Google uses your location, microphone, bluetooth, speaker, and Wi-Fi information when you search for nearby players. Any other player who is searching for nearby players of the same game can find you. Learn more about how Nearby accesses players near by.
Nearby Players may temporarily turn on the following technologies (even if they are turned off) to broadcast and detect presence information:
- Audio: Nearby Players may cause your device to emit an audio token to broadcast presence information and/or turn on your device's microphone to detect this token. Your device may record a short buffer of ambient audio as well. Audio won't be sent to Google's servers; the token detection occurs on your device. You should not use Nearby Players in any situation where recording audio is prohibited.
- Bluetooth (including Bluetooth Low Energy): Nearby Players may use your device's Bluetooth information to broadcast a unique token and/or to scan for nearby devices to detect this token and/or other Bluetooth devices. It may:
- temporarily turn on your Bluetooth, even if you have it off.
- temporarily change your device's Bluetooth name.
- scan for nearby access points and send scan information to Google.
- Wi-Fi (including Wi-Fi Direct): Nearby Players may use your device's Wi-Fi information to broadcast a unique token and/or to scan for nearby devices to detect this token and/or other Wi-Fi devices. It may:
- temporarily turn on your Wi-Fi, even if you have it off.
- temporarily change your device's network (SSID) name (Wi-Fi Direct and/or portable Wi-Fi hotspot/tethering access point).
- scan for nearby access points and send scan information to Google.