How to stop apps from tracking you on iPhone

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-stop-apps-from-tracking-you-on-iphone/ · Checked 11 October 2026 · iPhone 17e · iOS 27.0.1

3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 5 official sources below

Device

iPhone

Shown on

iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 17e)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Privacy & Security › Tracking

Real screenshots

3 of 3 steps

Checked

11 October 2026

Sources

5 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security

   Scroll down the Settings list to the blue hand icon. On our iPhone 17e with iOS 27.0.1 it is below Face ID & Passcode and Emergency SOS, and above Game Center.

   Watch these steps Done

2. 

   Tap Data Linking Across Companies (Tracking before iOS 27.2)

   On iOS 27.0.1 this row is called Tracking. It is the second row, under Location Services. On our iPhone 17e the Tracking row showed 0, and Location Services showed 2 while using.

   Done

3. 

   Switch off the Allow Apps to Request switch at the top

   On iOS 27.0.1 the switch reads Allow Apps to Request to Track. The note under it reads: When this is off, all new app tracking requests are automatically denied. On our iPhone 17e it was off and greyed out, with a second note: This setting cannot be changed because your Apple Account is missing age information.

   Done

Watch these steps

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. 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
• 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. 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
• 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. Source: If an app asks to track your activity

About this guide

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.

Screenshots: iPhone 17e, iOS 27.2, dark mode. iOS 27.2 renamed Tracking to Data Linking Across Companies; the iOS 27.0.1 version of this guide keeps the old screens.

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.

In short: Settings, Privacy & Security, Data Linking Across Companies (Tracking before iOS 27.2), switch off Allow Apps to Request.

📷 See real photos from the iPhone 17e in our Camera Lab, next to 10 other phones.