If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, chances are you’re using the Apple Mail app to send and receive email. Almost all Apple users using iPhone and Mac use the Apple Mail app. Many users have reported that they encounter the message “Your network settings do not allow downloading content privately” whenever they try to upload content to their email. Mac users have reported this issue after updating to the Monterey Update, but there is a chance that users using other versions of macOS or iPhone may experience this issue as well.
If you are reading this article, you may be looking for a solution to this problem. If you have landed on this article looking for a way to solve this problem, you are in the right place.
Content:
Your network settings do not allow you to download content privately
This article will walk you through the troubleshooting methods to help fix “Your network settings are preventing you from downloading content privately.”
Check iCloud Status
You are likely to face this problem when iCloud is down. You may experience this issue when iCloud is undergoing maintenance or if their server is affected due to technical glitches. Make sure the iCloud server is ok. You can check the status of the iCloud server on the Apple service page.
If there is something wrong with the iCloud server or it is not working for some reason, you will have to wait until it works again. Server issues cannot be fixed by the user, so you will have to wait for Apple to fix the server.
Turn off VPN
You may also encounter this error when using a VPN while accessing the Apple Mail app. So, how to check if this problem is caused due to VPN? If you haven’t experienced this issue before, but are experiencing it after connecting to a VPN, the VPN is most likely the culprit.
Disconnect from the VPN and see if you are facing the error message “Your network settings do not allow content to be downloaded privately” or not. If the message no longer appears, the problem was caused by the VPN. However, if you are still experiencing this issue, then you should proceed to the next troubleshooting step in this article.
Disable firewall
If you are using a third party firewall app on your device, this can also cause the issue. If so, you can try whitelisting the Apple Mail app, which should fix the problem. You can temporarily disable the firewall while you’re not using the Apple Mail app.
Disable mail protection
Another troubleshooting step is to disable the Protect Mail Activity option in Apple Mail. To do this, follow the steps given below:
- First, open the Apple Mail app on your Mac.
- Now in the top menu , click Mail and then Settings.
- Here, click on the Privacy tab .
- Now uncheck Hide IP address and protect mail activity.
- Now restart the Apple Mail app and check if you can upload the image or not.
Enable Private Relay
If you’re experiencing the “Your network settings don’t allow you to download content privately”issue, try turning on private relay. To do this, follow the steps given below:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Here, tap on the Data or Wi-Fi option.
- Now click on the i symbol .
- From here, turn on the toggle for Private Relay.
- Now close the Mail app and restart it, which should fix the issue.
Turn off antivirus
If you are using a third-party antivirus in your antivirus program, this can also cause this problem. You should try disabling third-party antivirus on your Mac in order to fix this problem. If disabling the antivirus did not help you, then try uninstalling it. To remove antivirus on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Click on the dock to open Launchpad.
- Here, find the antivirus you use on your Mac.
- Now hold the antivirus icon or press and hold the Option key .
- Click on the X that appears to remove the app.
Now check if you are facing the “Your network settings do not allow downloading content in private” issue or not.
Conclusion
If you can’t upload content to the Mail app and you keep getting the “Your network settings don’t allow you to upload content private”error message. This article lists possible fixes to resolve this issue. By following the methods mentioned in this article, you should be able to resolve the issue you’re experiencing with the Mail app.
FAQ
Why does my iPhone say your network settings don’t allow private downloads?
This issue usually occurs when using a VPN or mail privacy protection while using the Apple Mail service.
How to fix network settings so content doesn’t download privately on Mac?
If you encounter the message “Your network settings do not allow you to download content privately”, you can follow the steps in this article to resolve this issue.