Open Wi-Fi settings on an iPhone, tap the ⓘ next to your network, and near the bottom you'll find a switch called Limit IP Address Tracking. The only explanation Apple gives on that screen is one line about hiding your IP address from known trackers in Mail and Safari.
It sounds like a privacy switch you'd want on, and usually it is. But what it actually protects is narrower than the name suggests, and it's tangled up with another Apple feature, iCloud Private Relay. Here's exactly what it does, what it doesn't, and when to turn it off.
Where to find it
On Wi-Fi:
- Open Settings > Wi-Fi.
- Tap the ⓘ next to the network.
- Scroll down to Limit IP Address Tracking.
On cellular:
- Open Settings > Cellular.
- Tap your line under SIMs (on iOS 18 or earlier, tap Cellular Data Options).
- Find Limit IP Address Tracking.
The setting is per network. Your home Wi-Fi, office Wi-Fi and cellular line each have their own switch.
What it actually does
The switch does two related things, depending on whether you have iCloud+.
For everyone: hides your IP from known trackers
Trackers are the third-party scripts and pixels that follow you across sites and emails: analytics tools, ad networks, email open trackers. Your IP address is valuable to them, because it reveals your approximate location and helps link your activity together.
With Limit IP Address Tracking on, Safari and Mail hide your IP address from trackers that Apple recognizes. The websites themselves still see it (unless you have Private Relay, below). Only the known trackers loaded on those pages or in those emails don't.
With iCloud+: also switches Private Relay on or off for that network
iCloud Private Relay is part of the iCloud+ subscription. According to Apple, it sends your Safari traffic through two separate relays:
- The first relay, run by Apple, sees your IP address but not which site you're visiting, because your DNS lookups are encrypted.
- The second relay, run by a third-party content provider, gives you a temporary IP address, decrypts the site name and connects you.
The result: no single party, not even Apple, sees both who you are and which site you're visiting in Safari.
The Limit IP Address Tracking switch is how you turn Private Relay off for a specific network. Before iOS 15.2, this same switch was called "iCloud Private Relay". Apple notes that turning it off for a network applies to all your devices signed in to the same Apple Account.
What it doesn't do
This is where most people misunderstand it.
A few details worth knowing:
- Other apps aren't covered. Private Relay is built for Safari. Instagram, TikTok, Discord, games and most other apps connect directly and see your real IP address.
- Location is approximate, not hidden. In Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Private Relay > IP Address Location, you choose between keeping your general location (for local content) or showing only your country and time zone. You can't pick another country.
- It's not available everywhere. Apple says Private Relay isn't offered in all countries or regions and turns itself off when you travel to one of them.
- Speed tests may look slower. Apple notes Private Relay uses a single connection, so speed tests that open many connections at once can show lower numbers than your real browsing speed.
Should you turn Limit IP Address Tracking on or off?
Keep it on in almost all cases. It costs nothing, it's on by default, and it blocks a common way trackers build a profile of you.
Turn it off for a specific network if:
- A work or school network requires it. Apple says networks that audit traffic or filter content, such as business and education networks, may not work with Private Relay.
- Parental controls stop working. Filters that watch browsing activity can't see traffic that goes through Private Relay.
- A website keeps blocking you or asking for extra verification. For a single site, you don't need to turn off the whole network: in Safari, tap the page menu and choose Show IP Address to allow just that site to see it.
- Your router's parental controls, ad blocker or security features conflict with it.
- You see "This network is blocking encrypted DNS traffic". That's a related but separate warning. See our guide to the encrypted DNS warning.
Turning it off on one network doesn't affect others. Your cellular line and other Wi-Fi networks keep their own settings.
Limit IP Address Tracking vs. a VPN
The two aren't rivals. They cover different layers.
- Limit IP Address Tracking is a free, automatic layer for Safari and Mail. It stops known trackers from seeing your IP address, and with iCloud+ it hides your IP from sites you visit in Safari.
- A VPN covers the whole device: every app, every connection, including DNS. It hides your real IP address from all websites and apps, and hides your traffic from the Wi-Fi owner and your internet provider. It also lets you choose which country you appear to be in.
If you mostly want to keep trackers out of Safari, the built-in switch does the job. If you want to hide your IP address from Instagram, TikTok, games, public Wi-Fi or your internet provider, you need a VPN. Many people use both: Apple's switch stays on, and the VPN handles the rest.
On an iPhone, you can't run iCloud Private Relay and a VPN on the same traffic at once. When a VPN is connected, your traffic goes through the VPN.
Using Atomic VPN with your iPhone
- Hides your IP from every app, not just Safari and Mail.
- Choose your location from 88+ countries, or let the app pick the fastest server.
- DNS inside the tunnel, so your internet provider and Wi-Fi owner can't log the sites you look up.
- No activity logs, RAM-only servers and an independently audited no-log policy.
- $2 a month on the yearly plan, 5 devices.
The Atomic VPN iPhone app is on the way. Until then, setting Atomic VPN up on your router protects your iPhone and every other device on your home network. See how to set up a VPN on any device. Apps for Windows and macOS are available now.
FAQ
What does Limit IP Address Tracking do on iPhone?
It hides your IP address from known trackers in Safari and Mail. If you have iCloud+, it also turns iCloud Private Relay on for that network, which hides your IP address from websites in Safari.
Should I turn Limit IP Address Tracking on or off?
Keep it on. Turn it off only for a specific network where it causes problems, such as a work network, parental controls or a site that won't load.
Is Limit IP Address Tracking the same as iCloud Private Relay?
Not exactly. The switch controls Private Relay for a network if you have iCloud+, and hides your IP from known trackers in Safari and Mail for everyone. Before iOS 15.2, the switch was labeled iCloud Private Relay.
Does Limit IP Address Tracking hide my IP from apps?
No. It only covers Safari and Mail. Other apps see your real IP address unless you use a VPN.
Does Limit IP Address Tracking slow down my internet?
Usually not noticeably. With Private Relay on, speed test results can look lower because Private Relay uses a single connection, but browsing speed stays similar.
Why is Limit IP Address Tracking turned off on my Wi-Fi?
It may have been turned off for that network on another device signed in to your Apple Account, or the network may not support Private Relay. You can turn it back on in the network's settings.
Is Limit IP Address Tracking the same as a VPN?
No. It covers Safari and Mail. A VPN covers every app on your device and lets you choose your location.
Can I use Private Relay and a VPN together?
You can have both set up, but when the VPN is connected, your traffic goes through the VPN tunnel.
.png)
.png)
