Table of Contents
How does it work?
Which devices and systems support Private Relay?
What are the benefits and limitations of using Private Relay?
The benefits are obvious:
But there are several things to pay attention to:
How to enable Private Relay?
Home Operation and Maintenance Mac OS What is Private Relay in iCloud and how does it work?

What is Private Relay in iCloud and how does it work?

Jul 14, 2025 am 12:11 AM
icloud

Private Relay is a privacy protection feature launched by Apple that hides user identities and browsing content through encryption and segmentation of network requests. The specific operation is divided into two steps: one is to encrypt the data and forward it through two relay servers. The first is to know the IP and not know the access content, and the second is to know the content and not know the user's identity; the second is to achieve privacy isolation, so that even Apple cannot obtain the complete record. Supported devices must meet: iOS 15/iPadOS 15/macOS Monterey and above systems, log in to Apple ID and subscribe to iCloud services, and are only available for Safari browsers. Its benefits include preventing ISP tracking, no additional settings are required, default activation, etc.; the limitations are that it does not support the wall surfing, only protects Safari traffic, and some websites may restrict access. The enable mode is: Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Enable iCloud → Enter "Password and Security" to enable Private Relay. This feature is suitable for users who want to improve their privacy online easily. Although it cannot solve all problems, it is simple and practical.

Private Relay is a privacy protection feature launched by Apple in its iCloud service. Its function is to hide your web browsing behavior and make it impossible for third parties to easily track which websites you visit. Simply put, it is like a "network proxy" that helps you block the real information exposed when surfing the Internet.

How does it work?

How Private Relay works can be divided into two key steps:

  • Data Encryption and Segmented : When you access a web page using the Safari browser, the request is encrypted and forwarded through two different relay servers.
  • The first hop only knows your IP address, but doesn’t know what you are visiting; the second hop knows which website you are visiting, but doesn’t know who you are . In this way, no one can master the two information of "who are you" and "what are you looking at".

This mechanism focuses more on privacy isolation than traditional VPNs, because Apple itself cannot see the complete browsing history.


Which devices and systems support Private Relay?

Private Relay is not available on all Apple devices, and it currently has some limitations:

  • Requires iOS 15 or higher, iPadOS 15 or higher, or macOS Monterey and update system
  • Must be logged in to your Apple ID and subscribe to the iCloud service (this is a paid upgrade)
  • Currently only supported by Safari browsers, other browsers such as Chrome or Firefox will not automatically enable this feature

In addition, some countries and regions may not provide this service for legal reasons.


What are the benefits and limitations of using Private Relay?

The benefits are obvious:

  • Internet service providers (such as your broadband operator) cannot see which websites you visited
  • Apple has also designed it to "can't see the complete record", which is theoretically safer
  • Automatically open, no additional settings or installation of the app

But there are several things to pay attention to:

  • It is not a traditional "wall-over" tool, nor can it help you bypass regional restrictions
  • Only protect traffic in Safari browser, access to App or other browsers will not be affected
  • Some websites may detect that you are using a relay service, thus limiting access or requiring verification

How to enable Private Relay?

If you meet the conditions, the method to enable it is very simple:

  1. Open iPhone Settings → Apple ID → iCloud
  2. Enable iCloud
  3. Go to "Password and Security" → Turn on "Private Relay"

As long as you subscribe to iCloud, it will be enabled by default. You can occasionally check if it is still in effect, especially after replacing the device or resetting the network settings.

Basically that's it. Although Private Relay cannot solve all privacy issues, it is a convenient and practical gadget, especially suitable for people who don’t want to install a bunch of plug-ins and apps and want to improve the security of Internet access.

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