Have you ever talked about something and then noticed adverts or recommendations that seemed connected to the conversation? Or wondered why an app knows where you have been, what you searched for or what you recently looked at?

Your iPhone may not be secretly recording everything, but apps can collect information through permissions, location services, online activity and voice features. The good news is that your iPhone gives you tools to check what apps can access.

Is your microphone being used?

Apps need permission to use your iPhone’s microphone. When the microphone is active, iOS displays an orange indicator near the top of the screen. A green indicator means the camera is being used, sometimes along with the microphone.

To review microphone access, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone. Turn off access for any app that does not need to record audio. You can review camera permissions in the same Privacy & Security area.

An indicator does not automatically mean an app is doing something wrong. It is a useful signal that lets you check which app is using the microphone or camera.

What about Siri and AI features?

Siri, Dictation and third-party AI apps may process audio when you choose to use voice features. Apple Intelligence also has its own settings on supported devices.

Review Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri, or the equivalent Siri settings on your iPhone. Decide which features you want to use and review any options relating to Siri, Dictation and improving these services.

Turning off Apple Intelligence does not automatically turn off every Siri, app or iCloud setting, so check those separately.

Could apps be tracking your activity?

Tracking can mean several different things. An app may request permission to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites, use your location, or collect information about how you use its own service.

Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and review which apps have asked to track your activity. You can turn off permission for individual apps or stop apps from requesting permission altogether.

Tracking settings do not necessarily stop every form of data collection. An app can still collect information needed to provide its own service, so its privacy policy is also worth checking.

Check location access

Location information can be useful for maps, delivery and weather apps, but not every app needs constant access.

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Review which apps can see your location and whether they have access always, while using the app, or only once. If an app does not need precise location, consider turning that option off.

Use App Privacy Report

App Privacy Report can help you understand how apps are using permissions and which websites or domains they contact.

Look under Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report and turn it on if it is available on your iPhone. It may take some time to collect enough information to be useful.

The report is not a verdict that an app is unsafe. It is a way to spot activity you did not expect and decide whether you still want to give that app access.

Review personalised advertising

Your iPhone also has settings relating to advertising and recommendations. Look through the privacy settings for personalised advertising and switch off options you do not want to use.

Reducing personalised advertising does not mean you will never see adverts. It may change how relevant those adverts are, while the apps and websites you use may have their own advertising settings.

Protect your information in AI apps

Apple Intelligence is not the only AI service that may process information. Before uploading photos, documents, messages or personal information to a third-party AI app, check what it collects, how long it stores information and whether your data can be used to improve its service.

If you are unsure, avoid uploading anything sensitive. It is easier to protect private information before it leaves your device than to recover control afterwards.

Privacy settings can change

iPhone menus and features can change with new iOS updates, and different models may show slightly different options. Check your settings after major updates and remove permissions from apps you no longer use.

No single setting controls everything. The best approach is to review microphone, camera, location, tracking, Siri, AI and app permissions separately.

Your data during a repair

If your iPhone needs repair, your photos, messages, contacts and files remain your data. Ifixed Repairs will not erase, reset or remove your information without your permission. If a proposed repair or troubleshooting step could affect your data, you should be told clearly and asked before proceeding.

Where possible, back up your iPhone before bringing it in for repair, but do not delay asking for help if the phone is already damaged.

Take back control

Your iPhone can be useful without having access to everything about you. Take a few minutes to review the settings, remove permissions you do not need and think carefully before giving an AI app access to private information.