Toggle Private Relay
One click. Private Relay on or off.
A tiny macOS menu bar app that gives you instant control over iCloud Private Relay. Toggle it on, off, or off until tomorrow — with a click or a keyboard shortcut.
Download for macOSWhy Would I Need This?
iCloud Private Relay is great for privacy — until it gets in the way. If you run custom DNS (Pi-hole, AdGuard, NextDNS, or anything on your local network), Private Relay silently bypasses it. Your carefully configured ad blocking, parental filters, or network-level security? Ignored. Every time you need to troubleshoot, you have to open System Settings, click into your Apple Account, click iCloud, scroll to find Private Relay, click into it, flip the toggle, then deal with a confirmation dialog. That is at least six clicks through menus Apple has buried three levels deep.
And there is no shortcut. Apple provides no API, no terminal command, no URL scheme that works on macOS to toggle this setting. It is a server-side iCloud account setting — the only way to change it is through the UI. We checked. Thoroughly.
This app puts a toggle in your menu bar and gives you a keyboard shortcut (Cmd+Shift+P). One click or one keystroke instead of six clicks and a scavenger hunt through System Settings.
Custom DNS Bypassed
Private Relay routes around your local DNS. Pi-hole, AdGuard, custom resolvers — all ignored until you disable it.
Websites Breaking
Some sites block relay traffic or misidentify your location. Quick disable, fix the problem, re-enable.
Network Debugging
Diagnosing connectivity issues? Private Relay adds a proxy layer that makes troubleshooting harder.
Six Clicks, Three Levels Deep
Apple Account, iCloud, Private Relay, toggle, confirm. Every. Single. Time. Life is too short.
Features
Menu Bar Native
Lives entirely in the menu bar. No Dock icon, no window. Click the icon to see the current state and toggle instantly.
Global Hotkey
Press Cmd+Shift+P from any app to toggle Private Relay without touching the mouse.
Smart Disable Options
Turn it off completely or just until tomorrow. Perfect for when a specific site blocks Private Relay connections.
Launch at Login
Set it once and forget it. Toggle Private Relay launches automatically when you start your Mac.
Instant Notifications
Get a macOS notification confirming every toggle, so you always know the current state of Private Relay.
No API? No Problem.
Apple provides no programmatic API for Private Relay. This app uses the macOS Accessibility API to get the job done anyway.
How It Works
Apple does not provide any API to control iCloud Private Relay.
The only way to toggle it is through System Settings, buried under
iCloud > Private Relay. That is slow and tedious.
Toggle Private Relay uses the macOS Accessibility API to automate what you would do manually: it opens System Settings, navigates to the Private Relay toggle, flips it, and closes the window — all in under a second. This is why the app needs Accessibility permission, and why you may see System Settings flash briefly during the toggle.
Built with Swift and AppKit. Runs as a lightweight
LSUIElement agent app — no Dock presence, minimal memory footprint.
Requirements
- macOS 15 Sequoia or later
- iCloud+ subscription
- Accessibility permission