The download is triggered by a proxy server with an IP address assigned to the general region of the subscriber, masking their specific geolocation. At indeterminate intervals (could be immediately or could be a couple days later), Apple downloads all of the images in the email, creating a copy of the images to a new location on the Apple Privacy Cache.

When the subscriber’s Apple Mail app starts up, it triggers a download of the email to their device from their email host (e.g., Yahoo or Google).

Even if readers don’t actually open those emails.Įxpect this to be refined as Apple continues to improve MPP, but right now, the way this works is: When someone selects the “Protect Mail activity” option, here’s what happens: Apple first routes emails through a proxy server to pre-load message content-including tracking pixels-before serving to readers. (Except, if you happen to not have Apple Mail as your default email client, Mail Privacy Protection will be turned on by default in your settings before you ever launch the Mail app.) Whatever choice is made is then automatically synced to all devices associated with the same Apple ID.

People will have to actively make a choice. When someone first opens up the Apple Mail app, they’ll get a message prompting them to either “Protect Mail activity” or “Don’t protect Mail activity” (neither are pre-selected). However, this doesn’t affect other email apps used on Apple devices like the Gmail app on an iPhone. MPP affects any email opened from the Apple Mail app on any device-no matter which email service is used such as Gmail or a work account. It is not currently available for Macbooks-but will be when macOS Monterey launches later this year (the exact date hasn’t been announced yet). And it prevents senders from seeing if and when you’ve opened their email.”Īs of September 20, 2021, MPP is available for the Mail app on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 devices. What is Mail Privacy Protection?Īccording to Apple, “Mail Privacy Protection hides your IP address, so senders can’t link it to your other online activity or determine your location. So now that we’re here, what is the reality of how MPP actually works and its impact on email? I asked our engineering team who has been testing the beta and now the public release.

Enterprise Plan Boost collaboration and drive resultsĪpple announced Mail Privacy Protection (MPP) at their annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC21) on June 7th, sending the email community into a tizzy with speculation about the death of the open rate and more.

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