apple data and privacyApple now allows its customers to download a copy of their personally identifiable data from Apple apps and services. This can include purchase or app usage history, Apple Music and Game Center statistics, marketing history, AppleCare support history, and any data stored on Apple servers, including the likes of calendars, photos, and documents.

This article outlines the steps you need to take to request a copy of your data from Apple. As of writing, the service is available to customers in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. If you live in a country or region that's not listed above, you can still contact Apple to request a copy of your data.

Apple promises to fulfill all data requests within seven days. Bear in mind that the size of the data download depends on the items that you choose to include (iCloud Photo Libraries can be several gigabytes, for example), but Apple will divide it into multiple files to make the download more manageable.

How to Request a Copy of Your Apple Account Data

  1. Open a web browser on your Mac, PC, or iPad, and navigate to privacy.apple.com. (Note: this procedure won't work on an iPhone).

  2. Enter your Apple ID email and password, and authorize two-factor authentication on another device if prompted.
    get a copy of your apple data

  3. On the Apple ID & Privacy page, click Continue.
    get a copy of your apple data5

  4. Under "Get a copy of your data", click Get Started.
    get a copy of your apple data3

  5. On the next page you'll see a list of data categories. Click the selection box next to each category that you want include in your download. You can refine inclusions from certain categories by clicking Show more to reveal sub-categories of data, or click Select All to include all your information.
    get a copy of your apple data2

  6. Click Continue.

  7. Using the dropdown menu on the next page, choose a maximum file size that you want to download (1GB, 2GB, 5GB, 10GB, or 25GB). Apple divides the data into files of this size or smaller. You can review your selection below the dropdown.
    get a copy of your apple data1

  8. Click Complete Request to confirm.

Apple will email you to let you know it is preparing your data, with a reminder that this process can take up to seven days. As a security measure, Apple uses this time to verify that the request was made by you.

applepreparingdatafordownload
You can view and check check the status of your request at any time by visiting privacy.apple.com/account.

Top Rated Comments

MasterMac Avatar
87 months ago
So i just logged in on my iMac and straight away i get warning messages sent to my iPhone, iPad, and the same iMac i'm actually using, stating that a new device has signed into my account. It then gives me a two-factor authorisation code on the iMac that i'm currently using to input into the iMac i'm currently using.

I've had this iMac for 8 years....
You're missing the point where the login was done on a trusted device. The entire point of two factor authentication is something you know and something you have. If Apple considers the iMac trusted, then why is it asking for a PIN?

Imagine if someone else gained access to the iMac via their creds. What good is two factor if the PIN is sent to the intruder so they can just enter it?
I had the same bug, its sending me the code on the same machine it is asking me for... Very unsafe.
[doublepost=1527083880][/doublepost]

The code should not be sent to the same device! It should be sent to my iPhone or iPad, not the same machine I was using. Imagine someone else like a thief using my Mac and the code is sent straight to him!
The reason for this is that a browser does not have access to the "trusted device" data that is set up in your iCloud settings on your computer. It's, in effect, sandboxed away from all of that. This is why you get a pop up notification with the code when you're signing into an Apple webpage. Whether you're using Safari, Chrome, or Firefox, the only way a browser can send the "I'm a trusted device" flag is via a cookie, which it won't have the first time you log in.

You can test out the same behavior on iOS. Open up Safari on your iPhone or iPad, and go sign into http://appleid.apple.com. It will show a popup right there on the iOS device you're trying to sign into... for the same reason: the browser can't send the necessary "trusted device" settings the first time.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
belvdr Avatar
87 months ago
That’s how two factor authorization works. You attempt a log in and Apple sends an authorization code to your trusted devices to make sure the login attempt is from you. This method prevents a bad actor from getting into your account from an untrusted device even if they know your password.

You can read about it here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915
You're missing the point where the login was done on a trusted device. The entire point of two factor authentication is something you know and something you have. If Apple considers the iMac trusted, then why is it asking for a PIN?

Imagine if someone else gained access to the iMac via their creds. What good is two factor if the PIN is sent to the intruder so they can just enter it?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Krayzkat Avatar
87 months ago
It’s not a bug. Your iMac is a known, trusted device, registered to your AppleID. An ATM on the street corner isn’t.
Well if it was a known trusted device (which it should be after 8 years) why was it asking for an authorisation code?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
belvdr Avatar
87 months ago
Read Apple’s web page again. Nobody else can use their credentials to use your stuff or login to your account. Other people with accounts on your machine can’t get into your account nor will they see the two factor authorization code. Sending an authorization code to your trusted devices is another level of security. You have to keep your personal login credentials to yourself or all bets are off. If you let other people use your trusted devices and share your password, then they can do anything they want with your stuff.
You are missing the point. What is the advantage of sending a PIN to a trusted device to ensure its trusted?

A PIN should not be sent to a device that is requesting access. It's the same as trusting the password only.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Krayzkat Avatar
87 months ago
Guys I’m not complaining i am merely highlighting what must surely be a bug.

Tell me what the point of sending a device authorisation code to the actual device that is in question?

