Must-do privacy settings on your iPhone in iOS 18.1

With Apple rolling out the latest iOS 18.1 update, privacy has become an even hotter topic. The update introduces advanced AI capabilities through Apple Intelligence and Siri, giving your device more autonomy in understanding and learning from your behaviors. 

While this sounds promising, it also means that your iPhone might be capturing and analyzing sensitive information, especially if you have certain financial or health-related apps on your device.

We’ll walk you through which settings to adjust, why it’s important and how to ensure that Apple’s AI isn’t overstepping its boundaries with your personal data.

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Why privacy matters more than ever in iOS 18.1

iOS 18.1 brings a slew of AI-powered features aimed at enhancing your experience with Siri and Apple Intelligence, but it’s worth questioning: How much does your iPhone really need to know about you? If you’re like most people, privacy is a top priority, especially when it comes to sensitive data such as banking information, health details and your location.

When Apple Intelligence is enabled, it starts “learning” from your interactions with certain apps, creating a digital profile that can theoretically tailor your experience. This is a double-edged sword; while personalization might sound appealing, it’s crucial to consider what data Apple’s AI is learning and why you might want to limit its reach.

Apple Intelligence and Siri on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Apple Intelligence requirements for iPhone

Devices: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max

Settings: Device language and Siri language set to a supported language.

Storage: 4 GB available storage.

Operating systems: iOS 18.1, update to iOS 18.1 via Settings > General > Software Update. If available, tap Update Now and begin downloading and installing iOS 18.1

Steps to update your iPhone’s software (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Recommended apps to turn off ‘Learn from this App’

Financial apps: Banking and finance apps often contain highly sensitive information. Disabling learning on these apps prevents Apple Intelligence from accessing details about your transactions, account balances or other financial data.

Health and fitness apps: Health-related apps can reveal personal information that you may not…