In my personal experience, I have found that leaving the private address turned on for all networks that support it is a good practice for better privacy on an iPhone. By using a private address, you can reduce the tracking of your device across different Wi-Fi networks.
When the private address feature is enabled, your iPhone generates a random MAC (Media Access Control) address for each Wi-Fi network it connects to. This random address is used instead of your device’s actual MAC address, which is a unique identifier. By rotating these MAC addresses, it becomes more difficult for third parties to track your device and gather information about your online activities.
One of the benefits of using a private address is that it can help protect your privacy while using public Wi-Fi networks. Public networks are often less secure, and by using a private address, you make it more challenging for potential eavesdroppers or malicious actors to track your device or intercept your data.
Another advantage of enabling the private address option is that it can help prevent you from being targeted with location-based ads. Advertisers often track users based on their MAC addresses to deliver targeted ads. By using a private address, you make it harder for advertisers to track your device’s movements and show you personalized ads.
It’s worth noting that not all Wi-Fi networks support private addresses. Some networks, especially those in enterprise or business settings, may require the use of a unique MAC address for identification and security purposes. In such cases, it might be necessary to disable the private address feature temporarily.
To enable or disable the private address option on your iPhone, you can follow these steps:
1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on Wi-Fi.
3. Find the Wi-Fi network you want to manage and tap on the (i) icon next to it.
4. In the network settings, you should see an option called “Private Address.” If it is currently enabled, it will show as “On.” If it is disabled, it will show as “Off.”
5. To toggle the private address option, simply tap on the switch next to it to turn it on or off.
To summarize, based on my personal experiences and the benefits it provides, I would recommend leaving the private address turned on for all networks that support it on an iPhone. It helps enhance your privacy and security while using Wi-Fi networks, reduces tracking, and can prevent targeted advertising. However, keep in mind that in certain situations, such as enterprise networks, you may need to temporarily disable the private address feature.