How to Change Privacy Settings on iPhone (Step-by-Step)
Your iPhone ships with reasonable defaults, but "reasonable" is not the same as private. Apps quietly keep permissions you granted once, years ago, and several sharing options are switched on out of the box. This guide walks through the five settings that matter most — each takes under two minutes.
Quick answer
Open Settings → Privacy & Security. From there you control App Tracking, Location Services, and per-app access to your microphone, camera and photos. The two highest-impact changes: turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track" and audit which apps have "Always" location access.
1. Stop apps from tracking you
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
- Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track. Existing permissions are revoked and new apps can no longer even ask.
This is Apple's App Tracking Transparency switch — it blocks apps from following your activity across other companies' apps and websites for advertising.
2. Audit location access
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services.
- Scan the list. Anything set to Always deserves a hard look — most apps only need While Using the App.
- For social and shopping apps, also switch Precise Location off; they'll still work with an approximate location.
3. Review microphone and camera permissions
Still under Privacy & Security, open Microphone and then Camera. Remove access for any app you don't actively use for calls, video or photos. A green dot (camera) or orange dot (microphone) at the top of the screen tells you when either is live.
4. Limit what shows on the lock screen
Notifications can leak messages to anyone who picks up your phone. Go to Settings → Notifications → Show Previews and choose When Unlocked.
5. Turn off analytics sharing
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements and disable Share iPhone Analytics. This stops usage and diagnostic data leaving your device; nothing on the phone changes.
Troubleshooting
A setting is greyed out? Check Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions — a restriction (often from a family or work profile) may be locking it. An app keeps asking for a permission you denied? Delete and reinstall it, then deny on first launch.
Frequently asked questions
Does turning off tracking break my apps?
No. Apps work normally — they simply lose the ability to follow your activity across other apps and sites for ad targeting.
Should location be off completely?
Usually not. Maps, weather and Find My need it. Set most apps to "While Using the App" instead of disabling Location Services globally.
How often should I review these settings?
Every few months, and after every major iOS update — updates occasionally add new sharing options that default to on.