Apple markets the iPhone as the privacy-friendly smartphone, and relative to the competition, it is. But the default settings still share more data than most people realize. These five changes take a few minutes and make a real difference.
1. Lock down location services
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and review every app in the list.
- Set most apps to "While Using" instead of "Always." Very few apps need your location in the background.
- For apps that do not need location at all (games, calculators, note apps), set them to "Never."
- Disable "Precise Location" for apps that only need your general area (weather, news, delivery).
- Scroll to the bottom and review System Services. Disable "iPhone Analytics," "Routing & Traffic," and "Improve Maps" unless you specifically want to share this data with Apple.
2. Disable app tracking
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking.
- Turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track." This blanket-denies all tracking requests without even showing you the prompt.
- When this is disabled, apps are told not to track you across other companies' apps and websites. Not all apps comply, but most do because Apple enforces the policy at the App Store level.
This single toggle is one of the most impactful privacy settings on any smartphone. Facebook estimated that this feature alone cost them $10 billion in ad revenue in 2022, which tells you how much data it was preventing them from collecting.
3. Harden Safari privacy
Go to Settings > Apps > Safari.
- Enable "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking." This blocks third-party cookies that track you across websites.
- Enable "Hide IP Address" from trackers (and from websites if you want more privacy).
- Set "Fraudulent Website Warning" to on.
- Under "Advanced," consider enabling "Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection" in all browsing (not just private).
4. Review Siri and search data
Go to Settings > Siri (or Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri on iOS 18+).
- If you do not use Siri, turn it off entirely. Siri processes audio data that is occasionally reviewed by Apple contractors.
- If you use Siri, go to Siri & Search History and delete your history periodically.
- Disable "Listen for" wake words if you do not want the microphone passively listening.
- Review which apps can show suggestions in Search and disable any that do not add value.
5. Know about Lockdown Mode
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode.
Lockdown Mode is not for everyone, but you should know it exists. It is designed for people who face serious, targeted threats (journalists, activists, executives). When enabled, it:
- Blocks most message attachment types
- Disables link previews in Messages
- Blocks incoming FaceTime calls from unknown numbers
- Restricts web browsing features that can be exploited
- Blocks wired connections to computers when the phone is locked
- Prevents configuration profiles from being installed
For most people, the first four settings above are sufficient. But if you are in a situation where you might be targeted by sophisticated attackers or spyware, Lockdown Mode provides a meaningful additional layer of protection.
Bonus: Check your app privacy reports
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report. This shows you which apps have accessed your location, camera, microphone, contacts, and photos in the last seven days, and which domains they have contacted. Review this periodically to spot apps that are reaching out to trackers or accessing sensors they should not need.