Apple iOS 27
What the default settings do
iOS 27 was released on September 14, 2026. The core privacy protections from iOS 26 carry over: App Tracking Transparency still asks before apps can track you across other companies’ apps and websites, and Safari’s tracking and fingerprinting protections stay on by default.
The big change is Siri. On iPhone 15 Pro and newer, Apple has rebuilt Siri as “Siri AI.” It can draw on personal information on your iPhone, such as messages, email, notes, and photos. It can also see what is on your screen and take actions inside apps that support it. Apple says some requests are handled on the device and others are sent to its Private Cloud Compute servers. You are not told which path a given request takes.
Three other changes are worth knowing about:
- There is no longer a single switch for Apple Intelligence. iOS 26 had one. In iOS 27, AI features have to be turned off or restricted one by one.
- A new data-sharing question appears at setup. When you set up Siri AI, iOS asks whether you want to help improve Siri and Apple Intelligence. Choosing “Share Audio and Text” lets Apple use your Siri, Dictation, and Translate interactions to improve its foundation models as well as Siri. Choosing “Not Now” keeps sharing off.
- Siri AI is not available on iPhone in the EU. Apple has delayed it there because of the Digital Markets Act and has given no date. If you are in the EU, the Siri AI settings below may not appear, but the rest of this guide still applies.
Other defaults are unchanged from earlier versions: analytics are sent to Apple unless you opt out, personalized ads in Apple apps are on, and Significant Locations & Routes are logged on the device unless you turn this off.
A reasonable privacy baseline
These settings are found in the Settings app on your iPhone. Siri AI settings only appear on iPhone 15 Pro and newer, in regions where Siri AI is available.
Siri AI and Apple Intelligence
Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Improve Siri & Apple Intelligence → Off
This is the new setup question in settings form. When it is on, Apple can collect your text and audio interactions with Siri, Dictation, and Translate and use them to train its foundation models. Apple links these interactions to a random identifier that changes several times an hour, not to your Apple Account, and says it can keep them for up to two years. If you tapped "Share Audio and Text" during setup, this is where you change your mind.
Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Improve Siri & Dictation → Off
The older companion setting. It controls whether audio and transcripts of Siri and Dictation requests are stored for Apple's quality review. Turn off both toggles if you do not want to share any Siri data with Apple.
Apps → [app name] → Search → Show Content in Search → Off for sensitive apps
Siri AI can read and surface content from any app whose content is indexed for search. Apple's own apps, such as Notes, Messages, and Mail, are included by default. Third-party apps take part if their developers support it. Turning this off for an app, such as a banking, health, or journaling app, keeps its content out of search and out of Siri's reach.
Siri → App Access → [app name] → Learn from this App → Review and turn off for sensitive apps
This page controls how Siri learns from the way you use an app to make suggestions, along with Show on Home Screen, Suggest App, and Suggest Notifications. It governs usage patterns and suggestions rather than the content itself, so use it together with Show Content in Search above.
Siri → Siri & Dictation History → Delete Siri & Dictation History
Removes Siri and Dictation interaction data that Apple currently holds for your device. This is a one-time action rather than a toggle.
Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Siri → Allowed Siri Version → Siri Classic (optional)
If you do not want Siri AI at all, you can switch back to the previous Siri. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions first if it is off. The same menu lets you set individual AI features, such as writing assistance, image creation, and extensions like ChatGPT, to Don't Allow. Since there is no master switch in iOS 27, this menu is the most complete way to limit Apple Intelligence. You can also turn Siri off completely under Settings → Siri.
On-screen awareness → No setting to turn off
Siri AI can look at what is on your screen when you ask it to. There is currently no user setting to block this. If you share a screenshot or ask about something on screen, it may be processed on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers. Apple says it does not store data sent to those servers after the request is handled. The practical step is simple: do not ask Siri about screens that show passwords, account numbers, or other details you would not want to leave the phone.
Privacy & Security
Privacy & Security → Tracking → Allow Apps to Request to Track → Off
This automatically denies all tracking requests from apps. When set to Off, apps receive a blank identifier instead of your device's advertising ID. You will not see tracking permission prompts.
Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Share iPhone Analytics → Off
Stops sending daily diagnostics and usage data to Apple, including hardware information, OS configuration, and how you use your device. Paired with an Apple Watch, the toggle reads Share iPhone & Watch Analytics.
Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Share with App Developers → Off
Stops sending crash data and usage statistics from third-party apps to their developers through Apple.
Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising → Personalized Ads → Off
Apple still shows ads in the App Store, Apple News, and Stocks. Turning this off means those ads are not based on your activity, interests, or App Store searches.
Location Services
Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Significant Locations & Routes → Off
Logs places you visit and routes you travel. It is encrypted and stored on the device, but turning it off stops the log from being created in the first place.
Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → iPhone Analytics → Off
Prevents location data from being included in analytics reports sent to Apple.
Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Product Improvement → Off
Stops Apple from using your location data to improve Apple Maps, routing, and other location-based products.
Per-app location access → Review and set to "While Using the App" instead of "Always" where practical
Most apps work correctly with location access only while they are open. Review the list under Privacy & Security → Location Services and adjust apps individually.
Find My
Find My app → location sharing with people → Use an end time instead of sharing indefinitely
iOS 27 lets you share your location for a custom length of time, or until a specific date and time, and then stop automatically. You can also pause sharing with specific contacts until the end of the day. A time limit is a simple way to avoid sharing your location for longer than you meant to.
Safari
Apps → Safari → Prevent Cross-Site Tracking → On (on by default)
Blocks third-party cookies and cross-site tracking using Intelligent Tracking Prevention.
Apps → Safari → Hide IP Address → From Trackers
Hides your IP address from known tracking domains. If you subscribe to iCloud+, this uses Private Relay. Otherwise it relies on local processing.
Apps → Safari → Advanced → Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement → Off
This feature lets websites measure ad effectiveness without identifying you personally. Turning it off prevents any ad attribution data from being shared.
Apps → Safari → Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection → On (on by default in all browsing)
This protection has applied to all of Safari, not just Private Browsing, since iOS 26. It makes it harder for sites to fingerprint your device. Leaving it at the default is reasonable.
Photos
Apps → Photos → Enhanced Visual Search → Off
This lets Photos and Spotlight identify landmarks in your pictures. Apple built it so that it is not designed to see your photos or IP address. Turning it off simply keeps all image data on the device.
Lockdown Mode
Privacy & Security → Lockdown Mode → Off (leave at default for most people)
Lockdown Mode restricts device functionality to reduce the attack surface against targeted spyware. It blocks most message attachments, disables many Safari web technologies, and restricts incoming connections. It is designed for journalists, activists, and others facing state-sponsored threats. Most people should leave it off.
Trade-offs
- Turning off Show Content in Search for an app means neither Spotlight nor Siri AI can find content from that app.
- Switching to Siri Classic means losing Siri AI’s personal context, on-screen awareness, and in-app actions.
- Turning off Improve Siri & Apple Intelligence does not change how Siri works for you. It only stops your interactions from being used for training.
- Turning off Significant Locations & Routes means predictive commute times in Maps and some location-based suggestions will not work.
- Disabling personalized ads does not reduce the number of ads in Apple apps, only their relevance to you.
- Setting apps to “While Using” for location may stop some apps, such as weather widgets or fitness trackers, from alerting you in the background.
- Disabling analytics means Apple receives less data to diagnose bugs that may affect your device model.
- Disabling Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement removes a privacy-friendly alternative to more invasive tracking methods.
Who should not change these settings
- If you rely on Siri AI to find things across your messages, notes, and email, leave Show Content in Search on for those apps and restrict only the most sensitive ones.
- If you want Siri AI and are comfortable with Apple’s Private Cloud Compute design, there is no need to switch to Siri Classic. Turning off the two Improve Siri toggles is still a sensible middle ground.
- If you find Siri’s location-based suggestions valuable, keeping Significant Locations & Routes on is reasonable. The data stays encrypted on the device.
- If you use apps that need background location, such as family location sharing or home automation, setting those apps to “Always” makes sense.
- If you want to help Apple improve its products, leaving analytics on is a valid choice.
- If you face credible threats of targeted surveillance, Lockdown Mode may be worth enabling despite its restrictions.