Turn iCloud Private Relay on or off, and manage Hide My Email

Why it happens

Private Relay and Hide My Email are part of iCloud+, the paid iCloud plans. Private Relay hides your IP address and browsing in Safari from networks and websites, which is good for privacy but can upset some work, school or hotel networks and sites that check where you are. Turning it off for a while is a quick way to tell if it's the cause.

How to fix it

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings and click your name at the top of the sidebar, then click iCloud.

2. Click Private Relay and turn it on or off. When you turn it off, your Mac may offer Turn Off Until Tomorrow, which switches it back on by itself.

   Apple Account›iCloud›Private Relay

3. While it's on, you can set IP address location in the same panel. Maintain general location helps sites show local news and weather. Use country and time zone shares less.

4. For Hide My Email, click it on the same iCloud page. You'll see your made-up addresses: add a new one, or select one and deactivate it to stop mail reaching you through it.

   Apple Account›iCloud›Hide My Email

Still not fixed?

1. Only one network gives you trouble? Turn Private Relay off just there. Open Wi-Fi, click Details… next to that network, and turn off Limit IP address tracking.

   Wi-Fi›Details…

2. If Private Relay is missing or greyed out, check that you have an iCloud+ plan. It also isn't offered in every country or region, and some workplaces turn it off on their Macs.

3. A message that the network doesn't support Private Relay comes from that network, often at work or school. Use another network, or turn the feature off for that one as above.

4. If websites think you're in the wrong town, set IP address location back to Maintain general location.

5. If Private Relay won't turn on or off at all, or keeps saying it's unavailable on every network, contact Apple Support.