Is your iPhone quietly tracking more about you than you realize? From AI features that share your data to photos that can reveal your exact location, there are several hidden settings you’ll want to review. The good news: it only takes a few minutes to lock things down and give yourself more control over what’s being shared. Here are the iPhone privacy settings every iPhone user should know about — and disable if you value your personal data.
1. Photo Location Data
Every photo you take on your iPhone contains hidden metadata, including the exact location where it was captured. Share that image, and you may unintentionally be giving away your home address, workplace, or your child’s school.
How to fix it:
- Open the Photos app, select a picture, tap Share → Options, then switch off Location before sending.
- To turn it off completely, head to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera, and set it to Never or disable Precise Location for more general data.
Check it here:
- Go to Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri.
- You can toggle Apple Intelligence off entirely, or just disable ChatGPT under Extensions.
- For more control, visit Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Intelligence & Siri, where you can block individual AI tools without turning off everything.
3. iPhone Analytics
By default, Apple asks you to share iPhone usage and location data to “improve their services.” While Apple claims this is anonymized, it’s still data leaving your device.
Disable it:
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements.
- Toggle off iPhone Analytics, iCloud Analytics, Siri & Dictation, and any other options you don’t want.
- Bonus: turning this off can also give you a small battery boost.
4. Apple Advertising
Apple runs its own ad system inside the App Store, News, and Stocks. Your activity is used to personalize ads, even if Apple says it doesn’t share that data externally.
Turn it off:
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising.
- Toggle off Personalized Ads.
- You’ll still see ads, but they’ll be generic instead of based on your app usage.
5. Location Services
Location tracking can be useful for maps or ride-sharing apps, but many apps don’t actually need it.
Tighten it up:
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services.
- Change most apps from Always to While Using the App (or Never if they don’t need your location at all).
- Scroll down to System Services and disable unnecessary background tracking like Product Improvement options.
6. Safety Check & Emergency Reset
This lesser-known iPhone feature was designed for personal safety but doubles as a powerful privacy tool.
Try it out:
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Safety Check.
- Emergency Reset stops location sharing, resets privacy permissions, and signs you out of iCloud on all devices — useful in urgent situations.
- Or use Manage Sharing & Access to review who has access to your data and apps.
7. Stop Apps From Tracking You
Those pop-ups asking if an app can “track your activity across other apps and websites”? You can block them all permanently.
Here’s how:
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
- Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track.
Now, apps won’t even be able to ask.
8. Safari Privacy
Your web browser can reveal a lot about you, so it’s worth tightening Safari’s privacy controls.
Recommended settings:
- Go to Settings → Safari → Privacy & Security.
- Enable Prevent Cross-Site Tracking.
- Set Hide IP Address to From Trackers.
- Switch on Fraudulent Website Warning to avoid scam sites.
- For a clean slate, head to Advanced → Website Data → Remove All Website Data.
In Conclusion
Between hidden photo metadata, Apple Intelligence, analytics sharing, targeted ads, and background location services, your iPhone may be sharing more than you’d like. The good news is, none of these adjustments take long — but together, they can significantly boost your privacy.
Take 10 minutes to go through these settings today. You’ll enjoy greater peace of mind knowing that your personal data stays exactly where it belongs: with you.