Apple released the second beta of iOS 15.3 and Co. to registered developers this evening. The wording in iCloud Private Relay was revised to clear up any misunderstandings regarding support.
In today's iOS 15.3 beta Apple updated the text that appears when iCloud Private Relay is disabled for a cellular or WiFi network to clarify that disabling is not always due to a lack of carrier support. The new message says that Private Relay is turned off and explains that either a cellular plan does not support it or that it has been disabled in cellular settings. In iOS 15.2, Apple placed the blame on the carrier if iCloud Private Relay was disabled for a cellular plan. The previous message read verbatim:
Private Relay is turned off for your cellular plan. Your cellular plan doesn't support iCloud Private Relay. When iCloud Private Relay is turned off, this network can monitor your internet activity and your IP address won't be hidden from known trackers or websites.
As of iOS 15.3, Beta 2, the message is as follows:
Private Relay is turned off for your cellular plan. Private Relay is either not supported by your cellular plan or has been turned off in your cellular settings. When Private Relay is turned off, this network can monitor your internet activity and your IP address will not be hidden from known trackers or websites.
iCloud Private Relay: Check your cellular settings
So Apple's current wording doesn't leave open the possibility that iCloud Private Relay is unavailable because it's been disabled in the Settings app. The VPN-like service can be turned on or off for certain WiFi and cellular networks. There may be a bug in iOS 15.2 that causes these settings to be disabled by default for some users. If you enable "Limit IP address tracking" in the cellular settings under "Data options," iCloud Private Relay will be enabled for your cellular network. If you tap the "i" button next to your network in the WiFi settings and enable "Limit IP address tracking," it will be enabled for your WiFi network if it isn't already enabled. (Photo by blackboard / Bigstockphoto)
