How to get a copy of your personal data from Apple

get a copy of your personal data

Cupertino is making it easier to receive a copy of your personal data. In Europe, the United States, and elsewhere, you can now make a request on Apple’s Data & Privacy website.

First announced in March 2018, Apple’s Data & Privacy website went online two months later. Located at privacy.apple.com, the page was initially added to comply with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which took effect in May 2018. It has slowly been expanded to offer support in additional locations around the world.

Get a copy of your personal data

To claim your personal data from Apple, follow these directions:

1) First, you’ll need to log into the Privacy website with your Apple ID.

Depending on how you have your account setup, you might be asked to use two-way authentication.

2) Under Get a copy of your data, be sure to click Get Started.

TUTORIAL: How to permanently delete your Apple ID account

3) On the next page, select the personal data you’ll like Apple to retrieve. Check off the items you’d like included. You can choose things like Apple ID account and device information, iCloud Contacts, Marketing subscriptions, and more. You can choose “Select All” to include everything with your report.

All personal data downloads include:

  • App usage and activity information
  • Documents, photos, and videos in their original format.
  • Contacts, calendars, and bookmarks

Note: Your download will not include App, book, movie, TV show, or music purchases.

4) Once you’ve made your selection, click Continue.

5) On the next page, you’ll choose a maximum file size that is convenient for you to download. The actual information will be divided into files of this size or smaller. You can select from 1GB, 2GB, 5GB, 10GB, or 25GB.

6) After making your selection, click Complete Request.

7) On the next page (and through a confirmation email), you’ll receive a notice that explains that it could take up to seven days before you receive your personal data. It says, “To ensure the security of your data, we use this time to verify that the request was made by you.”

You can view and check the status of your personal data request by visiting privacy.apple.com/account.

preparing your data for download

Wrapping it up

Once you receive notice that your personal data is ready, you have 14 days to download it before it’s deleted.

If you can’t request user data in your location yet, you can still request a copy of any identifiable information Apple knows about you by contacting the company’s privacy response team.

For more information, take a look at a support document on Apple’s website.

Did you find this how-to useful? Let us know in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Mylio