Additional safety steps
Most personal safety issues relate to sharing and access. For guided help managing these, use either:
Safety Check: On your iPhone with iOS 16 or later, go to Settings
> Privacy & Security > Safety Check, or see Safety Check.Checklists: For an older iOS or other devices, see the following checklists: Limit Access, Stop sharing, or Manage location.
Some things can’t be reviewed or changed using Safety Check or checklists. To further limit sharing, consider taking the additional steps below.
IMPORTANT: Before making changes or deleting information, consider potential impacts to your safety and privacy.
Non-Apple steps
Non-Apple apps
Apps installed on your device may gather information about your general location. Taking into account any potential impacts to your safety and privacy, you may want to review installed apps and delete the ones you don’t use or recognize. See Review and delete apps and Third-party app settings.
Non-Apple accounts and passwords
Protect sensitive personal information in accounts like banking, shopping, email, social media, education:
Change account passwords.
Review security and privacy settings.
Review communications accounts (email, phone, messaging) to make sure nothing is being forwarded without your permission.
Social media, shopping, and other accounts
Posting photos and other personal information on social media, shopping, or other websites can reveal details about your location and personal life. Be sure you:
Check the privacy and security settings in your social media, shopping, and other web based accounts
Review your lists of connections and followers
Think carefully about what you post to attain the level of privacy you need
Manage location metadata in Photos
Other devices you own or use
Check sharing and access settings for any other devices you use to help secure your information. To learn how, see the Limit device and account access checklist. If anyone else is with you, like a child or friend, be aware that their devices may also be sharing information.
Cellular plan
If you’re part of a shared cellular plan, other members of the plan may have access to your location, call and messaging activity, or billing details. Contact your carrier to learn more about your plan and to see what additional safety measures can be placed on your account, such as an access PIN or security code, before changes can be made.
If you don’t have a shared plan but someone else has online access to your cellular plan account, they may also have access to your location, call and messaging activity, or billing details. Taking into account any potential impacts to your safety and privacy, you may want to consider updating your the passwords, pins, and any other security features associated with your cellular plan.
Apple-related steps
Unwanted tracking
Consider enabling notifications to detect unwanted trackers (like AirTag or other Find My network accessories). To receive alerts if one of these is moving with you, turn on:
Bluetooth
Location Services
Tracking Notifications (open the Find My app, tap Me, scroll to Customize Tracking Notifications, then turn on Allow Notifications)
Home and HomeKit
If you’re a member of an Apple home and decide to remove yourself, consider that the person who manages the home can still use HomeKit accessories, like cameras, that could impact your personal safety.
See Securely control your Home accessories.
Apple Wallet
If you share financial cards or access keys with someone in Apple Wallet, the person you’re sharing with may be able to view your purchase history or when you unlocked your door.
Details of financial transactions may also be viewed through shared bank accounts and shared credit cards, or if someone else has online access to your financial accounts. To review your recent transactions and logs, open Apple Wallet. Taking into account any potential impacts to your safety and privacy, you may want to consider updating the passwords associated with your bank and credit cards.
Family Sharing
If you’re a member of an Apple Family Sharing group, the Family Sharing organizer may be able to see the purchases you’ve made and make changes to a child’s device settings. To leave a family group, go to Settings, tap your name, and open Family Sharing settings. Although you can’t remove a child account from a Family Sharing group, you can move the child account to another Family Sharing group or simply delete its Apple Account.
See Manage Family Sharing settings.
Note: To see if you’re part of a Family Sharing group, go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing tab. If you see family members names, you’re in a Family Sharing group.