What is Porsche privacy mode and what’s it used for?

If you want to use Connect services in your car using the My Porsche app, you’ll need to deactivate privacy mode / turn on Connect Services in your car’s Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system.

How does privacy mode work in my car?

Deactivating privacy mode / turning on Connect Services starts a data transfer, which in turn activates all Porsche Connect services in your car. A number of your car’s functions, like live traffic information for navigation, remote access such as locking and unlocking, trip control and finding your vehicle via the My Porsche app can be used. You’ll now also be able to install online software updates.

This data transfer doesn’t incur any additional costs.

With Privacy Mode activated / Connect Services turned off no connection will be established between the My Porsche app and the car, and the use of Porsche Connect services are restricted.

Security features for theft protection or accident notification remain active for safety reasons, whether privacy mode is set or not.

How can I activate or deactivate privacy mode?

Here’s how you can activate or deactivate privacy mode in your car’s PCM settings. Please note, there may be slight differences in how the steps below are named depending on the software version in your car.

Model years 2016-2026

Here’s how to set privacy mode in your car’s instrument cluster:

Select Vehicle.

Select Settings.

Select Car Connect.

Select Privacy to activate or deactivate.

Model years 2025 - 2026

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode / Connect services in your car’s PCM:

Tap Settings.

Tap Privacy and Porsche Connect.

Tap Connect Services.

Select active or inactive.

Note: Applicable to latest software version.

Model years 2022-2024

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode in your car’s PCM:

Tap Settings.

Tap Porsche Connect Settings.

Tap Privacy mode.

Select active or inactive.

Model years 2020-2021

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode in your car’s PCM:

Select Set.

Set Porsche Connect.

Click Private mode/Privacy Mode.

Model years 2016-2019

Here’s how to set privacy mode in your car’s instrument cluster:

Select Vehicle.

Select Settings.

Select Car Connect.

Select Privacy to activate or deactivate.

Model years 2025-2026

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode / Connect services in your car’s PCM:

Tap Settings.

Tap Privacy and Porsche Connect.

Tap Connect Services.

Select active or inactive.

Note: Applicable to latest software version.

Model years 2020-2024

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode in your car’s PCM:

Tap Settings.

Tap Porsche Connect settings.

Tap Privacy mode/Private mode.

Select active or inactive.

When privacy mode is activated, a ‘protective shield’ symbol will appear on the right-hand side of the PCM screen. Clicking on this symbol will take you to the settings where you can deactivate privacy mode.

Model years 2025-2026

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode / Connect services in your car’s PCM:

Tap Settings.

Tap Privacy and Porsche Connect.

Tap Connect Services.

Select active or inactive.

Note: Applicable to latest software version.

Model years 2022-2024

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode in your car’s PCM:

Tap Settings.

Tap Privacy and Porsche Connect settings.

Tap Privacy mode.

Select active or inactive.

Model years 2018-2021

Here’s how to set privacy mode in your car’s instrument cluster:

Select Car.

Select Control.

Select Vehicle (Vehicle settings).

Select Porsche Car Connect App.

Model year 2017

Here’s how to set privacy mode in your car’s instrument cluster:

Select Vehicle.

Select Porsche Car Connect App.

Model year 2016

Here’s how to set privacy mode in your car’s instrument cluster:

Select Vehicle.

Select Settings.

Select Car Connect.

Choose Privacy.

Confirm your selection.

Model years 2024-2026 (Macan Electric)

Here’s how to activate and deactivate Porsche Connect services (formerly known as privacy mode):

Go to the PCM in your car.

Tap Settings.

Tap Data Privacy.

For Connect services select on or off using the toggle switch (the blue switch on the right means ‘on’).

When privacy mode is activated, a ‘protective shield’ symbol will appear in the top right-hand corner of the PCM screen. Clicking on this symbol will take you to the settings where you can turn on the Porsche Connect services, i.e., deactivate privacy mode.

Model years 2019-2024

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode:

Go to the PCM in your car.

Select Set.

Select Porsche Connect.

Select Privacy mode.

Activate or deactivate privacy setting.

Model years 2016-2018

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode:

Select Vehicle.

Select Settings.

Select Car Connect.

Select Privacy.

Select Activation (communication established) or Deactivation (communication disabled).

Confirm your selection.

Model year 2025-2026

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode / Connect services in your car’s PCM:

Tap Settings.

Tap Privacy and Porsche Connect.

Tap Connect Services.

Select active or inactive.

Note: Applicable to latest software version.

Model years 2022-2024

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode:

Go to the PCM in your car.

Tap Settings.

Tap Privacy and Porsche Connect.

Tap Privacy mode.

Select active or inactive.

Model years 2018-2021

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode:

Go to the PCM in your car.

Select Set and Porsche Connect.

Click Private mode/Privacy Mode.

Click Activate privacy setting or Deactivate privacy setting.

Model years 2016-2017

Here’s how to activate and deactivate privacy mode:

Select Set.

Select Car Connect.

Choose Privacy.

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Vehicle locking and unlocking via the My Porsche app

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How does privacy mode work in my car?

How can I activate or deactivate privacy mode?

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