5 Key Settings to Change

Without you even realizing it, your iPhone is draining your battery, leaking your data, and stealing your attention. Even though Apple’s advertising slogan is “Privacy. That’s Apple,” privacy researchers from Aalto University have issued a warning, stating Apple’s privacy protocol is not as safe as they advertise. Back in 2024, the researchers from the university discovered that hiding personal data from Apple is “virtually impossible.” The study examined 8 pre-installed Apple applications on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. These apps collect data almost continuously, regardless of what setting the user inputs. 

Professor Janne Lindqvist from Aalto University explained that proper privacy protection requires “continuous and knowledgeable adjustments to each app individually.” Apple addressed over 100 vulnerabilities in November 2025 alone. Default iPhone settings drain battery, leak location data, and send constant usage reports to Apple servers, often without the user’s consent or knowledge. Here we’ll discuss 5 critical changes to implement on your iPhone to protect your privacy and extend battery life immediately.

Turn Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi Only

While many are aware of the risks posed by third-party apps, the iPhone’s pre-installed apps also collect data and constantly ping cell towers. Apps constantly ping when Background App Refresh remains on “Wi-Fi & Cellular Data.” This default setting allows applications to update content without your consent in the background. This operation puts pressure on the battery and drains it rapidly throughout the day. If you are on a data plan, this setting consumes data unnecessarily. Apple automatically turns off Background App Refresh when users enable Low Power Mode. This confirms that the setting significantly impacts battery performance. Research shows that background app refresh remains the second largest battery drain after screen brightness on most devices.

To stop this unnecessary draining of data packages and diminishing your battery’s lifespan, Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap General from the menu options. Scroll down to Background App Refresh. Tap the top menu showing “Wi-Fi & Cellular Data” and change it to “Wi-Fi.” This will prevent your phone’s apps from trying to connect through your data and download content behind your back.

Your phone will no longer use your data to update; instead, it will wait until you connect to Wi-Fi. This also prevents the phone batteries from rapidly draining whilst in public places, extending the battery’s life by hours. It does not interrupt regular notifications, which still come through. Cellular data usage drops significantly as apps now refresh when power and Wi-Fi are available simultaneously. 

Delete Your Significant Locations History

Buried deep beneath system services, your iPhone maintains a detailed log of your most frequently visited places. The device keeps a record of your place of residence, work and place you frequent often. Apple have claimed that this enables their “predictive traffic routing” features but the unfettered access to your every move could prove devastating if in the wrong hands. This stored location history creates serious security risks. Location Services constantly transmit the phone’s location and calculate distances using nearby satellites. This requires either cellular data or Wi-Fi connectivity. GPS functionality consumes substantial power, shortening battery life dramatically in areas with weak signals.

Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security and select Location Services from the menu. Scroll completely to the bottom and tap System Services. Find Significant Locations & Routes in the list, then authenticate using FaceID or your passcode when prompted. Tap Clear History to delete existing location logs and finally toggle the entire feature to the Off position.

The GPS, maps, and location services will continue to function normally after this change. Weather updates and navigation systems all function as before; however, your iPhone will no longer store your travel history. Your device no longer maintains a digital roadmap accessible to anyone stealing your phone or gaining unauthorized access. Studies show that disabling Significant Locations tracking can improve battery life by up to 15%, depending on usage patterns and device age.

Block Apps From Requesting to Track You

Applications constantly request permission to track activity across other companies’ apps and websites. Pop-ups appear immediately when opening new applications. Most people want these requests blocked by default. The constant prompts create unnecessary interruptions throughout daily phone use. Apple introduced the App Tracking Transparency framework in iOS 14 to give users more control over their data. The IDFA, or Identifier for Advertisers, is a device-specific identifier used by app developers and advertising platforms for targeting and measurement purposes.

Navigate to Settings, tap Privacy & Security, and select Tracking from the available menu options. Find “Allow Apps to Request to Track” in the list. Toggle this setting to the Off position. This prevents apps from displaying tracking permission pop-ups.

Apps get automatically blocked from using the identifier for advertisers. No permission pop-ups interrupt your workflow or app usage. Companies cannot track your activity across different platforms and websites. This prevents advertisers from building detailed behavioral profiles about your online activities. Users maintain control over data sharing without repeated permission requests. When you disable this setting, the IDFA returns all zeros when apps attempt to access it, rendering it useless for tracking purposes.

Disable iPhone Analytics Sharing

iPhones transmit daily diagnostic and usage data to Apple by default. The company markets this data collection as improving products and services; however, these reports consume battery power, uploading information continuously. They use cellular data plans, sending background transmissions, which Apple collects data from. This helps them determine which apps users open, how long they use them for, and specific features they access. The company claims that anonymization protects user privacy, yet researchers have repeatedly demonstrated that individuals can be identified from anonymized data.

Open Settings and navigate to Privacy & Security, scroll down, and tap Analytics & Improvements. Find “Share iPhone Analytics” in the menu, then toggle this option to the Off position. Your phone will now stop compiling diagnostic reports.

