Apple now seems to have successfully found a solution behind the scenes to an issue that prevented the App Tracking Transparency feature from being activated in some cases. This issue was originally supposed to be fixed in iOS 14.5.1.
A growing number of users are reporting that the "Allow apps to request tracking" option in System Preferences is finally available and can be toggled on or off. When enabled, users can decide whether to allow or deny an app access to their Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA). Shortly after the release of iOS 14.5 in April, some users noticed that the "Allow apps to request tracking" feature was unavailable. Instead of a working button, the option deactivated and the menu selection grayed outApple announced that it had fixed the issue with an iOS update on May 3rd fixed But the difficulties remained for some users.
App Tracking Transparency Error: Cause remains unknown
"Allow apps to request tracking" isn't a new feature in iOS, but combined with the App Tracking Transparency features, it plays a slightly different role in Apple's user privacy. With the introduction of iOS 14.5, disabling the feature prevents apps from tapping a user's IDFA, effectively enforcing a blanket ban on all tracking requests. By enabling "Allow apps to request tracking," users can allow tracking on a per-app basis. Upon first opening an app—with the "Allow apps to request tracking" switch enabled—users are confronted with a pop-up notification requesting permission to track across other apps and websites. These notifications are required under the App Tracking Transparency guidelines. It's unclear what caused the issue, and Apple declined to address the matter in the iOS 14.5.1 release notes. (Image: Apple)
