How to Stop Apps Tracking You on iPhone (ATT)
Since iOS 14.5 apps must ask before tracking you across other companies’ apps and websites.
By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 22, 2026Under App Tracking Transparency, apps on iOS 14.5 and later must ask permission before tracking your activity across other companies’ apps and websites. If you tap Ask App Not to Track, the developer cannot access the system advertising identifier (IDFA) or track you with other identifiers such as your email. Manage it in Settings, Privacy & Security, Tracking. Turning off Allow Apps to Request to Track stops the prompts and treats every app as refused.
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Apple’s App Tracking Transparency, or ATT, is the prompt that asks whether an app may track you. This guide explains what it covers and where to change it, using Apple’s support page.
What counts as tracking
Apple defines tracking as linking data about you or your device from one app with data from third-party apps, websites or locations, for targeted advertising or ad measurement, or sharing it with data brokers. Under iOS 14.5 and later, Apple says apps must ask for permission before tracking your activity across other companies’ apps and websites.
What happens when you say no
When an app asks, you can tap Allow or Ask App Not to Track. Apple says you can still use the full capabilities of the app either way. If you choose Ask App Not to Track, Apple says the developer cannot access the system advertising identifier, known as the IDFA, which is often used for tracking. The app also cannot track you using other identifiers, such as your email address.
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Check your permissions app by app
Open Settings, go to Privacy & Security, then select Tracking. You can turn tracking permission on or off for each app that has asked. Review the list now and then and switch off anything you do not recognise.
Stop the prompts altogether
Apple says the Allow Apps to Request to Track setting is in Privacy & Security. If you turn it off, you will not get prompts from apps that want to track your activity, and an app that asks while it is off is treated as if you chose Ask App Not to Track. Check the Tracking screen if you do not see the switch.
When the setting is unavailable
Apple notes you may not be able to enable the setting for some accounts or devices, including:
- child accounts,
- accounts managed by an educational or business institution,
- devices under a configuration profile that limits tracking,
- Apple Accounts created in the last 3 days.
In those cases, apps cannot access the IDFA.
What ATT does not do
ATT covers cross-app and cross-site tracking that uses identifiers. It does not stop an app from using what you type into it or from collecting activity inside its own service. Websites can still use cookies and fingerprinting in a browser. See tracking cookies and browser fingerprinting.
Add more layers
Switch on Global Privacy Control in your browser, and review which apps still have access to your location and contacts. For email opens, see email tracking pixels.
Sources
- Apple Support: If an app asks to track your activity (ATT definition, Ask App Not to Track, settings, unavailable cases)
Frequently asked questions
What is App Tracking Transparency?
An Apple feature, from iOS 14.5, that makes apps ask permission before tracking you across other companies’ apps and websites.
What happens if I tap Ask App Not to Track?
Apple says the developer cannot access the IDFA or track you with other identifiers such as your email address.
Will the app still work?
Yes. Apple says you can still use the full capabilities of the app.
How do I stop apps asking?
Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track in Privacy & Security.
Why can’t I switch the setting on?
It may be unavailable on child accounts, managed accounts, devices with a restricting profile, or Apple Accounts created in the last 3 days.
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