How to Turn on Apple's Advanced Data Protection for iCloud on iPhone

By Andrew Myrick 0 comments Last updated December 13, 2022

Apple’s stance on privacy and security is a big reason why the company continues to gain new users on a regular basis. The company has shown that it’s ready and willing to lead the way when it comes to keeping its user’s data private and secure. As another example of this Apple recently announced three major “advanced security features”, starting with Advanced Data Protection for iCloud.

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When we talk about keeping your data safe and secure, we aren’t just talking about having a passcode or password on your device. This goes a long way in its own right but is more focused on someone getting ahold of your physical device and trying to access your information.

Because there so much of our lives rely on the cloud, namely iCloud, Apple is taking additional measures to keep your information as secure as possible. The introduction of Advanced Data Protection for iCloud comes following the release of Lockdown Mode with iOS 16, along with the various on-device security modules built into your iPhone. Here’s Apple’s official description of what this new feature is:

“Advanced Data Protection is Apple’s highest level of cloud data security, giving users the choice to protect the vast majority of their most sensitive iCloud data with end-to-end encryption so that it can only be decrypted on their trusted devices. For users who opt-in, Advanced Data Protection keeps most iCloud data protected even in the case of a data breach in the cloud.”

With Advanced Data Protection for iCloud enabled, here are the different categories that will be encrypted:

The list above doesn’t include everything that Apple provides encryption for. There are other apps and pieces of information that are already encrypted, such as data from Health and Maps, along with passwords that are saved to your iCloud account through the iCloud Keychain.

According to Apple, with Advanced Data Protection for iCloud enabled, “the total number of data categories protected using end-to-end encryption rises to 23”. Apple also points out that iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendar are the only remaining “major iCloud data categories that are not covered” because “of the need to interoperate with the global email, contacts, and calendar systems.”

As is the case with most of the new features offered by Apple, Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is not enabled by default. Instead, Apple is giving its users the opportunity to “opt-in” if they want the added security. Plus, if this feature is enabled, you’ll need to set up an alternative recovery method which involves selecting a specific contact or writing down your iCloud account’s Recovery Key.

If you decide that you want to turn on Apple’s Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, here are the steps that you need to take:

In the event that you would prefer to have a Recovery Key for your Apple account as opposed to a Recovery Contact, this is also possible. According to Apple, the Recovery Key is a “28-character code that you keep in a safe place. You can use it to recover your data if you lose access to your account.” Here’s how you can set up and create a Recovery Key for your Apple ID:

I know we already touched on this, but it’s extremely important to point this out again. Make sure you write down and save your Recovery Key and keep it in a safe place. Without this, you won’t be able to access your Apple account in the event that you lose access to it. Also, Apple notes that the company will not have access to your Recovery Key and is unable to unlock your account without it.

If you make the decision to turn off Advanced Data Protection, this is also possible and can be done right from your iPhone.

While this feature will be available for anyone using the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS, Apple states that it will first be available to “US users by the end of the year.” The company has plans to begin rolling out Advanced Data Protection to more regions across the globe “in early 2023.”

Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.

He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.