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

When activated, privacy mode (also called private mode), disables Porsche Connect services in your car. This function prevents access to your car from your smartphone via the Porsche app.

How does privacy mode work in my car?

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

Deactivating privacy mode (for the Macan Electric you’ll need to turn Connect Services on) 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 car via the My Porsche app can be used. You'll also now be able to install software updates. This data transfer doesn't have any additional costs.

With Privacy Mode activated (i.e., in the Macan Electric, when Connect Services are 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 2016-2024

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 year 2025

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

Tap Settings

Tap Privacy and Porsche Connect

Tap Privacy Mode

Select active or inactive

Model years 2022-2024

Here’s how to activate/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/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 year 2025

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

Tap Settings

Tap Privacy and Porsche Connect

Tap Privacy mode

Select active or inactive

Model years 2020-2024

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

Tap Settings

Tap PorscheConnect 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 2022-2025

Here’s how to activate/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 2024-2025 (Macan Electric)

Here’s how to activate/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 2019-2025

Here’s how to activate/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/deactivate privacy mode:

Select Vehicle

Select Settings

Select Car Connect

Select Privacy

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

Confirm your selection

Model years 2022-2024

Here’s how to activate/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/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/deactivate privacy mode:

Select Set

Select Car Connect

Choose Privacy

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

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