How to turn on Sensitive Content warnings in iOS 17, iPadOS 17

With iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, Apple added a Sensitive Content Warning to protect iPhone and iPad users from inappropriate content. The feature helps safeguard from sensitive content received on FaceTime, Messages, AirDrop, etc.

Users can choose to receive warnings about photos or videos that might contain nudity before viewing them, as well as resources to help you make a safe choice. Photos or videos that might contain nudity are blurred before you view them.

You can also find guidance and resources that help you make a choice that you’re comfortable with.

Apple says Sensitive Content Warning uses on-device machine learning to analyze photos and videos. Because they’re analyzed on your device, Apple doesn’t receive an indication that nudity was detected and does not get access to the photos or videos as a result.

To Turn on Sensitive Content Warning

Sensitive Content Warning is turned off by default. After you turn on Sensitive Content Warning, you can choose which apps and services you’d like to use it with.

How to turn on Sensitive Content Warning on iPhone or iPad

1. In Settings, tap Privacy & Security.
2. Scroll down and tap Sensitive Content Warning.
3. Turn on Sensitive Content Warning.
4. All supported apps and services are turned on automatically. If you choose, you can turn access off for some apps and services.

When you turn on Sensitive Content Warning on your iPhone, it’s also turned on for your paired Apple Watch.

If Sensitive Content Warning detects a photo or video that appears to contain nudity

Sensitive Content Warning can detect nude photos and videos in these apps and services:

• iPhone or iPad: Messages, AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, and FaceTime Video Messages
• Mac: Messages
• Apple Watch: Messages and Contact Posters in the Phone app

If Sensitive Content Warning determines that you’ve received a photo or video that appears to contain nudity, it blurs the image, displays a warning that the content appears to be sensitive, and offers ways to get help.

• If you decide to view the photo or video, tap Show.
• If you are unsure or need help, tap the Alert button (an exclamation mark in a triangle) to find resources or block the person who sent the sensitive content.

(This how-to is based on my experiences and info on Apple’s support pages.)