10 iPhone Settings You Should Enable “Immediately” to Protect Your Data

Apple has equipped iPhones with a variety of features designed to help protect data and maintain user privacy.

Here are 10 essential iPhone features you should activate to enhance your data privacy:

1- Lock or Hide Apps
Locking or hiding apps provides users with peace of mind by preventing others from accidentally viewing sensitive content when sharing their screen or handing over their device. It also protects app content from being displayed and prevents unauthorized access.

2- Sharing Specific Contacts
With iOS 18 improvements, users can now control which contacts are shared with a particular app, rather than granting access to their entire contact list.

3- Locking Safari Windows
When using private browsing, Safari does not remember visited pages, search history, or autofill information. Now, private browsing windows can be locked by default, allowing users to keep tabs open and easily return to them using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.

4- Link Tracking Protection
This feature removes unnecessary tracking tools attached to URLs in messages, emails, and private browsing in Safari, enhancing user privacy.

5- Security Check
If personal safety is at risk, users can use the Security Check feature to quickly stop sharing their information or review and update sharing settings with specific people and apps.

6- App Privacy Report
Users can see details on how often apps have accessed their data, such as location, camera, or microphone, through the App Privacy Report feature.

7- Hide My Email
This feature, part of iCloud+, allows users to create unique, random email addresses for use with apps, websites, and more, keeping their personal email address private.

8- Approximate Location
Users can choose whether apps see their approximate location instead of their precise location, providing necessary information without oversharing.

9- Recording Indicators
An orange dot appears when an app is using the iPhone’s microphone, and a green dot appears when the camera is in use, keeping users informed about active recordings.

10- Private Relay via iCloud
As part of iCloud+, this feature ensures that when users browse the web in Safari, neither Apple nor anyone else can see their identity or the websites they visit.