Apple Says This is Why ‘Allow Apps to Request to Track’ May Be Grayed Out on iOS 14.5

With the release of iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, and tvOS 14.5 earlier this week, apps must now ask for permission to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites for ad targeting purposes.

Users can manage their device’s tracking permissions on an app-by-app basis in the Settings app under “Privacy” -> “Tracking,” and there is also available an “Allow Apps to Request to Track” setting that applies to every installed app. Each app that asks for permission to track while this setting is toggled off will be treated as if you tapped “Ask App Not to Track.”

However, some users report that the “Allow Apps to Request to Track” setting is grayed out on their device. Apple has explained this in a new support document, saying there are a few circumstances where the “Allow Apps to Request to Track” setting is grayed out, however, including:

• For users with child accounts or under age 18 by birth year, signed in with their Apple ID
• If your Apple ID is managed by an educational institution or uses a configuration profile that limits tracking
• If your Apple ID was created in the last three days

9to5Mac has reported that some users are seeing the toggle disabled, even when the first two circumstances listed above do not apply to them, This suggests that there could be a bug or some other issue going on.

Some users and observers suspect there might be a correlation between the “Personalized Ads” setting and whether “Allow Apps to Request to Track” is grayed out.

Apple recently shared a video that includes more details about its new App Tracking Transparency requirement, if you’d like to learn more.

(Via MacRumors)