Apple Private Relay issue

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eracode

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#306096 28-Jun-2023 06:39

I have just received a message on my iPhone saying “[my wifi network name] is incompatible with Apple Private Relay” and that I should either turn off Private Relay or use another network. Never heard of PR before - I had no idea what this meant and wondered if it was some sort of scam.

I have googled and now have a very basic understanding of what PR is - from the Apple website. To be able to use wifi on my phone I had alternative but to it turn off. Prior to this I had idea that PR exists and was turned on. Our broadband is provided by Spark through one of their routers.

I’m very confused by all this and would be grateful for comments and advice.

- why has this suddenly arisen after years of not being an issue? Maybe due to a recent update to iOS?

- PR appears to be available on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It is turned on on my iPad and I have not received this message there.

Has anyone else seen this recently?

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antoniosk

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#3095666 28-Jun-2023 06:49

I seem to recall this stirring up last year:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/apple-icloud-private-relay-carrier-blocking/

maybe related?

or likely an improvement made in sparks network somewhere

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Antoniosk

eracode

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#3095667 28-Jun-2023 06:58

antoniosk:

I seem to recall this stirring up last year:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/apple-icloud-private-relay-carrier-blocking/

maybe related?

or likely an improvement made in sparks network somewhere

Thanks. If it’s a Spark thing, I’d expect other people to see it too.

Edit: iPad just now showing “Safari cannot connect to Apple Private Relay”.

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eracode

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#3095829 28-Jun-2023 14:17

Given the relatively low level of comment here I’m guessing that Private Relay is no big deal to be without. It’s difficult to know if it’s important when you have never heard of it and therefore knew nothing about it.

Still interested as to why it’s just become an issue on my iPhone and iPad.

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rugrat

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#3095838 28-Jun-2023 14:50

Think need to pay for iCloud+ to use it. So anyone not paying is not going to see it.

I don’t get why it would block a home wifi connection when it looks like it’s only doing something when using Safari. Though there’s mention of some DNS traffic being encrypted with it to, but not sure at what scale.

Believe it’s main purpose is to stop online advertisers of building a profile on someone.

eracode

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#3095891 28-Jun-2023 15:41

rugrat:

Think need to pay for iCloud+ to use it. So anyone not paying is not going to see it.

I don’t get why it would block a home wifi connection when it looks like it’s only doing something when using Safari. Though there’s mention of some DNS traffic being encrypted with it to, but not sure at what scale.

Believe it’s main purpose is to stop online advertisers of building a profile on someone.

Yes, I am paying for iCloud storage.

I don’t think it’s just when using Safari. First saw it on my phone when all I had open was a nightstand digital clock app. When it appeared on iPad, it was a message about Safari.

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SpartanVXL

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#3095908 28-Jun-2023 16:37

Its a privacy feature, essentially a built-in VPN/proxy using Apple’s servers. Useful for safari or more commonly Mail when pulling content from remote. Useful if you don’t want to be tracked or have targetted ad spam against your IP.

It sometimes has hiccups, it’s meant to work seamlessly across networks and mobile connections and disable itself if you’re using a different VPN profile. Usually just restarting the device fixes it unless Apple is having a service outage.

It shouldn’t be blocked on home networks (aside from the glaring fact you’d be blocking Apple while using a iPhone), given that your ipad works maybe just try give your phone a reboot.