macOS · Troubleshooting
Control Diagnostic Data Shared With Apple
Analytics & Improvements controls whether your Mac automatically sends crash reports and usage analytics to Apple, and optionally to third-party app developers, to help them find and fix bugs. It's separate from location services and general privacy settings, focused specifically on diagnostic and usage data.
How to open Analytics & Improvements
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements.
- Turn 'Share Mac Analytics' on or off.
- Turn 'Share With App Developers' on or off separately if desired.
- Click 'Analytics Data' to review specific reports that have been generated.
What you should know
- Toggle whether Mac Analytics data (crash logs, feature usage patterns) is shared with Apple.
- Separately choose whether analytics are also shared with third-party app developers.
- Review the actual analytics data that's been collected before it's sent.
- Turning this off doesn't affect required security or update-check network traffic.
Why it matters
Sharing analytics helps Apple and developers find and fix bugs faster across millions of devices, but some users prefer to minimize any data leaving their Mac even in anonymized form. Understanding this toggle lets you make an informed choice rather than leaving it on a default you never reviewed.
Best practices
- Review what's actually in the Analytics Data list occasionally if you're curious what's collected.
- Turn off developer sharing specifically if you're fine helping Apple but not third-party companies.
- Don't confuse this with required update checks — turning analytics off is safe and won't stop security updates.
Common problems and fixes
- Unsure whether turning this off affects app functionality.
- It doesn't — analytics sharing is purely diagnostic reporting and has no effect on how apps or macOS actually run.
- Analytics Data list appears empty even with sharing turned on.
- Reports generate as crashes or specific events occur, so an empty list often just means nothing reportable has happened recently.
Tips and tricks
- Check the Analytics Data log after an app crash to see the exact crash report you could optionally share with the app's developer.
Frequently asked questions
Is this data linked to my identity?
Apple states that analytics data collected this way is designed to be anonymized and not directly tied to your Apple ID or personal identity.
Do I need analytics turned on to receive software updates?
No, software updates and security responses are handled separately in Software Update and aren't dependent on this analytics toggle.
Related settings
- Privacy & SecurityThe Privacy & Security settings pane is the central hub for controlling app permissions, FileVault encryption, Gatekeeper protections, Lockdown Mode, and analytics sharing — essentially every major security and data-access decision on your Mac in one place.
- Activity MonitorActivity Monitor is macOS's built-in tool for seeing exactly what's using your Mac's CPU, memory, energy, disk, and network resources in real time, broken down by individual app and process. It's the first place to look when the Mac feels slow, hot, or the fan is running loudly.
- Software UpdateSoftware Update in System Settings keeps macOS current with the latest security fixes, features, and app compatibility improvements. Regular updates help keep your Mac fast, stable, and protected.
More Troubleshooting guides for macOS
- Erase & Reset MacErase All Content and Settings lets you wipe your Mac back to factory defaults — useful for major troubleshooting, or before selling, trading in, or giving away your device.
- macOS RecoverymacOS Recovery is a built-in set of utilities for reinstalling macOS, restoring from a Time Machine backup, repairing a damaged disk, and resetting a forgotten password — all accessible without needing a working copy of macOS already running.
- Safe ModeSafe Mode starts your Mac with only essential system software and drivers loaded, skipping login items, most fonts, and system caches. It's a diagnostic first step used to determine whether a startup problem is caused by third-party software or a deeper system issue.
- Disk Utility First AidRun Disk Utility's First Aid tool to check a disk or volume for directory and file system errors and attempt automatic repair.
- Apple DiagnosticsUse Apple Diagnostics, launched at startup, to test your Mac's hardware components including memory, logic board, and battery for underlying issues.
- Console: View System LogsUse the Console app to view real-time and historical system logs, crash reports, and diagnostic messages generated by macOS and installed apps.