Last week, a number of iPhone users complained that they have trouble using the iCloud Private Relay feature on carrier networks. The option is available to iCloud+ subscribers and its purpose is “to help prevent websites and network providers from creating a detailed profile about you.”
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay is a VPN of sorts that encrypts the network traffic from your iPhone and sends it through two separate internet relays, hence the naming. Just like with a VPN, websites are in the dark about your true IP address or location and carriers can’t aggregate your browsing activity and connect it with your persona.
iCloud Private Relay T-Mobile warning
The iOS 15.2 update isn’t what broke iCloud Private Relay
No changes were made to iCloud Private Relay in iOS 15.2 that would have toggled the feature off. Users are encouraged to check their Settings to see if Private Relay is enabled on their device or for a specific network.
T-Mobile conceded and confirmed for 9to5 Mac that they were wrong to blame iOS 15.2 for turning off iCloud Private Relay: “Apple doesn’t change customers’ settings when they update to iOS 15.2. Customers may see an error message if they previously toggled iCloud Private Relay or Limit IP Address Tracking off in their Cellular Data Options Settings.”
It turns out that the carriers’ restrictions might have something to do with the iCloud Private Relay switch and warnings, after all, as a few of T-Mobile’s cell phone plans do feature a content filtering option that may clash with what Apple offers on its end.
How to turn iCloud Private Relay back on
Here’s how to enable iCloud Private Relay if you are an iCloud+ subscriber and it had been switched off, either by an update or by a carrier’s plan settings:
- Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options on your iOS device.
- Turn on the “Limit IP Address Tracking” option.
- Go to Setting > iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer.
- Turn on Private Relay.
The iOS 15.3 update will fix the iCloud Private Relay carrier switch warning
The Apple iOS 15.3 update will have an updated iCloud Private Relay carrier settings switch warning
This way, Apple advises to first go into your Cellular Data Options menu in Settings and turn on the feature that explicitly allows iCloud Private Relay to function, like the “Limit IP Address Tracking” option in some of T-Mobile’s data plans.
