Advanced Data Protection (ADP) is an Apple ecosystem setting that was launched in December 2022, rolling out globally in January 2023 with the
iOS 16.2 update. It uses
end-to-end encryption to ensure that the iCloud data types — messages, photos, notes, voice memos, wallet passes, and more — can only be decrypted on devices authorized by the user. Data remains encrypted without ADP enabled, preventing exploits and leaks like the
2014 celebrity nude photo leak from occurring. With this enabled, the amount of data that is encrypted increases, which begins to cover iCloud Backup, Notes and Photos. Some major data categories remain omitted, including iCloud Mail, Contacts and Calendar" Once the ADP setting is turned on, Apple will not have the keys to uncover the user's data. This means that the user will have to use a third-party security method if the user loses access to their iCloud account. When ADP is turned on, Apple suggests a contact of the iCloud account owner to be the "recovery contact."
In the United Kingdom On February 7, 2025,
The Washington Post reported that in January 2025, "
the office of the Home Secretary has served Apple with a document called a technical capability notice, ordering it to provide access under the sweeping
U.K. Investigatory Powers Act of 2016", that Apple create a "
backdoor" to access data protected under ADP. On February 21, 2025, Advanced Data Protection was disabled for new users in the United Kingdom, with existing users' access to be disabled at a future date after a period of time has passed. This excludes other Apple services that already use end-to-end encryption, and data that is already encrypted by default remains protected. == See also ==