How Private Relay works
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.
iCloud Private Relay is not available in all countries or regions. Without access to your IP address, some websites may require extra steps to sign in or access content.
Turn on Private Relay on your iPhone or iPad
- Open the Settings app, then tap your name.
- Tap iCloud, then select Private Relay.
- To turn Private Relay on or off, tap Private Relay.
- To choose a setting for your IP address, tap IP Address Location.
- To let sites show you localized content in Safari while your IP address stays hidden, tap Maintain general location.
- To use a broader location for your IP address, still within your country and time zone, tap Use country and time zone.
You can turn off Private Relay temporarily by tapping Turn Off Until Tomorrow. When you do, Private Relay turns back on automatically within 24 hours.
Turn on Private Relay on your Mac
In macOS Ventura or later:
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click your name, then select iCloud.
- Scroll down and under iCloud+, click Private Relay.
- Click to turn Private Relay on or off.
- Choose a setting for your IP address:
- To let sites show you localized content in Safari while your IP address stays hidden, click Maintain General Location.
- To use a broader location for your IP address, still within your country and time zone, click Use Country and Time Zone.
You can turn off Private Relay temporarily by clicking Turn Off Until Tomorrow. When you do, Private Relay turns back on automatically within 24 hours.
In macOS Monterey:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
- Click Apple ID, then select iCloud.
- To turn on or off Private Relay, click the checkmark next to Private Relay.
- To choose a setting for your IP address, click Options:
- To let sites show you localized content in Safari while your IP address stays hidden, click Maintain general location.
- To use a broader location for your IP address, still within your country and time zone, click Use country and time zone.
If a website or network doesn't work with Private Relay
Private Relay is designed to protect your internet privacy and maintain a high-performance browsing experience. Some websites, networks, or services may need to make updates for Private Relay, including networks that require the ability to audit traffic or perform network-based filtering — such as business or education networks—or services that rely on viewing your browsing activity, like parental controls or some "zero rated" services that don’t count against your data usage.
In addition, if you travel somewhere that 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 you turn off Private Relay, network providers and websites can monitor your internet activity in Safari.
If a website doesn't work with Private Relay
If a website relies on IP filtering, monitoring, or rate-limiting, it might require your IP address to be visible. You can turn off Private Relay temporarily for that website only.
To temporarily allow a website to see your IP address:*
- iPhone or iPad: Tap the Page Settings button
, then tap Show IP Address. - Mac: In Safari, choose View > Reload and Show IP Address.
* If you don't see the option to temporarily allow a website to see your IP address, update your device to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, and try again.
If a network doesn't work with Private Relay
Private Relay can be turned on or off just for a specific network using the Limit IP Address Tracking setting.*
If Private Relay has been turned off for a specific network, you can try turning it back on in Wi-Fi, Cellular Data Options, or Network settings. If you regularly switch between multiple network configurations, such as Dual SIM or Wi-Fi and Ethernet, make sure that this setting is set for each network independently.
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.
* In earlier versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, this setting is called iCloud Private Relay.
Turn off Private Relay for a specific network on your iPhone or iPad
- Go to Settings, then tap Wi-Fi.
- Next to the Wi-Fi network, tap the More Info button
. - Scroll down and tap Limit IP Address Tracking.
Or for cellular networks, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options, and tap Limit IP Address Tracking.
Turn off Private Relay for a specific network on your Mac
In macOS Ventura or later:
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Network in the sidebar, then click the network service that you're using (such as Wi-Fi) on the right.
- Click the Details button
next to the name of the network that you're connected to. - Turn off "Limit IP address tracking."
In macOS Monterey:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
- Click Network and select the network from the list to see more options.
- Click the checkmark next to Limit IP Address Tracking.
If your system settings prevent Private Relay from working
In System Settings on your Mac, you might see an alert that says, "Some of your system settings prevent Private Relay from working." If you do, a third-party app — such as a VPN or internet filtering software — might have installed settings or extensions that are incompatible with Private Relay. For example, the third-party app might have installed a kernel extension or applied custom packet filter rules.
If you want to use Private Relay on your Mac, turn off or uninstall the third-party app.
Private Relay and network speed tests
Private Relay uses a single, secure connection to maintain privacy and performance. This design may impact how throughput is reflected in network speed tests that typically open several simultaneous connections to deliver the highest possible result. While some speed test measurements may appear lower when Private Relay is enabled, your actual browsing experience remains fast and private.
Additional resources for developers and network administrators
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.