ios-settings

My recommendations for the ultimate iOS Configuration :)

NOTE: This project can be found on both Codeberg, which will act as the main & preferred way to contribute, and GitHub.

Apple ID

Personal Information -> Communication Preferences -> Announcements -> ❌

Personal Information -> Communication Preferences -> Apps, music, TV and more -> ❌

Sign-In & Security -> Two-Factor Authentication -> ✅ (Use security keys if possible)

Subscriptions -> Renewal Receipts -> ✅

iCloud:

I would not recommend using iCloud if possible, you should instead use i.e. Proton Drive.

Apps using iCloud -> Show All:

• Photos -> Sync this iPhone/iPad -> ❌

• Photos -> Shared Albums -> ❌

• iCloud Drive -> Sync this iPhone/iPad -> ❌

• Passwords and Keychain -> Sync this iPhone/iPad -> ❌

• Messages in iCloud -> Use on this iPhone/iPad -> ❌

• Health -> Sync this iPhone/iPad -> ❌

• iCloud Calendar -> Use on this iPhone/iPad -> ❌

• Contacts -> ❌

• Reminders -> ❌

• Safari -> ❌

• Home -> ❌

• Wallet -> ❌

• Game Center -> ❌

• Siri -> ❌

• Maps -> ❌

• Shortcuts -> ❌

Device Backups -> iCloud Backup -> Back Up This iPhone/iPad -> ❌

Advanced Data Protection -> Turn On Advanced Data Protection

Access iCloud Data on the Web -> ❌

Media & Purchases -> Password Settings -> When Purchasing -> Require After 15 Minutes

Media & Purchases -> Password Settings -> Free Downloads -> Require Password -> ❌

Media & Purchases -> View Account -> Personalized Recommendations -> ❌

Find My -> Find My iPhone/iPad -> ❌

Find My -> Share My Location -> ❌

Contact Key Verification -> Verification in iMessage -> ✅

Airplane Mode

Airplane Mode -> ✅ when not using cell data

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi -> ❌ when not using

Wi-Fi -> Auto-Join Hotspot -> Never

Bluetooth

Bluetooth -> ❌ when not using

Notifications

Show Previews -> When Unlocked

Screen Sharing -> Notifications Off

Siri Suggestions -> Allow Notifications -> ❌

Now, go through and disable notifications for any apps that don't need it.

Focus

Share Across Devices -> ❌

Focus Status -> Share Focus Status -> ❌

Screen Time

Content & Privacy Restrictions -> ✅

Allowed Apps:

• Safari -> ❌ unless you use it

• SharePlay -> ❌

• Siri & Dictation -> ❌

• AirDrop -> ❌

• CarPlay -> ❌

• News -> ❌

• Health -> ❌

Content Restrictions:

• Siri -> Web Search Content -> Don't Allow

Content Restrictions -> Game Center:

• Multiplayer Games -> Don't Allow (if you don't play any games online through Game Center)

• Adding Friends -> Don't Allow

• Connect with Friends -> Don't Allow

• Private Messaging -> Don't Allow

Privacy:

• Calendars -> Don't Allow (if you don't need to give any apps Calendar permission)

• Reminders -> Don't Allow (if you don't need to give any apps Reminders permission)

• Share My Location -> Don't Allow

• Bluetooth Sharing -> Don't Allow

• Speech Recognition -> Don't Allow

• Apple Advertising -> Don't Allow

• Allow Apps to Request to Track -> Don't Allow

Disallow anything else here you don't need/use as well

Share Across Devices -> ❌

General

About -> Name -> Keep this generic, I recommend setting it to Device

Software Update -> Automatic Updates:

• Automatically install -> iOS/iPadOS Updates -> ✅

• Automatically install -> Security Responses & System Files -> ✅

• Automatically download -> iOS/iPadOS Updates -> ✅

AirDrop -> Receiving Off (This won't appear if you disabled AirDrop in Screen Time above)

AirDrop -> Use Cellular Data -> ❌ (This won't appear if you disabled AirDrop in Screen Time above)

AirPlay & Handoff:

• Automatically AirPlay -> Never

• Handoff -> ❌

• Continuity Camera -> ❌

• AirPlay Receiver -> ❌

Background App Refresh -> Go through and disable any apps here that don't actually need to run in the background

Background App Refresh -> Siri -> ❌

Date & Time -> 24-Hour Time -> ❌

Date & Time -> Show AM/PM in Status Bar -> ✅

Date & Time -> Show Date in Status Bar -> ✅

Date & Time -> Set Automatically -> ✅ This is very important for security

Keyboard -> Auto-Capitalization -> ❌

VPN & Device Management -> Remove any profiles here you don't need/use

Control Center

Screen Recording -> ✅

Display & Brightness

Appearance -> Dark

Brightness -> True Tone -> ✅

Night Shift -> Scheduled -> ✅

Night Shift -> From To -> I usually set to Turn On 9:00PM & Turn Off 6:00AM

Night Shift -> Color Temperature -> Set to the middle (Should be default)

