Private Wi-Fi Address on iPhone: What It Is and When to Turn It Off
Short answer: Private Wi-Fi Address makes your iPhone use a different, random Wi-Fi address on each network instead of its real hardware address, so networks cannot easily track you from place to place. It is on by default. Turn it off only if a network needs to recognise your iPhone. You will find it under Settings > Wi-Fi > (i).
What a Private Wi-Fi Address is
Every device that connects to Wi-Fi has a hardware identifier called a MAC address, written as six pairs of letters and numbers such as 3C:22:FB:12:AB:90. If your iPhone used the same one everywhere, every cafe, airport and shop could recognise it each time you visited.
With Private Wi-Fi Address, your iPhone uses a randomly generated address for each Wi-Fi network instead. The network sees that address, not your iPhone's real one. Apple introduced this in iOS 14, and it is switched on for networks by default.
Is it the same as my IP address?
No. They are different things that people often mix up.
| Wi-Fi (MAC) address | IP address | |
|---|---|---|
| What it identifies | Your iPhone's Wi-Fi connection on a local network | Your device or connection on a network or the internet |
| Looks like | 3C:22:FB:12:AB:90 | 192.168.1.24 |
| Assigned by | Your iPhone (random, per network) | Your router or ISP |
| Seen by | The Wi-Fi network you join | Your router, and websites for your public IP |
The two are linked, though. Many routers hand out the same local IP address to the same Wi-Fi address each time. So when your iPhone's Wi-Fi address changes, your router may give it a different local IP address as well. It does not change the public IP address that websites see. For that, see how to hide your IP address.
How to see your Private Wi-Fi Address
- Open Settings > Wi-Fi.
- Tap the (i) next to the network you are connected to.
- Look at the Private Wi-Fi Address switch. Below it, Wi-Fi Address shows the address your iPhone is using on this network.
On newer versions of iOS you may see a choice for how the address behaves, such as keeping it fixed or letting it change over time. Menu wording varies by version.
When the address changes
- Each Wi-Fi network gets its own address, so it differs from network to network.
- It can change if you forget a network and rejoin, or if you reset your network settings.
- Turning the setting off makes your iPhone use its real hardware address on that network.
Reasons to turn it off
Most people should leave it on. These are the situations where turning it off for one network helps:
- Your router uses a MAC allow list. If only listed devices may join, a random address is not on the list.
- You have a fixed IP address reserved for your iPhone (a DHCP reservation) that is tied to its Wi-Fi address. A new address means a new IP. See how to set a static IP.
- A school, workplace, hotel or public network registers devices by their Wi-Fi address and will not let a changed one in.
- Parental controls or schedules on your router are set per device and need to recognise your iPhone.
- Troubleshooting. If your iPhone cannot get an IP address on one network, turning it off is a quick test. See how to fix a Wi-Fi connection with no IP address.
How to turn it off (or back on) for a network
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the (i) next to the network.
- Switch Private Wi-Fi Address off. iOS may warn that the network will be able to track your iPhone's activity. Confirm.
- Rejoin the network if it disconnects.
The setting applies to that network only. Every other network keeps using a private address. To go back, switch it on again.
Your router shows an unknown device
If your router's device list suddenly shows a new, unnamed device that seems to be your iPhone, that is usually the private address at work. Open Settings > Wi-Fi > (i) and compare the Wi-Fi Address there with the one in the router's list. If they match, that device is your iPhone. Many routers let you rename it. If you need to find the router's page, see how to find your router's IP address.
Common questions
Does it slow down my Wi-Fi or use more battery?
No noticeable effect on either. It only changes which address your iPhone presents to the network.
Does it hide my IP address from websites?
No. Websites see your public IP address, which comes from your ISP. Private Wi-Fi Address only changes how you appear on the local Wi-Fi network.
Is it the same as iCloud Private Relay?
No. Private Relay protects your browsing in Safari from websites. Private Wi-Fi Address protects you from being tracked by Wi-Fi networks. They work independently.
Does it apply to cellular?
No. It only applies to Wi-Fi connections.