3 ways to stop iPhone apps from tracking you right now - it's easy

5 hours ago 1

3 ways to stop iPhone apps from tracking you today - it's easy

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ZDNET's key takeaways

iOS lets you block tracking on apps and websites in a few taps.
Turning off tracking stops targeted ads without breaking apps.
App Tracking Transparency puts you in control of your data.

When you open an iPhone app, you have probably seen a pop-up asking for permission to track you. I have always wondered who taps Allow, because if you care even a little about privacy, app tracking is one of the first iOS settings you should want to shut down.

Almost every app wants to follow what you do across other apps and sites, so it can sell that data to advertisers. That kind of tracking may be legal and common, but you do not have to accept it. Apple's App Tracking Transparency feature puts you in control by blocking access to your advertising identifier and preventing companies from linking your activity.

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In short, it gives you the final say. But beyond that pop-up I mentioned above, there are other fast ways to shut down app tracking on your iPhone for new apps, all apps, and apps you have already downloaded. Let's be honest: we're targeted all day, every day, by companies trying to sell us more stuff. So why not use one simple feature to block that on your iPhone? You will still see ads, of course, but they will be generic instead of scary specific.

How to block apps from tracking you on iPhone

What you'll need: You just need an iPhone, and for this guide, I am running iOS 26.2. App Tracking Transparency has been around since 2021 when it arrived with the release of iOS 14.5, so any newer iPhone can follow the steps below.

When a newly installed app wants to track you, Apple requires it to ask for permission to track your activity across other apps and websites, including sharing data with advertisers or data brokers. You will see this as a prompt the first time you open the app. Don't tap "allow" just to quickly dismiss it.

How to block tracking on newly installed iPhone apps:

Download an app from the App Store.
Open the app for the first time.
When the tracking prompt appears, tap Ask App Not to Track.
Continue using the app as normal.

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Once you tap Ask App Not to Track, the app is denied access to your advertising identifier and cannot track you. The app will still work, and you will still see ads, but they will not be targeted to your activity.

Stop tracking when you install a new iPhone app

If you never want to see a tracking prompt again, Apple lets you shut off tracking requests systemwide in iOS. This is the fastest way to lock everything down in one step. When the setting is off, apps are automatically told you do not allow tracking, so they never even get the chance to ask you. Perfect.

How to disable app tracking for all iPhone apps:

Open the Settings app.
Tap Privacy and Security.
Tap Tracking.
Toggle off Allow Apps to Request to Track.
Select Ask Apps to Stop Tracking.

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Once off, any new app that tries to request tracking permission will be automatically denied and prevented from prompting you. Apps you previously allowed to track you will have their tracking permissions revoked as well.

Stop tracking across all iPhone apps at once

If you did not turn off tracking requests for all apps in step two above, that's OK. You can still manually review and change tracking permissions at any time for apps you've already downloaded. Apple keeps a full list of apps that have requested tracking in the past with their current permission status.

How to manage tracking on a per-app basis:

Open the Settings app.
Tap Privacy and Security.
Tap Tracking.
Review the list of apps.
Toggle off any app you do not want tracking you.

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Changes should take effect immediately, but you can always restart your iPhone to be sure.

Stop tracking in already-downloaded iPhone apps

What is Apple's App Tracking Transparency feature?

Apple's App Tracking Transparency feature forces apps to ask before tracking you across other apps and websites.

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When you say no to app tracking, you cut off access to your advertising identifier, which is what advertisers and data brokers use to link your activity, build profiles about you, and trade that data for targeted ads. Apps can still collect information you choose to share with them, but they can no longer follow you across apps or turn that behavior into a larger advertising profile.

Will I still see ads if I block tracking?

Yes. Ads will not disappear completely across your iPhone. They will simply stop being personalized, or targeted, to you if you have fully disabled tracking across all your apps.