Will Apple Mail Privacy Protection affect Mac OS Monterey users and Outlook?

Summary

Apple Mail Privacy Protection (MPP) significantly impacts macOS Monterey users, even those using email clients like Outlook. MPP, along with Private Relay, functions by routing traffic through Apple proxies and encrypting data, affecting users accessing mail through the Apple Mail application, regardless of the email provider. Key impacts include masking IP addresses, affecting geolocation tracking, and less accurate open rates due to pre-fetched email content. Private Relay, when enabled, further extends these privacy features to all network traffic from the device, adding another layer of complexity for tracking and analysis.

Key findings

  • App-Level Impact: MPP affects emails opened in the Apple Mail app, independent of the email service provider (Gmail, Outlook, etc.).
  • IP Masking & Encryption: MPP and Private Relay hide IP addresses and encrypt network traffic, enhancing user privacy.
  • Universal Privacy: Private Relay, as part of iCloud+, applies these protections to all network traffic when active, not just email.
  • Proxy Usage: Traffic is routed through Apple proxies, affecting geolocation and potentially open rate accuracy.

Key considerations

  • Tracking Adjustments: Email marketers need to adjust tracking strategies due to less reliable open rates and geolocation data.
  • Platform Focus: The primary impact is on those using the Apple Mail app on macOS Monterey, iOS 15, and iPadOS 15.
  • Broader Implications: Private Relay's effect extends beyond email, affecting all network traffic and potentially hindering comprehensive tracking.
  • Privacy Considerations: It is vital to respect the user's enhanced privacy and comply with all applicable data protection regulations.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

Apple Mail Privacy Protection (MPP) impacts macOS Monterey users by affecting email opened through the Apple Mail application, irrespective of the email service provider (e.g., Gmail, Outlook). This protection masks IP addresses and affects open tracking, potentially impacting geolocation data and registering emails as opened, even if they are not.

Key opinions

  • App Specific: MPP's impact is determined by the email app used (Apple Mail) rather than the email service provider (Gmail, Outlook).
  • Privacy Features: MPP hides IP addresses and masks open data, affecting geolocation and open rate metrics.
  • Universal Impact: MPP affects all emails opened in the Apple Mail app on macOS Monterey, regardless of the email account.

Key considerations

  • Tracking Accuracy: Email marketers should expect less accurate open rates and geolocation data due to MPP.
  • Platform Impact: The impact of MPP is most relevant for users accessing email via the Apple Mail app on macOS Monterey.
  • Proxy Usage: Apple Mail downloads all images through a proxy, affecting tracking capabilities.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow mentions that if a Mac OS Monterey user is using Apple Mail, regardless of whether it's a Gmail, Outlook, or other account, MPP will affect open tracking, as Apple Mail downloads all images through a proxy.

December 2024 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares that MPP affects all mail accessed through the Apple Mail app, regardless of the email provider (like Gmail or Outlook) as long as they are using the Apple Mail app. They are also now masking IP addresses.

May 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor shares that MPP will impact the accuracy of open rates and geolocation data for users who open emails in the Apple Mail app on iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey, irrespective of the email account used within the app (Gmail, Outlook, etc.).

September 2021 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Email marketer from SuperOffice states that Apple Mail Privacy Protection affects all emails opened in the Apple Mail app, irrespective of the email account (Gmail, Outlook, etc.). The IP address will be hidden, and emails will be registered as opened regardless of whether the recipient actually opened them.

July 2022 - SuperOffice
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester indicates MPP affects Mac OS Monterey users accessing mail via Apple Mail. They further explain it hides the IP address, impacting geolocation tracking, and masks open data.

July 2024 - EmailToolTester
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue reports that Apple’s MPP will affect any email opened via Apple Mail on iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey and protects users’ privacy by hiding their IP address and masking open data. This is regardless of email provider or client being used in the app.

April 2023 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains it will be a feature of Apple Mail in the new Mac OS as well.

April 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user u/email_expert responds MPP impacts all email clients within Apple Mail on Monterey. Even if someone uses Outlook. It's about the app used, not the service.

