How to See Everything Apple Knows About You

Editors' Note: As of Oct. 17, 2018, Apple has brought this tool to the U.S. Here are the updated instructions on how to use it to download your personal data from Apple.

As Facebook continues to face ire for its handling of user information, Apple has been pushed by new European Union regulations to join its fellow tech titans in allowing you to download a copy of the information the company has retained about you.

Credit: franz12/Shutterstock

(Image credit: franz12/Shutterstock)

Even if you don't live in Europe, you benefit from protections mandated by the European Union's upcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws, which go into effect May 25 and have pushed Apple to allow you to download your file from the company.

MORE: How to Download Everything You've Put on Facebook

Computer World claims the information included in the Apple info download includes the history of your Apple iTunes Store digital purchases, customer-support requests and repair history, songs identified by iTunes Match, software-update history and credit requests.

Unlike Facebook and Google, you can't delete information from Apple's file on you simply because you'd rather it not have that data. But if you discover any incorrect data in Apple's files on you, you can request that the company delete it.

The iPhone-maker may not accept all requests, as it notes that it "may decline to process requests that are frivolous/vexatious, jeopardize the privacy of others, are extremely impractical, or for which access is not otherwise required by local law."

One note: Apple will make you work a little harder than Facebook or Google do to let you get your data. Apple uses more than just a successful login attempt to actively verify that you are the one requesting your data. I find this to be a perk, not a hindrance, as I wouldn't want anyone else to download my account info.

Here's how to see what Apple knows about you:

1. Navigate to Apple's Privacy Policy page: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/

2. Under "Access to Personal Information" click on Privacy Contact Form.

3. Click on the region your account is registered in.

4. Click the drop-down menu.

5. Select Privacy issues.

6. Enter your account info — entering "I am requesting a copy of my personal information" in the subject and comments field — and click Submit.

Apple will contact you to verify that you, and not some impostor, is requesting this data, and it will then begin to gather your account info. Here is part of the email it sent me:

Your data will be sent to you as a password-protected .ZIP archive email attachment, and the password will be sent in a separate email message. All in all, the data request and transfer process may take up to a week.

TOPICS
Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

Latest in Online Security
A woman using her laptop securely with a cup of coffee in hand
5 common mistakes people make when shopping for antivirus software
Windows
240 million Windows 10 users are vulnerable to six different hacker exploits — protect yourself now
Victims of Identity Theft
FTC says Americans lost $12 billion to scams last year and these were the worst ones — here's how to stay safe
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Review.
Apple just released an emergency security update for a flaw used in an ‘extremely sophisticated attack’ — update your devices right now
A person trying to set up a new Wi-Fi router
Thousands of TP-Link routers have been infected by a botnet to spread malware
An image of a CAPTCHA
Hackers are using reCAPTCHA to trick users into infecting their own PCs with malware — how to stay safe
Latest in How To
Ninja Air Fryer
Air fryer dos and don'ts — 7 safety tips for everyday use
The coolest things the Apple Watch can do
7 best Apple Watch features you're probably not using, but should
ChatGPT logo on a smartphone screen being held outside
I test ChatGPT for a living — 5 game-changing prompts to try next
Cleaning with a mop in yellow bucket
Your cleaning tools are spreading dirt — here’s how to disinfect them properly
Bouquet of spring flowers, Irises and yellow ranunculus, yellow tulips with white daffodils
Expert florist hack makes your cut daffodils and other flowers last longer
dishwasher cleaning tablet
This viral TikTok cleaning hack just revealed why your dishwasher tablet isn't working — and it makes total sense