iPhone (iOS) · Privacy & Security
See how often apps use your permissions and reach the network
App Privacy Report shows a detailed log of how frequently each app has used permissions like location, camera, and microphone over the past seven days, plus which domains it has contacted.
How to open App Privacy Report
- Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap App Privacy Report and turn it on if not already enabled.
- Review the Data & Sensor Access and App Network Activity sections.
- Tap any app for a detailed history of its access.
What you should know
- Found in Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report.
- Breaks down data and sensor access by app, including how many times each permission was used.
- Lists network domains contacted by each app and by website content within apps.
- Data stays on-device and can be cleared at any time.
Why it matters
Granting a permission once doesn't reveal how often an app actually uses it afterward, and App Privacy Report closes that visibility gap by logging real usage over time. Seeing that a rarely used app has queried location dozens of times in a week, or contacted unfamiliar third-party domains, gives users concrete evidence to decide whether to revoke access or delete the app entirely. It turns privacy permissions from a one-time decision into an ongoing, auditable record, which is a meaningfully stronger form of transparency than a static permissions list.
Best practices
- Check the report periodically rather than only once, since app behavior can change after updates.
- Pay particular attention to apps contacting many unfamiliar third-party domains.
- Cross-reference frequent permission use with whether the app was actually open at the time.
Common problems and fixes
- The report is empty or has limited data.
- It only starts logging once enabled, so allow at least a day of normal usage before reviewing.
- An app shows unexpectedly high access frequency.
- Tap into the app's detail view to see the timing, then revoke the specific permission in Settings if it seems excessive.
Tips and tricks
- Use the domain list to spot third-party analytics or ad networks embedded in apps you didn't expect.
Frequently asked questions
Does this report get sent to Apple?
No, the report is generated and stored entirely on the device.
Can this data be exported or shared?
Yes, the report can be shared as a file, for example to share with a developer when reporting a concern.
Related settings
- App Tracking TransparencyApp Tracking Transparency requires apps to ask permission before tracking activity across other companies' apps and websites for advertising or data-sharing purposes.
- Privacy & PermissionsThe Privacy & Security hub lets you review and control exactly which apps can access your Camera, Microphone, Location Services, Contacts, Photos, and more.
More Privacy & Security guides for iPhone (iOS)
- Face ID & PasscodeFace ID (or Touch ID) and Passcode settings control how you unlock your iPhone, authorize purchases, and protect sensitive data with biometric or code-based security.
- Location ServicesLocation Services is the master switch and per-app control center for GPS-based location sharing on iPhone, letting you decide exactly which apps can see your precise or general location, and when.
- Find MyFind My helps you locate a lost or stolen iPhone on a map, remotely play a sound, mark it as lost, or erase it, and it can also share your location with family members or locate AirTags and other Apple accessories.
- Emergency SOSEmergency SOS lets you quickly call for help by pressing the side button rapidly or holding it with a volume button, automatically alerting emergency services and, if configured, notifying your chosen emergency contacts with your location.
- Safety CheckSafety Check lets users see and instantly stop sharing location, passwords, and app access with specific people, useful in situations like leaving a relationship where trust has broken down.
- Content & Privacy RestrictionsContent & Privacy Restrictions, part of Screen Time, lets a parent or guardian block specific apps, websites, content ratings, and purchase types, and lock down further changes to privacy settings.