Safari Can’t Connect to iCloud Private Relay

What does Safari can’t connect to iCloud Private Relay mean?

If you see the message “Safari can’t connect to iCloud Private Relay” on your issue, it means there’s an issue with the iCloud Private Relay privacy tool. This feature is exclusive to iCloud+ users who browse with Safari. The alert appears when Safari has trouble connecting to Apple’s server, which encrypts your IP address and hides the DNS address of the websites you visit. This issue can occur for several reasons, such as server outages or problems with your internet connection.

Is Safari not responding on Mac? Explore our guide for solutions to other common issues with Apple’s web browser.

Possible causes of why Safari can’t connect to iCloud Private Relay

Several factors can trigger the “Safari can’t connect to iCloud Private Relay” message on your Mac. Common causes include Private Relay server outages, conflicts with VPNs, firewall or other security software, problems with your Apple account, issues with your internet connection, and incorrect network settings.

Encountering these issues might make you question whether Safari is better than Chrome. See how Safari compares to Chrome in our comparison.

A note from our experts: 

 

While troubleshooting the “Safari can’t connect to iCloud Private Relay” issue on your Mac yourself can be helpful, seeking professional assistance often leads to a faster and more effective solution. Rather than spending valuable time trying every method below, consider reaching out to MacKeeper’s Premium Services, available 24/7. Fully Apple-notarized and trusted by millions, MacKeeper from Clario Tech is the essential macOS software utility for resolving privacy and settings issues.

 

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1. Launch MacKeeper on your device.
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3. Click the Chat Now button.
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How to fix Safari when it can’t connect to iCloud Private Relay?

To solve the Safari can’t connect to iCloud Private Relay issue permanently, check for any errors with Apple’s server, disable and enable the iCloud Private Relay tool, switch internet connections, quit other potentially conflicting software, log out and log back in to your Apple ID, force quit Safari, restart your Mac, reinstall macOS, or reset your network settings.

1. Inspect Apple’s system status

We recommend checking for a server outage first. Visit Apple’s server status page to see if iCloud Private Relay is experiencing issues. A red dot next to this iCloud+ feature indicates it’s currently unavailable.

Here’s how to check Apple’s servers:

1. Launch your preferred web browser.
2. Go to Apple’s System Status page.
3. Check whether iCloud Private Relay is listed as unavailable.

2. Switch network or Wi-Fi

In our experience, iCloud Private Relay issues often originate from your internet connection. For this reason, our next tip is to try connecting to a different network or using your iPhone’s personal hotspot as a workaround.

Follow our step-by-step guide to try another Wi-Fi network:

1. Open System Settings on your machine.
2. Choose Network from the sidebar.
3. Click Wi-Fi.
4. Select a different network.

3. Toggle Private Relay off and on

If a tool or feature isn’t working properly on your Mac, IT experts often recommend temporarily disabling and then re-enabling it. This approach applies to Private Relay as well, which might be affected by a minor glitch.

We explain how to turn off iCloud Private Relay and then turn it back on again:

1. Open System Settings on your Mac.
2. Click on your profile picture and user name.
3. Select iCloud.
4. On your right, scroll down and click Private Relay under iCloud+.
5. Turn off the Private Relay toggle, then click Done.

But how safe is iCloud? If you find that iCloud Private Relay is causing more problems than benefits, you can always choose to disable it entirely.

4. Disable VPNs and proxy servers

Other security or privacy software can conflict with iCloud Private Relay. We suggest temporarily disabling your VPNs and network proxies to see if that resolves the problem.

Find how to repair conflicting issues with Private Relay below:

1. Open System Settings on your Mac.
2. Select Network from the left-hand sidebar.
3. Choose VPN & Filters.
4. Turn off all your VPNs.
5. Select Network again.
6. Go to Wi-Fi.
7. Click the Details button next to your network.
8. Go to the Proxies tab and disable all the proxy toggles.

