How to Stop App Tracking on iPhone (Step-by-Step Guide)

April 29, 2026 ByNancy WilliamNo Comments 8 minutes

Every time you open an app on your iPhone, there is a good chance it wants to follow you around. Not physically, but digitally, of course, and if you think you’re being paranoid, you’re not. Many apps try to track what you do across other apps and websites so they can build a profile about you and sell that information to advertisers. The good news is that Apple has built several tools directly into iOS that allow you to turn that off. Not sure how to get started? This guide shows you exactly how to stop app tracking on iPhone using only the settings Apple provides.

TIP – While a VPN may not stop app tracking on your iPhone, it can prevent malicious targeted ads from ruining your device and data. Consider using a reliable VPN for iPhone that works and is secure. 

What Does App Tracking on iPhone Actually Mean?

Before jumping to the tutorials, it’s better to understand what “tracking” means in this context. You may have noticed that apps that want to track you often ask for permission to access a unique identifier on your phone called the Advertising Identifier.

This identifier does not contain your name or email address, but you can think of it as a digital license plate for your device. Companies use this identifier to connect your activity across different apps. 

For example, if you look for or are looking at some bath and body products in one shopping app, a completely different social media app might show you ads for those exact shoes a few minutes later. This especially happens when you don’t buy the product and leave the website. That also happens because both apps accessed your advertising identifier and shared that information with advertisers.

When you block tracking, the app can no longer access that identifier. It won’t completely stop advertisements, but at least they’ll be generic instead of creepily specific to your browsing history.

Apple’s App Tracking Transparency – How Does it Work?

Apple introduced a feature called App Tracking Transparency with iOS 14.5 in 2021. This feature is designed to ensure every app asks for your explicit permission before it can track you across other external apps and websites. You’ve definitely noticed the pop-ups many times every time you download and open new apps.

The pop-up gives you two choices:

• Allow – The app can track your activity across other apps and websites, particularly those of a similar nature. 
• Ask App Not to Track – The app is blocked from accessing your advertising identifier.

It’s very common for most people to tap “Allow” just to make the pop-up go away quickly. But did you know that each time you do that, you are giving away more of your privacy? This happens a lot on your smartphones, particularly on iPhones. Below, you’ll find tutorials on how to stop app tracking on iPhone. 

How to Stop App Tracking on iPhone (Several Methods)

Here are a couple of methods showing you how to stop app tracking on iPhone. This is best in case one doesn’t work for you: 

Method 1 – Stop Tracking When Installing a New App

Whenever you download a new app and open it for the first time, Apple will require that app to show you a tracking request pop-up. This is your first and simplest chance to stop app tracking on iPhone. Here’s what you need to do:

• Download an app from the App Store as usual. 
• Once installed, launch the app. 
• When the pop-up appears asking for permission to track, look carefully at the two options.
• Select “Ask App Not to Track” instead of “Allow” or “Allow permissions.” 

That is it, it should work normally now. As mentioned, you will still see ads, but they won’t be monitored or targeted ads. 

Method 2 – Block Tracking for All Apps in One Go

This is the best for those who want to turn off tracking for all apps at once. Apple gives you an option that lets you stop app tracking on iPhone automatically for every app. This is the fastest and most complete way to protect your privacy. Here’s what to do: 

• Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
• Scroll down and tap “Privacy & Security.”
• Select “Tracking” located at the top of the list. 
• You will now see a switch labeled “Allow Apps to Request to Track.”
• Now, toggle the switch to “OFF.” This means it should be grey, not green. 

When you enable this setting, there are two important things that take place: 

• Apps can no longer even ask you for permission to track because the request pop-up never reappears
• Apps that you previously allowed to track you will no longer have that permission. 

Method 3 – How to Stop App Tracking on iPhone That Are Already in Use

It’s okay if you already have a few apps that are allowed to track you. Or, maybe you do want some apps to track you for whatever reason. In either case, you can manage tracking permissions one app at a time. With that said, here is how you can review and tweak the app tracking permissions individually on iPhone:

• Open the “Settings” app.
• Tap “Privacy & Security” > “Tracking.” 
• You will see a list of every app that has ever asked for tracking permission.
• Now, next to each app name, you will see a toggle switch. 
• Turn off the switch for any app you do not want tracking you. 

These changes always take effect immediately, so you don’t have to restart your phone or close the apps. However, if you don’t see a particular app listed, it means the app has never requested tracking permission in the past. 

Method 4 – Limit Location Tracking

Don’t confuse the two; app tracking and location tracking are two different things. When you stop app tracking, like in the tutorial above, it does not automatically stop apps from accessing your location. Location tracking is controlled separately in iOS.

Many apps do not need to know exactly where you are. Weather apps, restaurant finders, auto services, and maps are obvious exceptions. However, apps like a calculator app or a note-taking app have zero reason to access your location. With that said, here is how to check which apps have access to your location so that you can limit it: 

• Go to “Settings” > “Privacy & Security” > “Location Services.” 
• Here, you should see a list of every app that has requested your location access.
• Now, tap on any app to see its current permission level. 

Here are the options: 

• Never
• Ask Next Time
• While Using the App
• Always 

Now simply select only minimal apps to track your location, and remove the rest.

Turn Off Precise Location

So now, even when you allow an app to see your location, you do not have to let it see exactly where you are. iOS lets you share only an approximate location instead of your precise address. Here is how to turn off the precise location sharing on iOS: 

• Go to “Settings” > “Privacy & Security” > “Location Services.” 
• Tap on any app that has location access.
• Look for the switch labeled “Precise Location.”
•  Turn it “OFF.” 

Method 5 – Lock and Hide Sensitive Apps

Last on the list of methods showing you how to stop app tracking is locking and hiding sensitive apps. To lock an app, it requires Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to open:

• Find the app on your home screen.
• Press and hold its icon.
• Tap “Require Face ID” or Touch ID, depending on your device.
• The app now requires authentication every time someone tries to open it. 

If you need to hide an app completely:

• Press and hold the app icon.
• Tap “Hide and Require Face ID.”
• The app disappears from your home screen.
• It moves to a hidden folder at the bottom of your App Library. 
• Only you can find it, and opening it requires authentication. 

FAQs – How to Stop App Tracking on iPhone

To Conclude

That’s a wrap! You now know how to stop app tracking on iPhone.  Apple has given iPhone users tools to control app tracking. The single most effective thing you can do is go to “Settings” > “Privacy & Security” > “Tracking” and turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” That one toggle stops every app from tracking you across other apps and websites, and you will never see another tracking request pop-up again.

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