How to scan for harmful apps with Play Protect on a Google Pixel

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.260905.009)

App

Play Store

Path

Play Store › Profile picture › Play Protect

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Play Protect

   Open the Play Store and tap your profile picture. Tap Play Protect.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Scan

   Ours said No harmful apps found, Play Protect scanned yesterday. Tap Scan.

   Done

3. 

   Read the result

   After the scan: No harmful apps found, scanned moments ago. Recently scanned apps lists what it checked (Apps scanned moments ago).

   Done

4. 

   Check scanning is on

   Tap the gear at the top right. Play Protect settings has Scan apps with Play Protect and Improve harmful app detection. Both were on on ours.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Play Protect in the menu? It is in the Play Store profile menu, not in Settings.
• Want it to scan on its own? Scan apps with Play Protect, in the gear settings, does that. It was on on ours. Source: Use Google Play Protect to help keep your apps safe & your data private

If this does not work

• Play Protect not scanning? Open the gear settings and check Scan apps with Play Protect is on. Source: Use Google Play Protect to help keep your apps safe & your data private
• Play Protect found a harmful app? Google says Play Protect may remove or deactivate it and will tell you. Source: Use Google Play Protect to help keep your apps safe & your data private
• App removed by Play Protect? Google says you will usually get a notification that it was removed. Source: Use Google Play Protect to help keep your apps safe & your data private

About this guide

Play Protect scans apps on its own, but you can run a scan at any time.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.260905.009), in Dark mode. We ran one scan.

Good to know

Update your apps too: how to update a Pixel and its apps.

In short: Play Store, profile picture, Play Protect, Scan.