Imagine visiting an ATM at a bank and when you put your card in it asks for the PIN number but at the same time shows on the screen what the PIN number is.....
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Krayzkat Avatar
87 months ago
You're missing the point where the login was done on a trusted device. The entire point of two factor authentication is something you know and something you have. If Apple considers the iMac trusted, then why is it asking for a PIN?

Imagine if someone else gained access to the iMac via their creds. What good is two factor if the PIN is sent to the intruder so they can just enter it?
I agree that doesn’t make sense. The two factor should use another trusted device to show the pin, not the computer who is requesting the pin. I can’t say I’ve had that happen. My MacBook will send a pin to my phone or iPad but not to itself. Same with the iPhone and iPad. They won’t send it to themselves but to another trusted device. Very odd indeed
You are missing the point. What is the advantage of sending a PIN to a trusted device to ensure its trusted?

A PIN should not be sent to a device that is requesting access. It's the same as trusting the password only.
I had the same bug, its sending me the code on the same machine it is asking me for... Very unsafe.
[doublepost=1527083880][/doublepost]

The code should not be sent to the same device! It should be sent to my iPhone or iPad, not the same machine I was using. Imagine someone else like a thief using my Mac and the code is sent straight to him!
Exactly!

Why can’t the other people see what seems to be common sense?

Are the people who say it’s working as intended mis-reading everything in their hurry to defend Apple?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Air Size Feature

'iPhone 17 Air' With Rear Camera Bar Allegedly Shown in Leaked Photo

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:46 pm PST by
A leaker known as "Majin Bu" today shared an alleged image of a component for the rumored, ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air" model. The blurry, pixelated image shows a pair of rear iPhone shells with a pill-shaped, raised camera bar along the top. On the left side of the bar, there is a circular cutout that appears to be for a single rear camera. On the right side of the bar, there appears to be an ...
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Leak Reveals All-New Design

Friday January 17, 2025 2:42 pm PST by
iOS 19 is still around six months away from being announced, but a new leak has allegedly revealed a completely redesigned Camera app. Based on footage it obtained, YouTube channel Front Page Tech shared a video showing what the new Camera app will apparently look like, with the key change being translucent menus for camera controls. Overall, the design of these menus looks similar to...
2024 App Store Awards

Apple Explains Why It Removed TikTok From the App Store in the U.S.

Sunday January 19, 2025 6:58 am PST by
Apple on late Saturday removed TikTok from the App Store in the U.S., and it has now explained why it was required to take this action. Last year, the U.S. passed a law that required Chinese company ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok due to potential national security risks, or else the platform would be banned. That law went into effect today, and companies like Apple and Google...
iPhone SE Dynamic Island Majin Bu

iPhone SE 4 Leak Shows Dynamic Island, Casts Doubt on Rumored 'iPhone 16E' Name

Monday January 20, 2025 9:01 am PST by
A new iPhone SE is widely rumored to launch this year, and the device has potentially been confirmed today by known leaker Evan Blass. In a private social media post, Blass shared an image of what appears to be source code mentioning an iPhone SE (4th Gen), which casts doubt on the alternative "iPhone 16E" name rumored for the device. However, the name in the source code could be a...
iOS 18

Here Are Apple's Full Release Notes for iOS 18.3

Tuesday January 21, 2025 4:31 pm PST by
Apple provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 18.3 today, and with it comes release notes confirming what's new. While we knew about several of the features that are in the update, there are some lesser known tweaks and bug fixes. The update adds new Visual Intelligence features for iPhone 16 models, it tweaks Notification summaries on all...
airtag 4 pack blue

AirTag 2 Launching This Year With These 3 New Features

Sunday January 19, 2025 8:11 am PST by
After a four-year wait, a new AirTag is finally expected to launch in 2025. Below, we recap rumored upgrades for the accessory. A few months ago, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was aiming to release the AirTag 2 around the middle of 2025. While he did not offer a more specific timeframe, that means the AirTag 2 could be announced by the end of June. The original AirTag was announced...
ipad pro 2024

New iPad Pro Reportedly Launching This Year

Tuesday January 21, 2025 6:40 am PST by
Apple plans to release at least one new iPad Pro model this year, according to a supplier-focused report today from Korean website The Elec. It is likely that the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models would be updated simultaneously. After receiving an OLED display last year, the report said the iPad Pro will receive only "minor" changes this year. Overall, the next iPad Pro is expected to...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Rumored to Be Compatible With These iPhones

Saturday January 18, 2025 10:28 am PST by
iOS 19 will not drop support for any iPhone models, according to French website iPhoneSoft.fr. The report cited a source who said iOS 19 will be compatible with any iPhone that can run iOS 18, which would mean the following models: iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhon...
truecaller

Truecaller iOS Update Rolls Out Real-Time Caller ID Support

Wednesday January 22, 2025 2:07 am PST by
Popular caller ID app Truecaller is rolling out an update that brings real-time caller ID support to its iOS subscribers. Apple introduced Live Caller ID Lookup in iOS 18, allowing third-party caller ID apps to securely retrieve information about a caller from their servers, hence today's Truecaller update. iPhone users can enable the Live Caller ID Lookup feature by going to Settings ➝ ...