last updated: 2025-12-14 license: CC0 for iOS 26.2 🟢 denotes a setting that was recently added 🔴 denotes a setting that was recently removed 🪪 denotes a change primarily related to privacy 🛡️ denotes a change primarily related to security ⛓️‍💥 denotes a change primarily related to freedom 👌 denotes a change primarily related to usability 🔋 denotes a change primarily related to battery life 🤠 denotes a change that should be considered Hardware iPhone 17 or newer due to MTEv4 (aka EMTE) support https://security.apple.com/blog/memory-integrity-enforcement/ Case: get an OtterBox Defender Settings Apple Account Sign-In & Security Automatic Verification: disabled 🪪 Media & Purchases View Account Personalized Recommendations: disabled 🪪 Allow Friends to Find You: disabled 🪪 Contact Key Verification Verification in iMessage: enabled 🛡️ Wi-Fi [Each Saved Network] Private Wi-Fi Address: Rotating 🪪 Limit IP Address Tracking: enabled 🪪 Ask to Join Networks: disabled 👌🔴 Auto-Join Hotspot: never 👌 Cellular Cellular Data Options Voice & Data: LTE 🔋 Data Mode: Low Data Mode 👌 Limit IP Address Tracking: enabled 🪪 Wi-Fi Assist: disabled 👌 iCloud Drive: disabled 👌 iCloud Backup: disabled 👌 Enable Cellular Usage Statistics: enabled 👌 Personal Hotspot Allow Others to Join: disabled 🪪 Battery Battery Health & Charging Optimized Battery Charging: enabled 🔋 Battery Percentage: enabled 👌 General Software Update Automatic Updates Automatically Install: enabled 🛡️🟢 iOS Updates: enabled 🛡️🔴 Security Responses & System Files: enabled 🛡️🔴 AirDrop Receiving Off: enabled 🪪 Use Cellular Data: disabled 👌 AirPlay & Continuity Automatically AirPlay: never 🪪 Transfer to HomePod: disabled 🪪 Handoff: disabled 🪪 Continuity Camera: disabled 🪪 AirPlay Receiver: disabled 🪪 Accessibility Display & Text Size On/Off Labels: enabled 👌 Reduce Transparency: enabled 👌 Increase Contrast: enabled 👌 Differentiate Without Color: enabled 👌 Touch Tap to Wake: disabled 👌 Shake to Undo: disabled 👌 Display & Brightness Automatic: enabled 👌 True Tone: enabled 👌 Night Shift: disabled 👌 Auto-Lock: 30 seconds 🛡️ Raise to Wake: disabled 👌 Home Screen & App Library App Library Only: enabled 👌 Search Help Appple Improve Search: disabled 🪪 Siri Allow Siri When Locked: disabled 🪪 StandBy StandBy: disabled 👌 Notifications Display As: List 👌 Show Previews: When Unlocked 🪪 Sounds & Haptics Lock Sound: disabled 👌 Face ID & Passcode Require Attention for Face ID: enabled 🛡️ Attention Aware Features: enabled 🛡️ Stolen Device Protection: enabled 🛡️ Security Delay: always 🛡️ Allow Access When Locked 🪪 Today View and Search: disabled Notification Center: disabled Control Center: disabled Lock Screen Widgets: disabled Live Activities: disabled Siri: disabled Reply with Message: disabled Home Control: disabled Wallet: disabled Return Missed Calls: disabled Accessories: disabled 🔴 Workout Health Data: disabled 🟢 Erase Data: enabled 🛡️ Privacy & Security Location Services System Services iPhone Analytics: disabled 🪪 Routing & Traffic: disabled 🪪 Improve Maps: disabled 🪪 Tracking Allow Apps to Request to Track: disabled 🪪 Research Sensor & Usage Data Sensor & Usage Data Collection: disabled 🪪 Journaling Suggestions Prioritize Moments with Contacts: disabled 🪪 Analytics & Improvements Share iPhone Analytics: disabled 🪪 Share iCloud Analytics: disabled 🪪 Improve Siri & Dictation: disabled 🪪 Improve Assistive Voice Features: disabled 🪪 Improve AR Location Accuracy: disabled 🪪 Apple Advertising Personalized Ads: disabled 🪪 App Privacy Report: enabled 👌 Wired Accessories: Always Ask 🛡️🟢 Background Security Improvements Automatically Install: enabled 🛡️🟢 