One of iOS 15's new iCloud features is Private Relay, also known as Private Relay. The function ensures that your internet traffic is sent via two separate servers. These two servers disguise your actual IP address and DNS information, so you can browse with more privacy. Websites can therefore not see who you are and it prevents a profile of you from being built. It therefore seems to provide only advantages, but at the moment there are also disadvantages to iCloud Private Relay. Sometimes there can be some problems with Private Relay, because not all websites and services work properly yet.
This does not (yet) work with Private Relay
What's good to keep in mind is that Private Relay is officially still a beta feature. Although it can be used by everyone (you don't need an iOS beta for it), Apple indirectly indicates that it does not yet work 100% properly and may cause problems.
But what exactly do you have to take into account? In recent times, a number of issues have emerged that prevent functions from working due to iCloud Private Relay. The solution is often to turn off Private Relay for a while. You do this via Settings > your name > iCloud > Private Transfer.
Google Suggestions in Safari
If you've set Google as the default search engine in Safari, when you enter a search query in the address bar, you'll get all kinds of helpful search suggestions so you don't have to type as much. Frequently used search terms appear here in addition to the search query you have already typed. But if you use iCloud Private Relay and Google is your set search engine, these suggestions will not appear. You will then only see your previously visited pages, bookmarks and other suggestions.
With (links) and without iCloud Private Relay
Solution: switch search engine
You can work around this problem first by (temporarily) disabling iCloud Private Relay, but if you prefer more privacy, there is another way. If you choose a different default search engine in Safari (eg DuckDuckGo or Bing), the search suggestions will appear. Even if iCloud Private Relay is enabled.
DigiD can cause problems
Shortly after the release of iOS 15 and the arrival of iCloud Private Relay, the first complaints quickly emerged about logging in to DigiD. Logging in was impossible, because a message appeared on the screen that there was no activity on the screen for more than 15 minutes. It now seems to be going a lot better, although it doesn't always work flawlessly. If you start the DigiD login process with Private Transfer enabled and lock and unlock your iPhone in the meantime, you will receive the error message below.
Solution: walkthrough logging in one time
If you have to log in to DigiD, make sure you go through the login process in one go. Do not lock your iPhone or iPad in the meantime and make sure that the screen does not turn off in the meantime. If it still doesn't work, turn off iCloud Private Relay (temporarily).
Login to websites doesn't always work
Some websites appear to have problems logging in as iCloud Private Relay is turned on. For example, websites can give timeouts or expired sessions, where reloading the website does not offer a solution. If you can't log in to a website with your username and password, iCloud Private Relay is often the culprit.
Solution: switch off Private transfer (temporarily)
If you still want to log in to the website in question, switch off Private transfer for a while. Then close the appropriate Safari tab and go to the website again. Then try to log in again. If you have successfully logged in, you can re-enable Private Relay.
Content from wrong region
Some services and sites may also display the wrong content. This is especially important for content that depends on the region. Due to iCloud Private Relay, a site or service cannot properly see your location based on IP address. As a result, content may be shown that is not tailored to your location. This problem will especially arise if you chose the wider settings for your IP address.
Solution: Change the IP address settings
In the settings for iCloud Private Relay you can indicate which location of your IP address should be used. You can choose between Use country and time zone or Keep general location. With the latter option, your location is a bit more accurate, potentially resulting in more local content on websites and services. Therefore, choose this setting if you notice that the displayed content is incorrect. If this doesn't work either, disable Private Relay completely.
Adblockers or other VPNs
If you are using an adblocker or VPN, it may not work properly due to Apple's privacy feature. Ads that are normally blocked will then be visible. This is often because the traffic is already encrypted by Private Relay before the adblocker or VPN can 'read' it. An example of this is AdGuard, who also indicate on their own site that problems can occur.
Other solution: use a different browser
iCloud Private Relay is a feature that only works in Safari, Apple's own browser. If you leave the function switched on at all times but want to use all websites without any problems, you can also use a different browser for those specific services or websites. For example, think of Google Chrome or Firefox. These browsers don't work with Private Transfer, so you won't be affected by the restrictions. Keep in mind that you also miss the advantages of Private Relay here.