5 Ways To Fix Allow Apps To Request To Track Greyed Out
Allow Apps to Request to Track greyed out fix
Apple has released the Allow Apps to Request to Track feature along with the iOS 14.5 update! However, a series of users are reporting that the option is inactive and won’t turn on, because it’s greyed out in Settings.
There are a few situations when Allow Apps to Request to Track is unresponsive. Apple has outlined a series of them and we’ve also identified a couple of more reasons. Below, you can check them out, along with tips to fix them!
How To Fix Allow Apps To Request To Track Greyed Out
1. Let Your Apple ID Age
According to Apple, it’s normal for Allow Apps to Request to Track to be grayed out if your Apple ID is less than 3 days old!
Fix: The obvious fix if you’re using a new Apple ID is to wait it out a couple of days allow your account to age. As soon as this happens the Request to Track setting will become responsive.
2. Change iPhone User Age
Another situation when Allow Apps to Request to Track is greyed out is when the Apple ID owner is under the age of 18. Apparently, apps aren’t allowed to track kids and teenagers, so the setting is not an option for young users.
Fix: A workaround would require you to change the birthdate associated with your Apple ID and become a grownup over night!
3. Check For Restrictive Configuration Profile
Allow Apps to Request to Track won’t turn on if a Configuration Profile is installed on your iPhone that limits tracking. Users with company phones could find themselves in this situation.
Fix: To check if a Configuration Profile is installed on your device you have to open Settings and browse for General. Scroll all the way down. Profiles are displayed above the Legal & Regulatory menu. You can tap a Profile and delete it. However, if it was installed by your company, you might have to keep it.
4. Reboot Apple ID
If you passed the first three scenarios and Allow Apps to Request to Track is still greyed out, your next option is to sign out of your Apple ID and log back in. Although this isn’t an official fix some readers have reported that they managed to make it worked by applying this trick.
How To: Open Settings and tap on your Apple ID, available at the top of the screen. Scroll all the way down and hit Sign Out. Input your Apple ID instructions to confirm. Next, reboot your iPhone and sign back into your Apple ID account! Does it work?
5. Enable Personalised Ads
Another workaround can be provided by the Personalized Ads setting. Some users have noticed a correlation between this setting and the Allow Apps to Request to Track. An iOS 14.5 bug might cause your iPhone to enable the app tracking feature only when Personalised Ads are also enabled.
How To: Open Settings and browse for Privacy -> Apple Advertising -> Personalized Ads.
Allow Apps To Request To Track Not Working?
You managed to enable this new setting but it’s not working. Are apps not asking you for tracking permissions?
First, you have to know that not all apps have been updated with this feature. You can find a list with early adopters over here!
Secondly, if an app is already installed on your device it might not ask for tracking until you delete and reinstall it again. It’s unclear if this is another shortcoming that will be fixed in an upcoming iOS update, or this is the way the feature should work.
Fact: If Allow Apps to Request to Track is turned un and you download a supporting app for the first time, you will be prompted with a popup that reads:
Allow [app name] to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites?
Your data will be used to optimize your advertising experience.
You have the otion to Ask App Not to Track or to Allow tracking.
Allow Apps To Request To Track On or Off?
Should you enable or disable this new iOS option? To be able to make a decision, you have to fully understand how this setting works:
– when the feature is disabled, by default, apps will be prevented from tracking you across other companies’ apps and websites.
– if you enable the feature, you will be able to control which app is allowed to track and which not. This allows you to be selective.
Fact: For comparison, until Allow Apps to Request to Track was introduced, all apps could track you and serve targeted ads. So, if you want for things to remain unchanged, you have to enable the feature and grant tracking permissions whenever and app asks you!
Conclusion: Although many consider tracking a privacy concern, receiving related ads isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Because if you’re prompted with ads, you would like them to be from a category, wouldn’t you? Of course, that big companies such as Facebook, that get their main source of income from advertising will take a big hit, because the ads will become less efficient without proper targeting.
What do you think about this? Have you managed to fix the greyed out issue? How do you plan to use Allow Apps to Request to Track? Enabled or disabled? Use the comments section and share your thoughts!
Related: If you want to find out more about Privacy in iOS 14, you can read about 10 more features here.