Auto-Lock -> Your choice, the lower the better, I usually set to 2 minutes

Home Screen & App Library

Show Suggested and Recent Apps in Dock -> ❌

Accessibility

Display & Text Size -> Reduce Transparency -> ✅ (Optional but recommended for lower-end or older devices to improve performance and battery)

Display & Text Size -> Auto-Brightness -> ❌ (Annoying and better for battery)

Motion -> Reduce Motion -> ✅ (Optional but recommended for lower-end or older devices to improve performance and battery)

Motion -> Auto-Play Message Effects -> ❌ (Optional but recommended for lower-end or older devices to improve performance and battery)

Motion -> Auto-Play Animated Images -> ❌ (Optional but recommended for lower-end or older devices to improve performance and battery)

Motion -> Auto-Play Video Previews -> ❌

Touch -> Call Audio Routing -> Auto-Answer Calls -> ❌ (Should be default)

Voice Control -> ❌ (if you don't use/need it)

Home Button -> Press and hold to speak -> Off

Keyboards -> Sticky Keys -> ❌ (Important for gaming)

Keyboards -> Sticky Keys -> Toggle With Shift Key -> ❌ (Important for gaming)

Keyboards -> Slow Keys -> ❌

Sound Recognition -> ❌ (Should be default)

Siri & Search

This won't appear if you disabled Siri in Screen Time above

Ask Siri -> Listen for -> Off

Ask Siri -> Press Home for Siri -> ❌

Ask Siri -> Messaging with Siri -> Automatically Send Messages -> ❌

Before Searching -> Show Suggestions -> ❌

Before Searching -> Show Recents -> ❌

Content from Apple -> Show in Look Up -> ❌

Content from Apple -> Show in Spotlight -> ❌

Suggestions from Apple -> Allow Notifications -> ❌

Suggestions from Apple -> Show in App Library -> ❌

Suggestions from Apple -> Show When Sharing -> ❌

Suggestions from Apple -> Show When Listening -> ❌

Touch/Face ID & Passcode

I would recomend setting a strong passcode here and avoiding using Touch ID, Face ID, and a PIN if possible.

Use Touch/Face ID For:

(Ignore these 4 settings if you wish to use Touch/Face ID)

• iPhone/iPad Unlock -> ❌

• Wallet & Apple Pay -> ❌

• iTunes & App Store -> ❌

• Password AutoFill -> ❌

Require Passcode -> Your choice, the lower the better, I usually set to Immediately

Allow Access when locked:

You should disable anything here you don't need/use

• Today View and Search -> ❌

• Notification Center -> ❌

• Control Center -> ❌

• Live Activities -> ❌

• Home Control -> ❌

• Return Missed Calls -> ❌

• Accessories -> ❌

Erase Data -> ✅

Battery

Battery Percentage -> ✅

(You could also enable Low Power Mode if you need to save battery)

Privacy & Security

Location Services -> ❌ (if you don't use/need it)

Location Services:

• Share My Location -> Find My iPhone/iPad -> ❌

• Share My Location -> ❌

• Siri & Dictation -> Never

Disable location access for any apps that don't need it here

System Services:

• Alerts & Shortcuts Automations -> ❌

• Apple Pay Merchant Identification -> ❌ (Unless you use Apple Pay)

• Device Management -> ❌

• Find My iPhone/iPad -> ❌

• HomeKit -> ❌

• Share My Location -> ❌

• Suggestions & Search -> ❌

• System Customization -> ❌

• Significant Locations -> ❌

• Significant Locations -> Clear History

• iPhone/iPad Analytics -> ❌

• Routing & Traffic -> ❌

• Improve Maps -> ❌

• Status Bar Icon -> ✅

Tracking -> Allow Apps to Request to Track -> ❌

Go through all permissions here and remove permissions for any apps that don't need them

Motion & Fitness -> Fitness Tracking -> ❌ (if you don't need/use it)

Sensitive Content Warning -> ❌

Analytics & Improvements -> Share iPhone/iPad Analytics -> ❌

Analytics & Improvements -> Share iCloud Analytics -> ❌

Analytics & Improvements -> Improve Siri & Dictation -> ❌

Apple Advertising -> Personalized Ads -> ❌

Lockdown Mode -> Turn On Lockdown Mode

Lockdown Mode -> 2G Cellular Connectivity -> ❌

App Store

Siri & Search:

• Learn from this App -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Show on Home Screen -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Suggest App -> ❌

