What Privacy Settings to Change on Your iPhone in 2025: A Step-by-Step Guide

In this day and age of technology, more and more devices are getting smarter (but also getting better at data collection). One device that knows so much about you, more than your family or therapist, is your iPhone.

The iPhone settings you should change are Safari pop-ups, cross-site tracking, location services, app Tracking, Apple advertising, iPhone analytics, two-factor authentication, Find My iPhone, iCloud Private Relay, Siri data collection, and automatic updates.

It’s no secret that Apple’s iPhones are among the most secure consumer devices out there (thanks to their use of end-to-end encryption, secure enclave chip, and sandboxing). It’s secure… not until you turn off some settings, or give every app the permission to collect your data or track your location.

First, why is it so important that you tweak the privacy settings on your iPhone? We’re not trying to scare you, but there are MANY serious risks:

• Reason No. 1: There are so many data-hungry companies. This includes app developers, data brokers, and even Apple itself. Every time your iPhone settings are not optimized, these companies are eating well.
  
• Reason No. 2: Exposure to scams. Scammers are everywhere. They’re thriving. According to a report, 1 in 3 Americans fell victim to scams in 2024. The settings on your iPhone can impact how vulnerable you are to scams like phishing and call scams.
  
• Reason No. 3: Big companies can get hacked. Those companies that collect data through your iPhone can be attacked, putting your information at risk of being sold on the dark web.
  
• Reason No. 4: You can get hacked. Unless you lock your phone down and utilize every security setting, hackers will find a way to break into your iPhone. Watch out for attacks like shady AirDrop requests and rogue Wi-Fi networks.

You already know how important it is to optimize your iPhone’s settings. The question now is what and how. Below are the iPhone settings you should change:

If you want to stop sites from tracking you across other websites, or shady ads from following you like a ghost while browsing on Safari, you should block pop-ups and cross-site tracking.

Here's how to fix it:

• Cross-Site Tracking
  • Open Safari
  • Go to Settings
  • Go to Privacy
  • Turn on “Prevent Cross-Site Tracking”
    
• Pop-Up Blocking
  • Open Safari
  • Go to Settings
  • Go to Websites
  • Click “Pop-up Windows.”
  • Choose either “Block” or “Block and Notify.”

It’s helpful to let the people you love know where you’re at. But you don’t need every app or company knowing you’re at Chipotle at 1 a.m., somewhere in Ohio. Next thing you know, you’re getting a lot of ads for Chipotle burritos or guacamole.

Here’s how to fix:

• Open iPhone settings
• Find “Privacy & Security”
• Select “Location Services”
• Turn off “Location Services”
  • Manage Individual Apps
  • Scroll down to the list of apps
  • Tap an app
  • Select location access, either “Always,” “While Using the App,” or “Ask Next Time”

Your iPhone apps can also stalk you across other apps and websites. This can result in creepy algorithms. For example, Instagram can know you just searched for a “Dr Pepper Candle” or “personalized cardboard cutout.”

Here’s how to fix this:

• Go to iPhone Settings
• Select Privacy & Security
• Navigate to Tracking
• Turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track”

Ads are just so annoying. And while Apple claims it keeps ads private, it’s still ideal that you limit what Apple uses. You don’t want your iPhone knowing every little thing about you and targeting you with ads based on your personality.

Here’s how to fix this:

• Open Settings
• Go to Privacy & Security
• Scroll down and select “Apple Advertising”
• Turn off “Personalized Ads”

While your iPhone logs can help Apple improve its products and services, it shouldn’t be at the expense of your privacy.

Here’s how to fix:

• Open Settings
• Go to Privacy & Security
• Select Analytics & Improvements
• Turn off “Share iPhone Analytics.”

Remember that hackers can crack weak passwords like “12345” or “qwerty” in less than a minute. That’s why you should turn on two-factor authentication.

Here’s how:

• Open Settings
• Go to Apple Accounts
• Find “Sign-In & Security
• Tap “Turn On Two-Factor Authentication.”
• Tap “Continue,” and then follow the instructions
• Enter a trusted phone number
• Verify the code

It’s ideal to turn on the Find My iPhone feature so that you’ll have better chances of recovery in case someone steals your phone.

Here’s how to turn it on:

• Open Settings
• Tap “Your Name” at the top of the settings
• Click “Find My”
• Turn on “Find My iPhone.”

The iCloud Private Relay helps mask your IP address so that websites can’t track or profile you. You should definitely use this.

Here’s how to turn it on:

• Open Settings
• Tap your Apple ID Username
• Select iCloud
• Scroll down to find “Private Relay.”
• Turn it on

The thing you say to Siri can also be collected and stored by Apple. So, you need to tell Siri, “ZIP IT!”

Here’s how to fix this:

• Open Settings
• Go to “Privacy & Security”
• Click “Analytics & Improvements”
• Find “Improve Siri and Dictation” and turn it off

Keeping your iPhone up to date with security patches fixes vulnerabilities. This makes it harder for hackers to break in.

Here’s how to turn on automatic updates:

• Open Settings
• Scroll down to “General”
• Click “Software Update”
• Turn on “Automatic Updates”
• Scroll down and enable “Automatically Install” and “Automatically Download”

Think about it, privacy is like flossing. You ignore it, and for some, it’s annoying. But it’s still important if you want to keep your stuff safe.

So, take 10 to 15 minutes. Make tweaks to the iPhone privacy settings we shared in this blog. Don’t listen to anyone calling you paranoid. You’re just being proactive and doing the right things to make sure our iPhone is not spying on you.

What Privacy setting should I turn off on Facebook?

For Facebook security, you should turn off public search so that your profile won't show on Google search. Also, set the audience to “Just Friends” to ensure that only people you trust can see what you post. Lastly, disable data sharing with friends’ apps to keep your data.

What are the best ways to keep your Facebook secure?

You can protect yourself on Facebook by setting up two-factor authentication, which will prevent unauthorized access. Also, never accept friend requests from people you don’t know. They could be scammers waiting for you to take the bait.