Turn Off Tracking Secria

How to turn off app tracking on iPhone

iPhone has two ad switches. Tracking decides whether apps can follow you across other companies' apps and websites. Personalized Ads decides how Apple targets its own ads.1, 2

Checked 28 October 2026 against the sources. App Tracking Transparency applies from iOS, iPadOS and tvOS 14.5.1

Turn them off

Turning off one leaves the other on, so do both.

App tracking

TrackingAllow Apps to Request to Track

Checked against Apple Support, published 19 December 2025.1

  1. Open Settings › Privacy & Security › Tracking.1On Apple TV: Settings › General, then Tracking under Privacy & Security.1
  2. Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track.You won't get tracking prompts, and every app that asks is treated as if you tapped Ask App Not to Track.1
  3. When asked, choose to ask all the apps you allowed before to stop tracking you.Or turn off apps one at a time from the list on the same screen.1

An app you ask not to track can't access the advertising identifier (IDFA), and isn't permitted to track you with other identifiers such as your email address. You can still use all of the app.1

Apple's own ads

Apple AdvertisingPersonalized Ads

Checked against Apple's Apple Advertising & Privacy notice.2

  1. Open Settings › Privacy & Security › Apple Advertising.2On a Mac: System Settings › Privacy & Security › Apple Advertising.2
  2. Turn off Personalized Ads.Tap View Ad Targeting Information on the same screen to see what Apple uses.2

Apple says this may not reduce the number of ads, but stops it using your information to personalize ads in the App Store, Apple News and Stocks. Apple Maps only shows contextual ads, so the switch doesn't change them.2

What counts as tracking

Covered by the Tracking switch

Apple defines tracking as linking information about you or your device from one app with information from other companies' apps, websites and places, for targeted ads or ad measurement, or sharing it with data brokers.1

The switch controls that linking.

An app's own data

For how a developer uses your data, Apple points to the app's product page in the App Store.1 Apple says its own ad platform doesn't track you in this sense.2

Check the app's privacy details there.

Questions people ask

Why is Allow Apps to Request to Track greyed out?

Apple lists child accounts and users under 18 by birth year, Apple Accounts managed by a school or business, devices with a profile that limits tracking, and Apple Accounts created in the last 3 days. In each case, apps can't access the advertising identifier.1

Why can't I find Personalized Ads?

Apple says it may be unavailable if you're a minor, have a managed account, or are somewhere Apple doesn't deliver ads in its apps.2

Does Ask App Not to Track stop the app working?

No. Apple says you can use the full capabilities of the app either way.1

Sources 2
  1. If an app asks to track your activity, Apple Support, published 19 December 2025. Read 28 October 2026.
  2. Apple Advertising & Privacy, Apple, undated. Read 28 October 2026.

Every step comes from Apple's own pages. How we check