Apple – Tech Savvy Life

Enable Advanced Data Protection for Your Apple Devices

Apple has disabled Advanced Data Protection (ADP) for iCloud in the UK due to government demands for law enforcement access. This compromises data security, as backdoor access could be exploited. In contrast, ADP offers end-to-end encryption unavailable to Apple, ensuring only users can access their data. Users outside the UK retain this protection.

Insert dRAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
April 1, 2025 – 6 minutes read time

Overview

Recently. Apple took the unusual step of turning off its highest level of iCloud encryption, Advanced Data Protection (ADP) for customers in the UK. The British government has reportedly demanded that Apple provide a method for law enforcement to access encrypted data as part of criminal investigations. But that creates a serious security problem, because this type of backdoor access can also be exploited by criminals or untrustworthy governments.

Why You Will like This Tip

Have the best encryption for your Apple devices.
Prevent hackers from accessing and viewing your data.

System Requirements

See below for the Apple software versions. These screenshots were captured using iOS 18.3.2 on iPhone 14 Pro.

Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.

United Kingdom vs United States

For people in the UK, ADP can no longer be enabled. If you are currently using ADP, you will need to turn off the feature at a future date.

If you are outside the UK and concerned about who can see your data, ADP adds an extra layer of security by making it unreadable even by Apple. If ADP is disabled, your data could be at risk because it can still be unlocked by Apple, a legal request or a data breach.

Let’s explore how to turn Advanced Data Protection on, and how it differs from the default iCloud encryption methods.

How Does ADP Work

The key difference between ADP and how Apple encrypts data by default is how accessible your information is when stored on Apple’s servers.

In what Apple calls standard data protection, information sent between points, such as files stored on iCloud Drive and iCloud backups of your devices, is encrypted and transmitted securely. If someone intercepts that data between the two points, they will see only gibberish.

That data remains encrypted when it’s stored on Apple’s servers, so you can access it from other devices, for instance. However, Apple can still access the encryption keys to unscramble and read the data; and provide it to law enforcement following a legal request.

By contrast, when you enable Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, the data is end-to-end encrypted, meaning only your trusted devices possess the encryption keys to read it. The information remains encrypted on the servers, and not even Apple can access its contents. (Not all iCloud data can be end-to-end encrypted. Apple breaks out-which types of information, such as iCloud Mail messages, that remain covered by standard data protection even when ADP is turned on.)

The UK’s Investigatory Powers Act, the “Snooperd’s Charter”, makes that inaccessibility illegal, which is why Apple is turning the feature off for UK customers.

Some services are end-to-end encrypted regardless due to the sensitivity of the data, such as passwords, information stored in the Health app and payment information.

Setup Your Account for ADP

Note! Setting up ADP applies to all devices in your Apple account.

To set up ADP on your account, first make sure you have met all the prerequisites for the feature:

Your Apple Account must use two-factor authentication.
You must have a recovery method set up in case you lose access to your account. That can be a 28-character Recovery Key or a person you have designated as a Trusted Contact.
Every device connected with your Apple Account must be able to run at least
iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, MacOS 13.1
WatchOS 9.2
TVOS 16.2
HomePod 16.0

For Windows computers, make sure iCloud for Windows is at version 14.1 or later.

If any of your devices do not qualify, you will be warned during the ADP setup process. If any of those are too old or you no longer have access to them, head to:
Settings > Remove Devices and delete them from your list.

Refer to the below image:

How to Setup

To turn on ADP on an iPhone, iPad or Mac do the following:

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. On a Mac, open System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.

2. Scroll down to Advanced Data Protection, which likely says Off, and tap that to enable. This will take some time, and the screen will appear to be unresponsive; Just be patient. Later, if you want to disable ADP, repeat the above steps and select the Turn Off button.

See the below image:

3, If there are any of the aforementioned impediments to setting up ADP, such as needing to update other devices on your account, you will review them on the next screen.