5. Sign out and back into Apple ID

iCloud Private Relay is an iCloud+ feature that’s directly connected to your Apple ID. If you’re experiencing issues with the service, we suspect it might be due to a problem with your account connection.

Check the steps below to re-sign in with your Apple ID:

1. Open System Settings on your Mac.
2. Click on your profile picture and user name.
3. On your right, scroll down and click Sign Out.
4. Go back to System Settings.
5. Sign in to your Apple account using your email address and password.

6. Enable ‘Maintain General Location’ for IP

As previously mentioned, iCloud Private Relay helps hide your IP address. Adjusting its location settings may resolve the issue. Just make sure to select the general location option, which is used for local content.

Here’s how to enable the Maintain General Location option in Private Relay:

1. Open System Settings on your Mac.
2. Click on your profile picture and user name.
3. Choose iCloud.
4. On your right, scroll down and click Private Relay under iCloud+.
5. Turn on the Private Relay toggle.
6. Select Maintain General Location, then click Done.

7. Turn off “Hide IP address from trackers” in Safari

Safari’s “Hide IP address from trackers” feature can sometimes conflict with iCloud Private Relay, as both are intended to hide your IP address and provide encrypted browsing.

In such situations, we suggest disabling this feature to see if it helps:

1. Launch Safari on your Mac.
2. Select Safari from the menu bar.
3. Choose Settings.
4. In the Privacy tab, uncheck Hide IP address from trackers.

To further personalize your experience with Apple’s web browser, explore our guide on how to customize Safari.

8. Restart or force-quit Safari/device

With years of experience analyzing Apple devices, we’ve found that iCloud Private Relay errors are often caused by minor issues within the Safari app. These can usually be resolved by simply closing Safari or restarting your device.

We show you how in the following steps:

1. To force quit Safari, press Option + Command + Esc simultaneously.
2. Select Safari from the list, then click Force Quit.
3. Next, go to Finder and click the Apple logo in the menu bar.
4. Click Restart, then Restart again.

9. Update or reinstall iOS/macOS

Outdated software can also cause iCloud Private Relay errors. Fortunately, Apple regularly releases updates to address bugs like these, so keeping your system up to date can help resolve the issue.

Here’s how to update/reinstall iOS:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone/iPad.
2. Choose General, then tap Software Update.
3. Tap Update Now.
4. For a more radical approach, go back to General.
5. Tab Transfer or Reset.
6. Choose Reset or Erase All Content and Settings.

And here’s how to update/reinstall macOS:

1. Click the Apple logo in the menu bar, then choose System Settings.
2. Select General from the left-hand sidebar.
3. Choose Software Update, then click Update Now.
4. Follow the instructions on your screen to update macOS.
5. Alternatively, click the Apple icon and select Restart.
6. Hold down the Power button.
7. In the macOS Recovery page, choose Reinstall macOS.
8. Again, follow the onscreen instructions.

10. Reset network settings (iPhone/iPad)

Our final tip is specifically for iOS/iPadOS users who encounter the iCloud Private Relay error on their iPhone or iPad.

By following these steps, you may be able to resolve underlying connection issues:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone/iPad.
2. Select General from the list.
3. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset.
4. Tap Reset, then select Reset Network Settings.
5. Enter your password.

Fix Safari can’t connect to iCloud Private Relay issue for good

There’s no single possible reason why the “Safari can’t connect to iCloud Private Relay” message has popped up on your Mac. Nor is there a single solution, so we recommend checking Apple’s server status, resetting the feature, reconfiguring your network settings, updating macOS, and logging back in to your Apple ID account, among other options, before giving up.

However, if you don’t want to waste time trying out so many possible solutions, we suggest you use MacKeeper’s Premium Services. Developed by Clario Tech, MacKeeper is an industry-leading macOS software suite for real-time antivirus protection and performance optimization, with a team of technical professionals ready to help you 24 hours a day.