About iCloud Private Relay

iCloud Private Relay — part of an iCloud+ subscription — helps protect your privacy when you browse the web in Safari.

How Private Relay works

Normally when you browse the web, information contained in your web traffic, such as your DNS records and IP address, can be seen by your network provider and the websites you visit. This information could be used to determine your identity and build a profile of your location and browsing history over time.

iCloud Private Relay is designed to protect your privacy by ensuring that when you browse the web in Safari, no single party — not even Apple — can see both who you are and what sites you're visiting.

When Private Relay is enabled, your requests are sent through two separate, secure internet relays.

  • Your IP address is visible to your network provider and to the first relay, which is operated by Apple. Your DNS records are encrypted, so neither party can see the address of the website you’re trying to visit.

  • The second relay, which is operated by a third-party content provider, generates a temporary IP address, decrypts the name of the website you requested, and connects you to the site.

This diagram shows how your web browsing requests are sent through two secure intent relays to keep your browsing private

All of this is done using the latest internet standards to maintain a high-performance browsing experience while protecting your privacy.

Set up iCloud Private Relay on all of your devices

Manage Private Relay for specific websites, networks, or system settings

iCloud Private Relay is not available in all countries or regions. Without access to your IP address, some websites may require extra steps to sign in or access content.

Private Relay and network speed tests

Private Relay uses a single, secure connection to maintain privacy and performance. This design may impact how throughput is reflected in network speed tests that typically open several simultaneous connections to deliver the highest possible result. While some speed test measurements may appear lower when Private Relay is enabled, your actual browsing experience remains fast and private.

Additional resources for developers and network administrators

If you're a website owner or developer, network administrator, or app developer, learn how to provide the best possible experience for users of Private Relay on your network.

Contact the vendor for additional information.

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