Privacy & Security

Lockdown Mode is an extreme protection feature for iPhone. Its protections include safer wireless connectivity defaults, media handling, media sharing defaults, sandboxing, and network security optimizations.

Lockdown Mode is optional and should be used only if you believe you might be targeted by a highly sophisticated cyberattack, such as by a private company developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware. When iPhone is in Lockdown Mode, apps, websites, and features are strictly limited for security.

Here’s how to harden your iPhone from a cyberattack with Lockdown Mode.

Important: Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.

When iPhone is in Lockdown Mode, it doesn’t function as it typically does. Apps, websites, and features are strictly limited for security, and some functionality isn’t available, including:

• SharePlay
• Shared Albums
• FaceTime Live Photos
• FaceTime Continuity Handoff

In addition, your iPhone must be unlocked to connect with wired accessories. (Some connections are permitted for a short time after going into Lockdown Mode.)

Turn on Lockdown Mode

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, then tap Turn On Lockdown Mode.

If you’ve set up an Apple Watch with your iPhone, the paired Apple Watch also gets Lockdown Mode when you turn it on. This requires watchOS 10 or later.

Important: For complete protection, all of your devices must have Lockdown Mode turned on.

Learn about Lockdown Mode

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, then tap Learn More.

Apps ask for permission the first time they want to use something on your iPhone. You can control which apps can access your data, location, camera, and microphone, and manage safety protections in Privacy & Security.

A messaging app, for example, might ask for your contacts to find friends who use the same app. It’s also where you control which apps can track you across websites or other apps. And you can review how apps are using the permissions you grant them.

Control which apps have access to information on your iPhone

To help you get things done more quickly, you can let third-party apps use information in your iPhone apps, such as Contacts, Photos, and Calendar. A messaging app might ask for access to your contacts, for instance, so it can find friends who are on the same app. And for any individual app, you can turn access on or off.

Control which apps can use the location of your iPhone

Apps with access to the location of your iPhone can help you receive assistance in an emergency, get directions, and more. A ride-sharing app, for example, may request your location so it can pick you up. You’ll see the Location Services icon in the status bar while an app is using Location Services.

Control which apps have access to the camera and microphone on your iPhone

Letting apps use the camera and microphone makes it easier to upload content directly to those apps. A social networking app may ask to use your camera, for instance, so you can take pictures and post them to that app. Whenever an app uses the camera, a green indicator appears, and that includes when the camera and microphone are used together.

Control which apps can track you or your iPhone across websites or other apps

Every app has to ask your permission before tracking you or your iPhone across websites or apps owned by other companies, such as for advertising or to share your information with data brokers. Once you’ve granted or denied permission to an app, you can change it later. And you can stop all apps from requesting permission altogether.

Review how apps are using the permissions you grant them

An App Privacy Report shows how apps are using the permissions you’ve granted them, plus their network activity.

All apps are required to ask your permission before tracking you or your iPhone across websites or apps owned by other companies for advertising or to share your information with data brokers. After you grant or deny permission to an app, you can change permission later.

You can also stop all apps from requesting permission, so they can’t even ask. The list in Tracking settings shows every app that has requested permission to track you.

Review or change an app’s permission to track you

1. Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, and then tap Tracking.

   The list shows the apps that requested permission to track you. You can turn permission on or off for any app on the list.

2. To stop all apps from asking permission to track you, turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track (at the top of the screen).

For more information about app tracking, tap “Learn more” near the top of the screen.

Before apps use the camera or microphone on your iPhone, they’re required to request your permission and explain why they’re asking. For example, a social networking app may ask to use your camera so that you can take and upload pictures to that app.

Apps are similarly required to request your permission to use various other hardware features, including Bluetooth® connectivity, motion and fitness sensors, and devices on your local network. You can review which apps have requested access to these hardware features, and you can change their access at your discretion.

Here’s how to control access to hardware features on iPhone.

Review or change access to the camera, microphone, and other hardware features

1. Open Settings and then tap Privacy & Security.
2. Tap a hardware feature, such as Camera, Bluetooth, Local Network, or Microphone.

   The list shows the apps that requested access. You can turn access on or off for any app on the list.

Note: Whenever an app uses the camera (including when the camera and microphone are used together), a green indicator appears. An orange indicator appears whenever an app uses the microphone without the camera. Also, a message appears at the top of Control Center to inform you when an app has recently used either.

You control whether iPhone and apps have information about your location. To figure out where you are when getting directions, setting up meetings, and more, Location Services uses information, when available, from GPS networks, your Bluetooth® connections, your local Wi-Fi networks, and your cellular network.

When you set up iPhone, you’re asked if you want to turn on Location Services, and you can turn it on or off at any time after that. When an app is using Location Services, the Location Services icon appears in the status bar.

The first time an app wants location data from your iPhone, you receive a request with an explanation. Some apps may make a one-time only request for your location, while others may ask you to share your location now and in the future. Whether you grant or deny ongoing access, you can change an app’s access later.

Turn on Location Services

If you didn’t turn on Location Services when you first set up iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, then turn on Location Services.

Important: If you turn off Location Services, many important iPhone features stop working.

View apps using your location information

1. Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, and then tap Location Services.
2. To review or change access settings for an app or to see its explanation for requesting Location Services, tap the app.

If you want an app to use your specific location, keep Precise Location turned on. Turn it off to share only your approximate location, which may be enough for an app that doesn’t need your exact location.

Note: Set an app’s access to Ask Next Time, and you’ll be asked to turn on Location Services again whenever an app next tries to use it.

Review a third-party app’s terms and privacy policy to understand how it uses the information it’s requesting.

Hide the map in Location Services alerts

Once an app has permission to always use your location in the background, you may get alerts about how the app is using that information, which let you change your permission if you want. The alerts include a map of locations the app accessed recently.

To hide the map, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Location Alerts, then turn off Show Map in Location Alerts.

If the setting is off, you’ll continue to receive location alerts, but the map isn’t shown.

Review or change Location Services settings for system services

Several system services rely on Location Services, including location-based suggestions and location-based ads.

To see the status for each service, to turn Location Services on or off for each service, or to show the Location Services icon in the status bar when enabled system services use your location, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services.

You control whether third-party apps have access to information in Contacts, Photos, Calendar, and other apps. The first time an app wants information from another app, it has to ask you and explain why, and you can change access later. You can also review how apps use the permissions you grant them.

Review or change access to information in apps

When an app first wants to use information from another app, you’ll get a request explaining why. A messaging app, for example, may request access to your contacts to find friends who use the same app. Whether you grant or deny access, you can change it later.

1. Open Settings and then tap Privacy & Security.
2. Tap a category of information, such as Calendars, Reminders, or Motion & Fitness.

   A list appears showing the apps that requested access. You can turn access on or off for any app on the list.

Review how apps are using the permissions you grant them

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security, then tap App Privacy Report.

To see how apps are using the permissions you granted them, and their network activity, check the App Privacy Report.

To turn off the report and delete its data, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report, then tap Turn Off App Privacy Report. You can return to this Settings screen to turn the report on again.