Use private Wi-Fi addresses on Apple devices

To improve privacy, your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple Watch or Apple Vision Pro will identify itself to each network using a different Wi-Fi address, and may rotate (change) the address periodically.

To communicate with a Wi-Fi network, a device must identify itself to the network using a unique network address called a Media Access Control (MAC) address. If the device always uses the same Wi-Fi MAC address across all networks, network operators and other network observers can more easily relate that address to the device's network activity and location over time. This allows a kind of user tracking or profiling that affects all devices on all Wi-Fi networks. The Private Wi-Fi Address feature is designed to address this concern.

Turn this feature off or on for a network

Find out how this feature works

Learn more

Turn this feature off or on for a network

If your device can’t join a Wi-Fi network, can’t access network resources or the internet after joining or can’t use certain software with private addresses, install the latest software updates, then try again before deciding whether you want turn this feature off.

Businesses and other organisations may need to update their Wi-Fi network security to work with private addresses. Or they can use an MDM-defined network profile to turn this feature off for enrolled devices that join their Wi-Fi network. Find out more about private addresses and enterprise networks.

iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Vision Pro

1. Open the Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi.

2. If you aren’t currently connected to the network, tap Edit in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

3. Tap the More Info button next to the network name.

4. Configure the setting:

   • If using iOS 18, iPadOS 18, visionOS 2 or later, tap Private Wi-Fi Address, then tap Off, Fixed or Rotating. Find out more about these settings.

   • If you’re using an earlier OS, turn Private Wi-Fi Address off or on.

Mac

1. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Wi-Fi in the sidebar.

2. Click the Details button or More Info button next to the network name.

3. From the menu next to Private Wi-Fi Address, choose Off, Fixed or Rotating. Find out more about these settings.

Apple Watch

1. Open the Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi.

2. Tap the name of the network. If you aren’t currently connected to the network, swipe left on its name and tap the More Info button.

3. Configure the setting:

   • If using watchOS 11 or later, scroll down and tap Off, Fixed or Rotating (whichever setting is shown), then choose a setting. Find out more about these settings.

   • If you’re using an earlier version of watchOS, turn Private Address off or on.

Find out how this feature works

By default, your device will improve privacy by using a different MAC address for each Wi-Fi network. This unique MAC address is your device's private Wi-Fi address, which it will only use for that network.

If you erase all content and settings or reset network settings on your device, it will use a different private address the next time it joins the network.

Prior to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and visionOS 2:

• If you make your device forget the network, it will also forget the private address it used with that network, unless it has been less than two weeks since the last time it was made to forget that network.

• If your device hasn’t joined the network in six weeks, it will use a different private address the next time it joins the network.

Starting with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11 and visionOS 2:

• If you make your device forget the network, it will also forget the private address it used with that network, unless it has been less than 24 hours since the last time it was made to forget that network.

• The Private Wi-Fi Address feature offers these settings, which you can change at any time:

  • Off: When set to Off, your device uses its hardware MAC address.

  • Fixed: When set to Fixed, your device uses a private address, but the private address doesn’t rotate, regardless of the network’s security or length of time since you last joined the network. Your device will choose Fixed by default when joining a new network that uses WPA2 or stronger security.

  • Rotating: When set to Rotating, your device uses a private address that rotates to a different private address every two weeks. Your device will choose Rotating by default when joining a new network that uses weak security or no security.

Learn more

• Find out how to connect to Wi-Fi from iPhone or iPad, Mac, Apple Watch or Apple Vision Pro.

• Find out more about recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points, including information about privacy warnings or weak-security warnings related to a Wi-Fi network you’ve joined.

• If you manage a Wi-Fi router that has been configured to notify you when a new device joins the network, you will be notified when a device first joins with a private address.