August 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Influitive explains that Apple's MPP impacts Apple Mail on iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey. This means even if someone uses Outlook on macOS Monterey with Apple Mail, the privacy features will apply.

June 2023 - Influitive

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Apple Mail Privacy Protection (MPP) on macOS Monterey impacts users by routing traffic through Apple proxies for Apple Mail users. This is similar to Apple's Private Relay, which functions as a VPN and affects all traffic from a machine when enabled. The impact on open rates and geolocation tracking is present even when using Outlook within the Apple Mail app, regardless of the email provider.

Key opinions

  • Apple Proxy: Traffic from Apple Mail users on Monterey will be seen coming from Apple proxies.
  • Private Relay: Private Relay, a VPN-like feature, affects all traffic when enabled.
  • Universal Impact: MPP impacts open rates and geolocation tracking regardless of the email provider (like Outlook) if accessed through Apple Mail.

Key considerations

  • Network Traffic: Expect to see traffic originating from Apple's infrastructure.
  • VPN-Like Behavior: Private Relay will affect all network traffic on a device.
  • Tracking Implications: Open rate and geolocation data will be less reliable for Apple Mail users.
Expert view

Expert from Spamresource notes that Apple Mail Privacy Protection affects all emails accessed through the Apple Mail app, regardless of the email provider, if they are using Mac OS Monterey.

October 2022 - Spamresource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that Apple Mail Privacy Protection on macOS Monterey will function similarly to iOS and iPadOS. It will impact open rates and geolocation tracking, even if users are using Outlook within the Apple Mail app.

January 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares on Monterey you’ll see traffic from apple proxies from most Apple Mail users, but you’ll also see it from, e.g., Outlook on Mac if the user is using the Private Relay feature.

June 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains Private Relay is an apple VPN(ish) that affects all traffic from the machine when it’s enabled. MPP is using the same infrastructure, so the traffic looks similar.

November 2022 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Apple Mail Privacy Protection (MPP) and Private Relay in macOS Monterey function to enhance user privacy by hiding IP addresses and encrypting internet traffic. MPP, mirroring its iOS and iPadOS counterparts, impacts open rates and geolocation tracking for emails opened in the Apple Mail app. Private Relay, included with iCloud+, further protects user data by encrypting traffic and using multiple relays, affecting all network activity on the device.

Key findings

  • IP Masking: MPP and Private Relay both hide the user's IP address, preventing it from being linked to online activity or location.
  • Traffic Encryption: Private Relay encrypts traffic leaving the device, safeguarding browsing activity.
  • Open Rate Impact: MPP affects open rates and IP-based geolocation for emails opened in the Apple Mail app.
  • Whole Device Privacy: Private Relay affects all network traffic on the machine when it's enabled.

Key considerations

  • Data Accuracy: Email marketers should anticipate reduced accuracy in open rates and geolocation data due to MPP.
  • Network Routing: Traffic might be routed through multiple relays, impacting network analysis.
  • Broader Impact: Private Relay's effect extends beyond email, influencing all network traffic, and impacting tracking beyond email activities.
Technical article

Documentation from Apple Developer highlights Mail Privacy Protection in macOS Monterey. They state it hides the user's IP address so it can’t be linked to their other online activity or used to determine their location, and prevents senders from seeing if the recipient has opened their email.

May 2024 - Apple Developer
Technical article

Documentation from Apple Support explains Private Relay is a service that hides your IP address and browsing activity in Safari and protects unencrypted internet traffic so that no one — including Apple — can see both who you are and what sites you’re visiting. This feature impacts all traffic on the machine when active.

June 2023 - Apple Support
Technical article

Documentation from Word to the Wise reports that MPP on macOS Monterey functions the same way as on iOS and iPadOS, impacting open rates and IP-based geolocation for emails opened in the Apple Mail app. Private Relay also affects all network traffic.

November 2021 - Word to the Wise
Technical article

Documentation from Apple explains that iCloud+ includes Private Relay, which encrypts traffic leaving the user’s device and uses two separate internet relays so no one can use the IP address, location, and browsing activity to create a detailed profile about the user.

May 2024 - Apple