IPHONE
How to stop apps from tracking you on iPhone
In short
On iOS 27.2, open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Data Linking Across Companies, and switch off Allow Apps to Request to Link Your Activity Across Companies. New requests are then denied automatically. Before iOS 27.2 the row is called Tracking.
Apple requires every app to ask your permission before it tracks you across other companies' apps and websites for advertising. One switch stops all apps from asking.
3 of 3 steps show a real screenshot from our iPhone 17e.
What changed: the screenshots are now our own iPhone 17e on iOS 27.2, dark mode, where Tracking is called Data Linking Across Companies; the iOS 27.0.1 version of this guide is kept with its own screenshots.
Steps
- 1
Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security
Scroll down the Settings list to the blue hand icon and tap Privacy & Security. The page opens with this header, above Location Services.
- 2
Tap Data Linking Across Companies (Tracking before iOS 27.2)
On iOS 27.2 it is the second row, under Location Services, with a blue icon. On our iPhone 17e it showed 0.
- 3
Switch off the Allow Apps to Request switch at the top
On iOS 27.2 it reads Allow Apps to Request to Link Your Activity Across Companies. The note under it says: When this setting is off, all new requests are automatically denied. On our iPhone 17e it was on, and no app had asked yet: the page said Apps that have requested to link your activity across companies will appear here.
If you do not see this option
- You see Tracking instead That is the name before iOS 27.2. On our iPhone 17e with iOS 27.0.1 the row was Tracking, with an orange icon, and the switch inside was Allow Apps to Request to Track. It does the same job: its note said that when it is off, all new app tracking requests are automatically denied. Apple's support article still uses these names. The iOS 27.0.1 version of this guide has those screens. Source: If an app asks to track your activity
- The list under the switch is empty It only shows apps that have asked. On our iPhone 17e none had: the page said Apps that have requested to link your activity across companies will appear here, and the row on the Privacy & Security page showed 0.
- On iOS 26 Apple's iOS 26 guide gives the same path: Settings, Privacy & Security, Tracking, with Allow Apps to Request to Track at the top of the screen. Sources: If an app asks to track your activity, Control app tracking permissions on iPhone, Control app tracking permissions on iPhone (iOS 26), Browse the web privately in Safari on iPhone, Sign in and manage your Apple Account on iPhone
If this does not work
- Greyed out and already off On our iPhone 17e with iOS 27.0.1, earlier in October, the switch was off and could not be changed. The note read: This setting cannot be changed because your Apple Account is missing age information. With it off, new requests are denied, so there is nothing more to do. On iOS 27.2, on 27 October, ours was on and not greyed out. The iOS 27.0.1 version of this guide has the screenshot of the greyed-out switch.
- Greyed out and you want it on On iOS 27.0.1 our iPhone 17e gave the reason under the switch: missing age information. Apple's iOS 27 guide says you can update the birthdate on your Apple Account: open Settings, tap your name, then Personal Information.
- Other reasons it can't be turned on Apple lists more: a child account, or a user under 18 by birth year; an Apple Account managed by a school or business; a managed device with a configuration profile that limits tracking; and an Apple Account created in the last 3 days. If that changes and you switch it on, the next app that wants to track you will ask.
Good to know
Apple requires every app to ask before it tracks you across apps and websites owned by other companies for advertising, or shares your information with data brokers. With the switch off, new requests are refused automatically.
On iOS 27.2 the note under the switch also names personalised advertising, measuring advertising effectiveness and sharing your user or device data with data brokers.
Switching it off stops new requests. Apple says that for apps you allowed before, you can choose to ask them all to stop tracking you, or let just those apps continue. You can also turn permission off or on for each app in the list under the switch; ours had no apps in it yet.
You may see a message that the setting cannot be changed. The page gives the reason under the switch.
For web browsing, Safari has its own protection, Prevent Cross-Site Tracking, under Settings, Apps, Safari. Apple says Safari limits third-party cookies and data by default.
Everything else that changed for us in iOS 27.2: what's new in iOS 27.2 on an iPhone 17e.
iOS 27.2 compared with iOS 27.0.1: iOS 27.2 renamed the Privacy & Security row Tracking to Data Linking Across Companies, with a blue icon instead of an orange one, and the switch Allow Apps to Request to Track to Allow Apps to Request to Link Your Activity Across Companies, with a longer note. It is still the second row, under Location Services.
Version history: the iOS 27.0.1 version of this guide, with its own screenshots.
Watch these steps
Watch on YouTubeThe same steps, recorded on our iPhone 17e · opens YouTubeAbout this guide
- Device
- iPhone
- Shown on
- iOS 27.2 (iPhone 17e)
- App
- Settings
- Path
- Settings › Privacy & Security › Data Linking Across Companies
- Real screenshots
- 3 of 3 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 5 official, linked below
Sources
- Apple Support: If an app asks to track your activity
- Apple iPhone User Guide: Control app tracking permissions on iPhone
- Apple iPhone User Guide: Control app tracking permissions on iPhone (iOS 26)
- Apple iPhone User Guide: Browse the web privately in Safari on iPhone
- Apple iPhone User Guide: Sign in and manage your Apple Account on iPhone
What to do next
Tighten your iPhone privacy Step 3 of 7
- How to view or turn off Significant Locations & Routes on iPhoneSee the places your iPhone remembers.
- How to hide your IP address from trackers in Safari on an iPhoneHide your IP address from trackers in Safari.
- How to stop sharing analytics with Apple on an iPhoneChoose what your iPhone sends to Apple.
Did this guide work for you?
Sorry about that. What happened?