How to disable autocomplete on Android

Autocomplete is a very useful thing. Thanks to her, we can not waste time manually interrupting the widest range of data that we periodically need on the Internet. Logins, passwords, bank card numbers, name and surname, delivery address, codes from SMS and much more. We use this data almost every day. Therefore, it is logical to make the smartphone automatically substitute them when needed, instead of wasting time on manual dialing. But sometimes it’s better to turn off autocomplete.

Despite the fact that autocomplete is a rather unambiguous phenomenon, the essence of which is to automatically fill in the necessary information in the appropriate field, on Android it is divided into several constituent parts. That is, autocomplete usernames and passwords is one function, autocomplete codes from SMS is another, and autocomplete cards is a third. Let’s figure out how to disable each of these mechanisms.

Autocomplete passwords on Android

First, I suggest turning off password autocomplete :

• Go to Chrome and open “Settings”;
• Here open the “Passwords” tab;
• • Disable the Auto Login option;
  • For added security, disable “Save Passwords”.

  Now we can turn off autocomplete for bank cards :

  • Go to Chrome and open “Settings”;
  • Here, open the tab “Able to pay”;
  • Disable the item “Save and automatically substitute payment data”;
  • Delete previously saved maps if necessary.

On my own, I highly recommend disabling the autocomplete function of maps on sites, because in this case the sites will be able to independently verify your payment data even before you confirm their substitution. This can be dangerous, given that Chrome stores not only numbers, but also CVC codes that verify the payment. Despite the fact that many cards today also require entering a code from SMS to confirm transactions, it will be safer if you do not squander at least basic data.

Well, and finally, turn off autocomplete delivery addresses :

• Go to Chrome and open “Settings”;
• Open the “Addresses and other data” tab;
• Disable the item “Save and automatically substitute addresses”;
• Delete existing addresses if necessary.

But this is not the end of the autocomplete mechanism. We also know at least the function of automatic substitution of verifiers that usually come in SMS. Usually these codes confirm that some important action has been taken. For example, a money transfer, authorization in instant messengers, an online loan or points deduction when paying for a purchase in an online store. But the whole feature of Android is that there is no single tool for autocompleting such codes, and each developer deals with its implementation separately.

How to disable autocomplete codes from SMS on Android

That is, if the Tinkoff application or WhatsApp has an auto-complete function, they will be able to pull up the necessary codes from SMS. But there is no such thing so that you can enable or disable exactly that automatic data substitution. The only thing you can do is restrict the app’s access to SMS messages. There is only one way to do this:

• Go to “Settings” – “Applications”;
• Find in the list the application for which you want to disable automatic code substitution;
• Open the “Rights” section and find “SMS messages”;
• In the window that opens, select “Deny”.