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iOS keeps enabling 'Protect Mail Activity'

I disable PMA because I want to enable 'block all remote content' (why enabling PMA not only disables BARC, but hides it, is beyond me). Yet eventually I open an email and find the images load and I have to redo this setting. 


Usually this has been happening after a few weeks of changing the setting, and I've just been reapplying my preferences without dwelling on it. But the last instance was after just a couple of days and I'm now getting annoyed and also now wondering what other privacy settings iOS might be stealthily changing.


Any idea why this might be? I believe an iOS security update was pushed in the last couple of days that apparently didn't need accepting, so I'm wondering if stealth patches like that might be the cultprit.

iPhone 13 mini

Posted on Sep 9, 2023 5:42 AM

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Posted on Sep 12, 2023 8:51 AM

I believe I've found why PMA kept being turned back on - it was being done by the Mail application on my iMac.


I usually use Thunderbird on my iMac, but for reasons occasionally run Mail. When I found the PMA setting was again changed on my iPhone yesterday, it hit me that I had run the Mail program on my iMac earlier.


Lo and behold after some testing I found that setting the privacy settings on Mail on my iMac pushes through to the iPhone, but not the other way around.


I'd think these settings should sync, meaning the most recent change regardless of device should be pushed to your other devices. But it's not - the Mail app on macOS is apparently king here.


I expect this is a bug, but at least I now know why it's been changing and have now updated the settings on my Mail app on macOS, so it should now stay fixed.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 12, 2023 8:51 AM in response to Jarrad

I believe I've found why PMA kept being turned back on - it was being done by the Mail application on my iMac.


I usually use Thunderbird on my iMac, but for reasons occasionally run Mail. When I found the PMA setting was again changed on my iPhone yesterday, it hit me that I had run the Mail program on my iMac earlier.


Lo and behold after some testing I found that setting the privacy settings on Mail on my iMac pushes through to the iPhone, but not the other way around.


I'd think these settings should sync, meaning the most recent change regardless of device should be pushed to your other devices. But it's not - the Mail app on macOS is apparently king here.


I expect this is a bug, but at least I now know why it's been changing and have now updated the settings on my Mail app on macOS, so it should now stay fixed.

Sep 9, 2023 5:56 AM in response to Jarrad

If this is your personal device then you can update your device with the current iOS

Know how to...



If this is your corporate iPhone, it is important to reach out to the system administrator of your corporate. They will be able to assist you with any issues or concerns related to your device.


However, if it is your personal device, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, check if you have any profiles installed by your corporate, organization, enterprise, or school management. These profiles are typically used to manage certain settings or restrictions on your device.


If you do have a profile installed, and you no longer wish to keep it, you can follow the steps provided by Apple to remove configuration profiles on your iPhone. By doing so, you will eliminate the profile and its associated settings from your device. Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone - Apple ...


In case you need further guidance or encounter any difficulties during the process, it is recommended to contact the system administrator of the organization that provided the profile to you. They will be able to assist you in removing the profile or addressing any concerns you may have.


Sep 9, 2023 5:56 AM in response to Jarrad

Updating iOS on your iPhone should typically not alter the fundamental functionality of the device. It's possible that there were underlying issues before this update, which you might not have been aware of previously or might not have noticed.


In general, iOS updates are designed to enhance the user experience, improve security, and fix bugs, rather than introducing major disruptions to core features. The reported issue of the screen flickering and displaying a white screen after an update is likely caused by factors that are not explicitly mentioned in your post.


iOS updates primarily focus on improving system performance, introducing new features, fixing bugs, and enhancing security. They are designed to preserve your personal data, settings, and information intact.


During an iOS update, your device's operating system is upgraded, but your personal data, such as contacts, photos, messages, and other information, should remain unchanged. However, it's always a good practice to perform a backup of your device before any major update to ensure that your data is safely stored.


It's important to note that while an iOS update itself should not alter personal details, it's possible that certain features or settings may be adjusted or improved with the update. In such cases, you may need to review and adjust specific settings to match your preferences after the update.


Always make sure to read and understand the update details provided by Apple before proceeding with an iOS update, and follow best practices such as backing up your device to minimize any potential risks or complications.



If the issues you mentioned are indeed caused by iOS, it's likely that numerous users who have upgraded to iOS 16.6.1 are experiencing similar problems. However, in order for the community on this forum to provide helpful responses, it would be beneficial for you to specify the nature of the issue you are encountering. Without this information, it may be difficult for others to address your concern effectively.



With the limited information that you have provided, It is hard to even guess the problems faced by you. 


You may get faster and better responses to your query by --> Writing an effective Apple Support Commun… - Apple ...



Please re-post with detail so that someone else can help.



iOS keeps enabling 'Protect Mail Activity'

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