Safe When You Share Your Device

We all use phones, tablets, and computers every day. These devices help us with many things—talking to people, shopping, taking notes, or doing math. But sometimes, we share our devices with others. Maybe a friend wants to borrow your phone. Or maybe your child uses your tablet to play games. That’s okay. Sharing is part of life.

But here’s the thing: your device might have private stuff on it.

You may not think about it much, but your phone or laptop holds a lot of personal information. Things like:

• Notes or passwords

• Bank apps or wallet info

• Photos and messages

• Websites you visited

• Numbers or lists you typed in

When someone else uses your device, they might see these things—by accident or on purpose. That’s why it’s smart to protect your privacy before you hand it over.

In this blog, we’ll talk about how to keep your personal stuff private when sharing your device. No tech skills needed. Just simple steps anyone can follow.

1. Close Your Apps and Tabs

Before someone else uses your device, look at what’s open. Are there any apps running? Are any websites still open?

Many people forget to close tabs or apps. But if they stay open, someone else can see what you were doing.

For example:

• If your messages app is open, someone could read them.

• If you were shopping, they could see your cart or saved info.

• If you were looking at private notes, they could see them too.

What to do: Just swipe up and close apps. On most phones and computers, you can also close tabs in your browser (like Chrome or Safari) with a tap or click. It takes only a second, but it makes a big difference.

2. Use a Guest Account or Screen Lock

Some devices let you set up a guest account. This means someone can use the device without seeing your stuff. It’s like giving them a clean version of your phone or computer.

If that’s not an option, you can use screen lock or app lock. This stops people from opening certain apps or settings.

How to do it:

• On Android, you can add a “Guest User” from the user settings.

• On iPhones and iPads, you can use “Guided Access” to lock the screen to one app.

• On computers, you can make a new user account just for guests.

This way, people can use your device, but they won’t get into your private world.

3. Clear Your History

Many apps and browsers save what you do. If you were online or typing something personal, your device might remember it.

Some things that get saved:

• Search history

• Web pages you opened

• Auto-fill forms

• Recent files or notes

If someone uses your device, they might see your past activity—even if you forgot about it.

Quick fix: Clear your history.

Most apps have a “Clear History” or “Delete Browsing Data” option in the settings. Use it before you hand your device over.

4. Don’t Save Private Notes in Easy-to-Find Places

It’s common to save things like:

• Bank info

• Passwords

• Personal thoughts

• Names and phone numbers

• Budget notes or PIN codes

But where do you keep those? If they’re in a regular notes app, anyone who opens it can read them.

Instead, use:

• A secure note app with a password

• Or delete sensitive info when you don’t need it

Also, avoid writing down private numbers on paper or in open apps.

5. Use Private Tools That Don’t Track or Save

Here’s something many people don’t think about—even tools like calculators can store your input. Some websites or apps save what you type to “help improve their services.” That’s fine for some things, but not great if you’re doing sensitive math or budgeting.

Let’s say you’re figuring out a loan, a repayment, or a money split. You want that to stay private, right?

That’s why it’s better to use tools that don’t store or track anything.

One good example is SafeCalc. It’s a simple online calculator that does one thing: help you do math without saving anything.

• No tracking

• No sign-up

• No history

When you close the tab, it forgets everything. That’s how it should be. If you need to do quick math before sharing your phone or computer, SafeCalc is a clean, safe choice. Just go to the website and use it. That’s it.

6. Log Out of Sensitive Apps

If you were using apps like:

• Email

• Banking

• Shopping

• Messaging

Be sure to log out before someone else uses your device. Some apps remember your login info and open right away. That’s handy—but only for you.

To stay safe:

• Go into the app

• Tap “Log Out” or “Sign Out”

• Close the app afterward

Even better, use apps that offer face ID or fingerprint unlock, so only you can open them.

7. Hide Notifications

Sometimes private info pops up without warning—like message previews, calendar reminders, or payment alerts.

If someone is using your phone and a text shows up on the screen, they might see something you didn’t mean to share.

Here’s how to fix that:

• On most phones, you can go to Settings > Notifications

• Turn off “Show Preview”

• Or mute alerts while others are using your device

It’s a small change, but it helps protect your privacy big time.

8. After Sharing, Double-Check

Once you get your device back, take a minute to check it.

• Were any new apps opened?

• Did the person leave tabs open?

• Was something changed in your settings?

Most people won’t mess with anything, but it’s always smart to take a quick look—just in case.

Final Thoughts

Sharing your device doesn’t have to mean giving away your privacy. A few small steps can help you keep your info safe, even when someone else is using your phone, tablet, or laptop.

To keep things private:

• Close apps and tabs

• Use guest mode or screen lock

• Clear history

• Log out of sensitive apps

• Use private tools like SafeCalc

• Hide notifications

• Check your device afterward

Privacy is about keeping what’s yours… yours. You don’t have to be techy or paranoid—just thoughtful. With a little care, you can share your device and still protect your personal space.