About iCloud Private Relay

Note: iCloud Private Relay is not available in all countries or regions and is currently in beta in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15.

Normally when you browse the web, information contained in your web traffic, such as your DNS records and IP address, can be seen by your network provider and the websites you visit. This information could be used to determine your identity and build a profile of your location and browsing history over time. iCloud Private Relay is designed to protect your privacy by ensuring that when you browse the web in Safari, no single party—not even Apple—can see both who you are and what sites you're visiting.

When Private Relay is enabled, your requests are sent through two separate, secure internet relays. Your IP address is visible to your network provider and to the first relay, which is operated by Apple. Your DNS records are encrypted, so neither party can see the address of the website you’re trying to visit. The second relay, which is operated by a third-party content provider, generates a temporary IP address, decrypts the name of the website you requested and connects you to the site. All of this is done using the latest internet standards to maintain a high-performance browsing experience while protecting your privacy.

Protect your IP address and browsing activity in Safari by turning on Private Relay in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Private Relay. 

You can tap IP Address Location to choose a setting for your IP address.

• Maintain General Location allows sites to show you localized content in Safari, while your IP address stays hidden
• Use Country and Time Zone uses a broader location for your IP address, still within your country and time zone

Private Relay is designed to protect your internet privacy and have no impact on your browsing experience. However, some websites, networks, or services that rely on viewing your IP address or browsing activity may need to make updates for Private Relay.

• Some websites may need to make configuration updates to work with Private Relay. These sites might show content for the wrong region or require extra steps to sign in.
• Some networks or network-based services may not be compatible with Private Relay: for example, networks that require the ability to audit traffic or perform network-based filtering, such as business or education networks; and services that rely on viewing your browsing activity like parental controls or some “zero rated” services that don’t count against your data usage.
• Private Relay isn't available in all countries and regions. If you travel somewhere Private Relay isn't available, it will automatically turn off and will turn on again when you re-enter a country or region that supports it. Private Relay will notify you when it's unavailable and when it's active again.

If a website, network, or service you're using isn't compatible with Private Relay, you can temporarily turn off Private Relay in iCloud Settings. You can also turn off Private Relay just for a specific network. If you turn off Private Relay, network providers and websites can monitor your internet activity in Safari. 

You can turn off iCloud Private Relay in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Private Relay.

Turn off Private Relay just for a specific Wi-Fi network or cellular plan: For Wi-Fi, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, then tap the More Info button  next to the Wi-Fi network. Or for cellular networks, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options. If you turn off Private Relay for a specific network, the setting for that network applies to all your devices for which Private Relay is turned on.

If you’re a website owner or developer, network administrator, or app developer, learn how to provide the best possible experience for users of Private Relay on your network.