Safari in iOS 11 introduces a new tracking prevention feature that's meant to protect your privacy and make it harder for companies to track your browsing habits across multiple websites.

Disabling Cross-Site Tracking isn't going to cut down on the number of ads that you see, but it will make it harder for advertisers to gather data about what you've been browsing to deliver targeted ads. Here's how to enable it:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down to Safari and tap it.
  3. Scroll down to "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking."safariios11crosssitetracking
  4. Toggle it on so it's green.

This section of the Settings app also includes other Safari settings that are worth turning on if you haven't done so already, including "Ask Websites Not to Track Me," "Block Pop-ups," and "Fraudulent Website Warning." You can also restrict website access to cookies, the camera and microphone, and Apple Pay.

Tag: Safari
Related Forum: iOS 11

Top Rated Comments

dannyyankou Avatar
101 months ago
I appreciate Macrumors for putting this info out. 9to5mac tried defending cross-site tracking, probably because they benefit from it.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BlazednSleepy Avatar
101 months ago
Looks like it was enabled for me by default. You can cry and complain about "Tims" apple, but one things for sure, Apple is clearly a leader in respecting and protecting our privacy. No other giant corporation that I can think has made this more clear.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
colbertnation Avatar
101 months ago
I dislike a lot of things about Tim Cook's Apple, but their adherence to privacy is definitely appreciated!

Biggest drawback that is preventing me from switching to Android anytime soon is their lack of privacy and monetizing customer data.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iapplelove Avatar
101 months ago
Mine was already toggled to on.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gixxerfool Avatar
101 months ago
I know I’m going against the grain here, but if we’re going to see ads anyway, I’d rather see ads about things that interest me or items that I’ve been shopping for lately. Isn’t that far better than seeing generic “Lose Your Belly Fat Using This 1 Weird Trick” garbage ads?!
I see your point. My problem is when gift shopping it seems to hang on those items and I have my wife or daughter shoulder riding it has almost been an issue.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gixxerfool Avatar
101 months ago
This is such a welcomed feature. It’s crazy how these ads follow me all over.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Chase Sapphire Reserve Apple Perk Feature

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will...
maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
foldable iphone mockup

Foldable iPhone Leak Reveals New Camera Details

Thursday June 26, 2025 3:01 am PDT by
A new rumor today surfaced about Apple's book-style foldable iPhone, set to be released next year, and this time it's about the cameras. Mockup of foldable iPhone in its unfolded state (Image: Digital Chat Station) In a previous report, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expects the foldable iPhone (or "iPhone Fold" for short) to include a dual-lens rear camera, but Kuo provided no other...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in a Few Months With These 12 New Features

Thursday June 26, 2025 2:00 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are around three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Tuesday June 24, 2025 3:40 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...
anker power bank recall

PSA: Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

Friday June 27, 2025 4:16 pm PDT by
Popular accessory maker Anker this month launched two separate recalls for its power banks, some of which may be a fire risk. The first recall affects Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Banks sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 in the United States. Anker says that these power banks have a "potential issue" with the battery inside, which can lead to overheating, melting of plastic...
iPhone 17 Air Size Feature

iPhone 17 Air Screen Protector Reveals a Potential Design Difference

Thursday June 26, 2025 11:05 am PDT by
A screen protector that is allegedly designed for Apple's rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air model has revealed a potential design difference. Based on an image shared today by a leaker known as Majin Bu, the iPhone 17 Air's front camera may be positioned to the left of the Dynamic Island, rather than to the right of it like on iPhone models released over the past few years. It is unclear...
All Screen iPhone 2030 Feature

Here's What Apple's iPhone Could Look Like Every Year Through 2030

Thursday June 26, 2025 5:24 am PDT by
Earlier this week, reputable display analyst Ross Young of Counterpoint Research reignited discussion around recent reports about the display changes we should expect for next year's iPhone 18 Pro, and perhaps more notably, broader changes coming to the 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027 – as well as what lies ahead for Apple's flagship device for the rest of the decade. Contradicting a...