Lockdown Mode: enabled 🛡️ 2G Cellular Connectivity: disabled 🛡️🔴 2G/3G Cellular Connectivity: disabled 🛡️🟢 iCloud Saved to iCloud Passwords and Keychain: disabled ⛓️‍💥 iCloud Backup Back Up This iPhone: enabled 👌 Back Up Over Cellular: disabled 👌 Private Relay: enabled 🪪 IP Address Location: Use country and time zone 🪪 note: requires iCloud subscription Advanced Data Protection: enabled 🛡️ note: if you don't make at least one backup first with ADP disabled, it will fail forever Access iCloud Data on the Web: disabled 🛡️ Apps App Store App Downloads: disabled 👌 App Updates: enabled 🛡️ Cellular Automatic Downloads: disabled 👌 In-App Ratings & Reviews: disabled 👌 Contacts Share Name and Photo: disabled 🪪 Facetime Reached at email: disabled 🪪 Share Name and Photo: disabled 🪪 FaceTime Spam: enabled 👌🟢 Fitness Use All Data for Personalization: disabled 🪪 Mail Privacy Protection Protect Mail Activity: enabled 🪪 Add Link Previews: disabled 🪪 Load Remote Images: disabled 🛡️ Maps Share ETA: disabled 🪪 Ratings and Photos: disabled 🪪 Show Ratings and Photos: disabled 🪪 Allow Photo Providers to Use Your Photos: disabled 🪪 Messages Send & Receive: email disabled 🪪 Share Name and Photo: disabled 🪪 Filter Spam: enabled 👌🟢 Music Audio Quality Cellular Streaming: High Efficiency 👌 Song Transitions Song Transitions: disabled 👌🟢 Download over Cellular: disabled 👌 Discoverable by Nearby Contacts: disabled 🪪 News Background App Refresh: disabled 👌 Cellular Data: disabled 👌 Game Center: disabled 👌 Onion Browser Allow Cross-Website Tracking: disabled 🪪 Phone Call Blocking & Identification Business Connect ID: enabled 👌 Photos Cellular Data: disabled 👌 Enhanced Visual Search: disabled 🪪 Safari Private Search Engine: DuckDuckGo 🪪 Preload Top Hit: disabled 🪪 Block Pop-ups: enabled 👌 Extensions uBlock Origin Lite 🪪 Allow Extension: enabled Allow in Private Browsing: enabled Settings Settings Default filtering mode: Complete Filter lists Enable all except regional All Websites: Allow Prevent Cross-Site Tracking: enabled 🪪 Hide IP Address: Trackers and Websites 🪪 Fraudulent Website Warning: enabled 🛡️ Not Secure Connection Warning: enabled 🛡️ Advanced Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection: All Browsing 🪪 Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement: disabled 🪪 Check for Apple Pay: disabled 👌 Shortcuts Private Sharing: disabled 🪪 Translate On-Device Mode: disabled 👌 TV Use Cellular Data: disabled 👌 Wallet Apple Cash: disabled ⛓️‍💥 Pay Later: disabled ⛓️‍💥 Rewards: disabled 🪪 Other Pay Later Options: disabled ⛓️‍💥 Music Profile on top right Contacts on Apple Music: disabled 🪪 Allow Finding by Apple Account: disabled 🪪 ---- Apps that are recommended: FreeOTP, software TOTP: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/freeotp-authenticator/id872559395 Monal, XMPP client: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/monal-xmpp-chat/id317711500 Mullvad, VPN: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mullvad-vpn/id1488466513 Signal, messenger: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/signal-private-messenger/id874139669 uBlock Origin Lite: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ublock-origin-lite/id6745342698 note: doesn't work after reboot: https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=298199 note: only applies to Safari, not other app WebViews like AdGuard does Yubico Authenticator, hardware TOTP: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yubico-authenticator/id1476679808 Apps that are not recommended: AdBlock Plus: use uBlock Origin Onion Browser: has many leaks, avoid Orbot: has many leaks, avoid