You can download everything Apple knows about you: See how
A month after launching the new iPhones, Apple has refreshed its privacy website, giving new information about its efforts to keep people and their data safe. Along with regular and new pieces of information, the company is also introducing a major change, one that lets you download a copy of everything the US giant knows about you. Here's how you can get yours.
What would happen on downloading data?
Though Apple claims most information is stored on devices (iPhones, iPads, Macs), it does keep a certain amount of user data on its servers, just like all tech giants. The new option lets you download a copy of that, letting you see everything from App usage to App Store purchases and logs of iCloud data - bookmarks, calendars, emails, photos, videos, and more.
Here's what you have to do to create a copy
In order to create a copy, just visit Apple's Data and Privacy log in page and sign in to your account using Apple ID and password. Next, tap on "Obtain a copy of your data" and choose what data you want to download or hit "Select all". You'll see heaviest files listed at this bottom of the page like your entire iCloud library.
Next, select file size and complete request
After choosing files, hit "Continue" to select the maximum .zip file size of your copy. Go for the biggest one as that would cover everything in one single file. Following this, hit "Complete Request", to begin the data-retrieval process (maximum 7 days). Apple will notify you once the data is ready for download, but remember, it will be available only for two weeks.
Data collected from Siri and Maps won't be included
It is worth noting here that Apple won't provide a copy of the information it collects from Siri and Maps because that data is completely anonymous and can't be attributed to individuals users. For account information and purchase history, data will be provided in spreadsheets.
Feature available beyond US
The option to download data is also available in Australia, Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the European Union. In fact, the feature was first introduced for Apple users in the EU in compliance with the new GDPR laws and is now being expanded to other regions.
