Network and connectivity
Limit IP Address Tracking
Most people call this hiding your IP address from trackers.
Known trackers are shown a relayed IP address instead of yours, so they cannot use it to work out your location or link your sessions.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 15 and later
- Settings
- Wi-Fi
- Network name
- Limit IP Address Tracking
What it does
It applies to Safari and to Mail, and works on both Wi-Fi and cellular. Ordinary sites still see your real address. Only domains identified as trackers are relayed.
What changes
When it is on
Trackers see a relayed address rather than yours.
When it is off
Every site and tracker sees your real IP address.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Removes one of the most durable cross site identifiers.
- No noticeable effect on browsing speed for most people.
Good reasons to turn it off
- A corporate network or content filter needs to see the real address.
- Some region locked services misread the relayed address.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
Helps
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: On.
What your iPhone needs
- Needs iOS 15 or later
Questions people actually ask
- Is this the same as a VPN?
- No. It relays only known trackers, not all traffic, and it does not change your apparent country for general browsing.
If it is not working
- It is set per network in Wi-Fi settings and separately for cellular.
- If a streaming service says you are in the wrong country, this or iCloud Private Relay is the likely cause.