iPhone privacy settings: the ones worth changing (a soft guide)
iPhones have a good reputation for privacy, and they earn a lot of it. But the strongest settings are not all switched on by default, and a few are worth changing yourself. Here are the ones that make a real difference, one calm step at a time.
A quick note: Apple moves things around between iOS versions. In recent versions, some app settings live under Settings > Apps. If a path below doesn’t match exactly, search the Settings app for the key word.
Location Services
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
- Tap through your apps and set each to While Using the App rather than Always. Most have no reason to track you in the background.
- Turn off Precise Location for apps that only need a rough area.
- Scroll to System Services > Significant Locations. This is a private log of places you visit often. You can turn it off and clear the history.
Stop apps tracking you across the web
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track. This tells every app, in one move, that it cannot follow you across other apps and websites for advertising.
While you’re there, open Apple Advertising and turn off Personalised Ads.
Safari
In Safari’s settings, switch on Prevent Cross-Site Tracking and Hide IP Address (from trackers). These stop the invisible tags that follow you from site to site.
If you use the Apple Mail app, turn on Protect Mail Activity. This hides your IP address and stops senders knowing exactly when and where you opened their email.
If you only do three things: turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track", set app locations to "While Using", and switch on Safari's cross-site tracking protection.
Two more, for peace of mind
- Under Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements, you can turn off sharing analytics with Apple and app developers.
- If you are someone who could be deliberately targeted, such as a journalist or someone leaving an abusive situation, look into Lockdown Mode. It is a strong, optional protection most people will not need, but it is there.
Keep Find My on and automatic updates turned on, since security updates close the gaps that matter.
On Android as well, or someone in the family is? See our Android privacy guide, and for the wider view read our simple guide to protecting your privacy online. More in our privacy section.