One of the biggest features to arrive for Apple’s entire lineup of products in 2021 was the introduction of iCloud Private Relay. This is a feature that is included with Apple’s new iCloud+ subscription service and creates a pseudo-virtual private network on your iPhone or iPad. When activated, your internet provider will be unable to see who you are or what websites you visit. It’s an extremely welcome feature in a world where privacy concerns continue to grow at an alarming rate.
Unfortunately, it seems that iCloud Private Relay is at the center of a major issue that is plaguing T-Mobile subscribers. Those using their iPhone running iOS 15 have run into issues where the network won’t load at all.
Initial reports suggested that T-Mobile was blocking any iPhone user from being able to take advantage of Apple’s latest privacy feature. However, the company responded to those reports stating that these problems should only affect users that have content filtering through their plan.
It was only a matter of time, but Apple responded to the claims as well, as there was a bit of confusion as to who’s “fault” it was. But instead of responding through a press release, the company changed the wording of the description found when accessing iCloud Private Relay on your iPhone. The wording reads as such:
Private Relay is turned off for your cellular plan. Private Relay is either not supported by your cellular plan or has been turned off in Cellular Settings. With Private Relay turned off, this network can monitor your internet activity, and your IP address is not hidden from known trackers or websites
Check For An Update
If you’re running into issues with iCloud Private Relay not working on your iPhone or iPad, the first step we recommend taking is to check for an update. Apple’s new wording for iCloud Private Relay is available in iOS 15.3 Beta 2, but it should be arriving for everyone in the coming weeks. Here’s how you can check for an update:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap General.
Select Software Update.
If available, tap Download and Install.
If there is an update available, follow the on-screen instructions in order to download and install it. If not, you’re not out of luck just yet as there’s another method you can try to get your iPhone back in working order.
Enable Limit IP Address Tracking
If you don’t want to upgrade to iOS 15.3, or don’t want to join Apple’s beta program, then there is another option you can try. You’ll need to make sure that the IP Address Tracking is enabled in the Cellular settings on your iPhone. Here’s how you can do so:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Cellular.
At the top, tap Cellular Data Options.
Tap the toggle next to Limit IP Address Tracking to the On position.
If the toggle was turned off, then we recommend restarting your iPhone after you turn the feature on. This will hopefully make sure that the changes “stick” and aren’t being automatically turned off by your carrier or through a bug on your iPhone.
Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.
Private relay not working? I disabled the antivirus web protection and started working immediately