The phone stops sending background reports to Apple’s servers after toggling off. No diagnostic information leaves your device without explicit permission from you, the user. Battery consumption decreases measurably, and your cellular data usage drops by eliminating unnecessary transmissions. This prevents Apple from collecting anonymized user behavior data for corporate purposes, such as selling it to third-party companies that use this information to advertise to you. Apple’s own support documentation confirms that diagnostic submissions consume device resources and data plan allowances. Users can independently verify transmission has stopped by reviewing data usage statistics in Settings.

Stop In-App Rating Interruptions

Applications interrupt users with rating requests at inconvenient moments. Pop-ups appear while booking flights, editing photos, or checking financial accounts. Few people know permanent controls exist for stopping these disruptions completely. App developers use in-app rating prompts to increase store ratings and app visibility in search results. The constant interruptions frustrate users while providing minimal benefit to app quality improvement.

Open Settings and tap Apps from the menu, and select the App Store to access marketplace settings. Scroll down and find “In-App Ratings & Reviews.” Toggle this feature to the Off position. The setting applies across all installed applications immediately.

Users retain full ability to rate applications manually through the App Store. Open the App Store and search for specific apps you want to review. Rating options appear clearly in detailed app listings. You provide feedback on your schedule rather than responding to intrusive demands. This eliminates constant interruptions while preserving complete rating functionality. App developers maintain access to user feedback through other channels and review-seeking methods that don’t disrupt user experience.

Apple’s Security Vulnerabilities Create Real Risks

Apple disclosed 105 vulnerabilities in macOS 26.1 and 56 in iOS 26.1 in November 2025. These flaws affected core services and components across iPhones, Macs, and iPads. Jamf Threat Labs discovered CVE-2024-44131 in 2024. This vulnerability bypassed Apple’s Transparency, Consent, and Control subsystem on iOS and macOS. The TCC framework protects sensitive user data by requiring explicit permission before apps access photos or contacts. The bypass allowed malicious applications to copy extensive user data from iCloud without notification. The exploitation occurred without leaving traces on devices.

Apple patched the issue in iOS 18 and macOS 15 after Jamf reported it. However, the vulnerability demonstrated serious weaknesses in Apple’s security architecture. Services like iCloud sync data across devices of many types, which enables attackers to exploit the weakest connected systems in multi-device setups. In January 2026, Apple warned approximately 800 million users about critical WebKit vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to take control of iPhones through malicious websites.

The WebKit vulnerabilities expose devices to “extremely sophisticated attacks” aimed at specific individuals. Cybercriminals could gain control over iPhones or iPads through compromised browsers. The attacks could deceive devices into executing harmful commands, potentially stealing passwords and financial information. Apple described the WebKit vulnerabilities as critical, requiring immediate patching. Forbes reported that 50% of eligible iPhone users had not upgraded from iOS 18 to iOS 26 as of early January 2026.

Data Breaches Exposed Apple User Credentials

A consumer-grade spyware operation called SpyX suffered a data breach in June 2024. TechCrunch learned that SpyX and two related mobile apps held records on nearly 2 million people. The breached data included approximately 17,000 distinct sets of plaintext Apple Account usernames and passwords. Stalkerware operations typically access iCloud backups by using stolen credentials to download device data directly from Apple’s servers. Security researcher Troy Hunt analyzed the breached cache in 2025. One file clearly referred to iCloud in its filename and contained plaintext credentials.

Hunt provided the compromised credentials list to Apple before publication. Apple spokesperson Sarah O’Rourke stated that fewer than 250 iCloud users were impacted. However, the breach demonstrated how third-party services compromise Apple’s security through credential theft. Users cannot control the security practices of external applications accessing their iCloud data. The incident revealed serious vulnerabilities in how Apple handles customer data security.

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Apple Collects Data Despite Privacy Marketing

Apple constantly gathers data whenever users interact with Apple services, the App Store, or Apple News. Each service maintains its own privacy policy governing data collection practices. Apple can access all user data in iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendar, and users cannot enable end-to-end encryption for these particular services. The company maintains this access despite marketing messages suggesting strong privacy protections. Developer Tommy Mysk and researcher Talal Haj Bakry demonstrated in November 2022 that Apple monitors user activity extensively.

Their research showed that taps on the App Store screen were logged and transmitted. Analytics data could identify individuals despite Apple’s anonymization claims. “Everything is monitored and transmitted to Apple almost in real time,” Mysk stated publicly. The data collection occurs even when users enable “ask app not to track” in privacy settings. App Store tracking transmits data about which applications users view, how long they browse listings, and specific product pages they visit. Location Services collects movement data in addition to providing maps and weather information.

Verify These Changes Worked

Check Settings > General > Background App Refresh to confirm the Wi-Fi setting appears at the top. Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations to verify the toggle shows Off. Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking to confirm“Allow Apps to Request to Track” displays Off. Review Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements to ensure “Share iPhone Analytics” shows Off position. Check Settings > Apps > App Store to verify “In-App Ratings & Reviews” displays Off.

Your iPhone now operates with significantly improved privacy protections, and battery life should be extended, depending on usage and age. Cellular data consumption decreases measurably as Location tracking stops recording your movement patterns. Apps cannot request tracking permissions repeatedly,y and Apple stops collecting usage analytics from your device. Rating interruptions no longer disrupt your workflow. These 5 changes require under five minutes but protect your data permanently. Users should repeat this verification process every 2 months to confirm settings remain disabled after major iOS updates.

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