Automatic Downloads -> App Downloads -> ❌

Automatic Downloads -> App Updates -> ✅

Automatic Downloads -> In-App Content -> ✅

Cellular Data -> Automatic Downloads -> ✅

Cellular Data -> App Downloads -> Always Allow

Video Autoplay -> Off

In-App Ratings & Reviews -> ❌

Offload Unused Apps -> ❌

Wallet & Apple Pay

Compatbile Cards -> ❌

Passwords

Security Recommendations -> Detect Compromised Passwords -> ✅ (This is done locally on device through a list of passwords, Apple doesn't get sent your passwords)

Password Options -> AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys -> ❌

Password Options -> Delete After Use -> ✅

Contacts

Share Name and Photo -> Off

Calendar

Location Suggestions -> ❌

Reminders

Show Suggestions -> ❌

Messages

iMessage -> ❌ (if you don't need/use it)

Safari

Siri & Search:

• Learn from this App -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Show in App -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Show on Home Screen -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Suggest App -> ❌

Default Browser App -> Set to you preferred browser of choice

Search -> Search Engine -> DuckDuckGo

Search -> Also Use in Private Browsing -> ✅

Search -> Search Engine Suggestions -> ❌

Search -> Safari Suggestions -> ❌

Search -> Preload Top Hit -> ❌

General -> AutoFill:

You should not save info in your browser like this for security reasons, use a dedicated password manager like Bitwarden or Proton Pass instead

• Use Contact Info -> ❌

• Credit Cards -> ❌

General -> Show Links on Hover -> ❌

General -> Block Pop-ups -> ✅

General -> Downloads -> On My iPhone/iPad

General -> Downloads -> Remove Download List Items -> Upon successful download

Tabs -> Close Tabs -> After One Day

Privacy & Security -> Prevent Cross-Site Tracking -> ✅

Privacy & Security -> Hide IP Address - From Trackers

Privacy & Security -> Fraudulent Website Warning -> ✅

Settings for websites -> Camera -> Deny (Obviously don't set if you use sites that need camera access, but you can still set exceptions for sites if needed)

Settings for websites -> Microphone -> Deny (Obviously don't set if you use sites that need microphone access, but you can still set exceptions for sites if needed)

Settings for websites -> Location -> Deny

Advanced:

Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection -> All Browsing

Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement -> ❌

Check for Apple Pay -> ❌

JavaScript -> ✅ (Should be default, disabling this WILL cause breakage and doesn't appear to be toggable per-site, not worth the trouble IMO)

Translate

Cellular Data -> ❌

On-Device Mode -> ✅

Maps

Siri & Search:

• Learn from this App -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Show in App -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Show on Home Screen -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Suggest App -> ❌

Contribute to Maps -> Ratings and Photos -> ❌

Contribute to Maps -> Show Ratings and Photos Suggestions -> ❌

Photo Use -> Allow Photo Providers to Use Your Photos -> ❌

Shortcuts

iCloud Sync -> ❌

Private Sharing -> ❌

Advanced -> Allow Running Scripts -> ❌

Advanced -> Allow Sharing Large Amounts of Data -> ❌

Health Data

Siri & Search:

• Learn from this App -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Show on Home Screen -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Suggest App -> ❌

TV

Cellular Data -> ❌ (if not needed)

Streaming options -> Wi-Fi -> High Quality

Streaming options -> Wi-Fi -> High Quality

Device preferences -> Use Play History -> ❌

Auto-Play Next Video -> ❌

Purchases and Rentals -> Video Definition -> High Definition

Photos

Siri & Search:

• Learn from this App -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Show on Home Screen -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Suggest App -> ❌

iCloud Photos -> ❌

Shared Albums -> ❌

Use Passcode -> ✅

Show Hidden Album -> ✅

Cellular Data -> ❌

Cellular Data -> Unlimited Updates -> ❌

Auto-Play Videos and Live Photos -> ❌

Memories & Featured Photos -> Show Featured Content -> ❌

Camera

Record Video -> Choose highest quality & highest frame rate available

Preserve Settings -> Camera Mode -> ✅

Preserve Settings -> Live Photo -> ✅

HDR (High Dynamic Range) -> Smart HDR -> ✅

Podcasts

Cellular Data -> ❌

Sync Library -> ❌

Automatically download -> Off

Continuous Playback -> ❌

From here, I would recommend going through all of your apps and removing any unnecessary permissions. For every app, I would also recommend setting:

Siri & Search:

• Learn from this App -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Show in App -> ❌ (if it appears)

• Suggestions -> Show on Home Screen -> ❌

• Suggestions -> Suggest App -> ❌

Additional Recommendations:

• I would recommend using Brave as your browser of choice. (See recommended settings here).

• Use a content blocking extension like AdGuard if you use Safari. (See recommended settings here)

• Use a private, secure, & reputable DNS provider of your choice. I would recommend setting up your own NextDNS configuration if you are able to (See my recommendations for NextDNS here), otherwise I would recommend Quad9.

• Use a (reputable) VPN. I would generally recommend either Mullvad, IVPN, or ProtonVPN.