Third-Party Apps Connected to Your Accounts
Quizzes, games, sign-in buttons and tools you connected years ago may still have access to your accounts. How to find third-party apps with access and remove the ones you do not need.
Over the years, you have probably clicked "Continue with Facebook" or "Allow access" dozens of times: for quizzes, games, photo editors, calendars, fitness apps and online shops. Many of those connections are still active, and some can read your data or act on your behalf. Reviewing them takes a few minutes and closes doors you forgot were open.
Why connected apps matter
- Data access: some apps can read your profile, contacts, email, files or posts.
- Lasting access: some keep access even after you change your password.
- Abandoned apps: small apps may be sold, hacked or shut down, leaving your data exposed.
- Malicious apps: some "tools" exist to harvest data or send spam from your account.
Where to find them
| Account | Where to look (names vary) |
|---|---|
| Security, then third-party apps and services, or the Privacy Checkup | |
| Apple | Apple ID settings, then Sign in with Apple |
| Microsoft | Account privacy or apps and services with access |
| Facebook and Instagram | Settings, then Apps and websites, or the Accounts Center |
| X, TikTok, LinkedIn | Settings, then Security, then Connected apps or Apps and sessions |
What to remove
- Anything you do not recognise.
- Apps and games you no longer use.
- Quizzes and "fun" apps with access to your profile or friends.
- Apps with more access than they need, such as a game that can read your email.
After a hack, always check connected apps. A malicious app or connection can keep access alive after you change your password.
Good habits
- Read the permissions screen before clicking "Allow".
- Prefer apps from reputable developers.
- Avoid quizzes that ask for account access. See social media quizzes.
- Review connected apps every few months.
Got a request to "authorise" an app you do not remember? Deny it, and paste any related message into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
Connected apps are part of securing your social accounts. For more, read our guide to account takeover and identity protection.
Frequently asked questions
What are connected apps?
Apps and websites you allowed to access your account, often through 'Sign in with Google, Facebook or Apple' or by granting permissions to read your data.
Is 'Sign in with Google' or 'Sign in with Facebook' safe?
It can be convenient and reasonably safe with reputable services. Review what each app can access, and remove ones you no longer use.
Can a connected app keep access after I change my password?
Yes, some can, until you remove their access. That is why reviewing connected apps is part of recovering a hacked account.
Sources
- Privacy Checkup, Google
- How Websites and Apps Collect and Use Your Information, US Federal Trade Commission
- Social media: how to use it safely, UK National Cyber Security Centre