4. In the following screen, tap Review Recovery Options. You need to have a Recovery Key, Recovery Contact or both to ensure that you can get your data if you lose access to your iCloud account.

5. Enter your device’s passcode to finish.

See the following image:

Activating ADP on one device means it’s on for all of your devices using the same Apple account, so you only need to set it up once.

Disclaimer

Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.

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How to Clean AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max: Complete Guide

The post provides advice on cleaning Apple AirPods to prevent dirt and bacteria accumulation, which can affect performance and cause irritation or infection. It provides specific cleaning instructions for AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. Regular maintenance is emphasized to extend their life. Additionally, the post advises on cleaning the case.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
August 6, 2024 – 5 minutes read time

This is for Apple AirPod. AirPod Pro and AirPod Max.

Overview

AirPods, Pro, and Max can accumulate dirt and bacteria you do not want to introduce into your ear canal because they can cause irritation or infection. As for your AirPods, an accumulation of wax, sweat, and other substances can affect their performance.

Cleaning those small white AirPods and AirPods Pro can seem pretty delicate. And even the bulky AirPods Max can be baffling because of the mix of materials they are made out of. Let’s explore how to clean your AirPods.

Prevention

The first thing you can do is a bit of prevention. To keep AirPods and AirPods Pro out of dirt and water as much as possible, consider getting a third-party strap so they are attached to each other, making them less likely to fall. You can find many styles, from simple silicone to glitzy gold. When your AirPods Max are not in use, stash them in their case instead of leaving them out or letting them go loose in a bag.

Products to Use and Avoid

The things to have on hand if you want to keep your AirPods clean are pretty simple: lint-free cloths, cotton swabs, and a bit of water will do the job in most instances.

Apple used to only recommend water and lint-free cloths for cleaning most of its products before the pandemic. Now it says it’s okay to use 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75% ethyl alcohol wipes, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes on the exterior parts of AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. But you should avoid using such wipes on the knit mesh or ear cushion parts of the AirPods Max.

And you should not use bleach or anything with hydrogen peroxide to clean any AirPods.

Maintenance

Maintenance is key to extending the life of your AirPods. For maintenance, clean AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max with a dry, lint-free cloth. It does not have to be expensive or fancy like the $19 Polishing Cloth Apple sells. You can clean any microphone and speaker meshes with a dry cotton swab.

Dive Into a Deeper Clean

If your AirPods have gotten something on them like lotion or food (it happens), or have stood up to a lot of sweat, you can take a lint-free cloth, dampen it with a bit of water, and give them a light rubdown. Dry them off with a lint-free cloth and then let them sit out a bit before you put them back in the case. If there’s earwax present, hold your AirPods with the mesh facing toward the ground and go over the mesh lightly with a dry cotton swab. If it’s still stuck, carefully try a toothpick or other small pointed object around the edges of the mesh but be aware that if you exert too much force, you can loosen or dislodge the mesh itself.

The AirPods Pro has an ear tip, so if you want a more thorough cleaning, remove the tips and rinse them with water. If there is earwax or anything else still stuck to them, use a dampened cotton swab to remove it. Dry the ear tips with a lint-free cloth and don’t put them back on until they’re thoroughly dry.

For the AirPods Max, a good cleaning involves wiping them down with a slightly dampened lint-free cloth and then a dry one after. Because the AirPods Max are headphones, there’s more surface area to attract dirt. If the cushions and headband look or feel grimy, you can give them a bit of a wash. Remove the ear cushions first to clean them separately. Then combine a teaspoon of mild detergent with a cup of water and use a lint-free cloth to wipe the band and cushions down with the solution. Follow that with a wipe of just water on a cloth and then dry all the components completely.

Cleaning Your Case

Since your AirPods are often in their case, you also want to keep that clean. You can use a clean, lint-free cloth slightly dampened with water or an alcohol wipe if the case really needs it. Ensure the case is completely dry before you put your AirPods back in. You would do well to turn the case upside down while it dries.