This option hides your IP address, so senders can't link it to your other online activity or determine your exact location. Senders also can't see whether you opened their email.
If you leave it
Senders can see whether you opened their email and can use your IP address to tell roughly where you are.
Where to find it
Settings
Apps
Mail
Privacy Protection
Turn on: “Protect Mail Activity”
Step by step
1.
Open Settings and tap Apps.
2.
Tap Mail, then Privacy Protection.
3.
Turn on Protect Mail Activity. It does not cover links and attachments you open.
4.
It only works with Limit IP Address Tracking on: go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap ⓘ next to your network and turn on Limit IP Address Tracking.
Path from the official guide by Apple for iOS 27, as of 3 Oct 2026.