What to Know
- Private Wi-Fi Address is a feature that prevents your device from being tracked across multiple networks.
- You can enable this feature in the Wi-Fi Settings of both your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
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Privacy is one of the iPhone’s best features. You can rest easy knowing your data is secure, and the iPhone’s Private Wi-Fi Address setting makes sure your connection is protected. Let’s go over what exactly this feature does and how you can enable it on your iPhone or iPad.
Jump To:
- What Is Private Wi-Fi Address?
- Enable Private Wi-Fi Address on iPhone & iPad
- Enable Private Wi-Fi Address on Apple Watch
- FAQ
What Is Private Wi-Fi Address?
Whenever you connect to a Wi-Fi network, your iPhone (and any other Wi-Fi-capable device) uses a Media Access Control (MAC) address to identify itself. If your iPhone uses the same MAC address when connecting to different Wi-Fi networks, that makes your device more easily trackable across connections.
If you enable the Private Wi-Fi Address feature, your iPhone will use a unique MAC address for each network, making it harder to identify you when you switch to a different network. For more iPhone security and privacy advice, check out our free Tip of the Day newsletter.
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How to Enable Private Wi-Fi Address on iPhone & iPad
You can enable your iPad or iPhone’s Private Wi-Fi Address by going into the Settings app:
- Open the Settings app, and tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the info icon next to a Wi-Fi network.
- Tap the toggle next to Private Wi-Fi Address to enable this feature.
How to Enable Private Wi-Fi Address on Apple Watch
You can also enable Private Wi-Fi Address on your Apple Watch:
- Open the Settings app, and tap Wi-Fi.
- If your Apple Watch is not already connected to a Wi-Fi network, scroll dow and swipe left on a network.
- Tap the three dot menu button.
- Tap the toggle next to Private Wi-Fi Address to enable or disable this feature.
Now, your Apple devices can stay secure no matter which Wi-Fi network you connect to.
FAQ
- Should I turn on Private Wi-Fi Address on iPhone? Turning on Private Wi-Fi Address keeps your connection secure without compromising internet speeds. There are no downsides to turning it on and it helps you maintain privacy, so I would say definitely turn it on.
- How to turn off Private Wi-Fi Address? If you are wondering how to turn off private Wi-Fi address, simply follow the same steps above, and tap the toggle so that it turns gray.