From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background
to its mothership tracking servers, even when idle?
A: ?

How often, even when idle, does Apple secretly contact its mainframes?
a. Minutes?
b. Hours?
c. Days?

Why?
--
If you can't answer these questions, you don't know how iOS really works.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

On 2026-01-10 12:02, Maria Sophia wrote:

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background
to its mothership tracking servers, even when idle?
A: ?

How often, even when idle, does Apple secretly contact its mainframes?
a. Minutes?
b. Hours?
c. Days?

Why?

There are no "mothership tracking servers", Arlen.

There are services that Apple provides, none of which you need to use
except the App Store, and you can sign in to the App Store only when you
need to get or update an app and then sign out again.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

On Jan 10, 2026 at 3:59:18rC>PM EST, "Alan" <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

On 2026-01-10 12:02, Maria Sophia wrote:

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background
to its mothership tracking servers, even when idle?
A: ?

How often, even when idle, does Apple secretly contact its mainframes?
a. Minutes?
b. Hours?
c. Days?

Why?

There are no "mothership tracking servers", Arlen.

There are services that Apple provides, none of which you need to use
except the App Store, and you can sign in to the App Store only when you
need to get or update an app and then sign out again.

Now now. Don't confuse Arlen with facts. He lives in his own imaginary world.

Not to mention that - even if Apple DID have "tracking servers" - they would NOT be IBM mainframes. Arlen is so out of touch, he forgets that Apple makes computers. Apple would have racks of Mac minis or studios or something. All running Apple's own Unix software.

Why port all of your software to a mainframe?
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

On 1/10/2026 3:02 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background
to its mothership tracking servers, even when idle?
A: ?

How often, even when idle, does Apple secretly contact its mainframes?
a. Minutes?
b. Hours?
c. Days?

Why?

Don't know, don't care. The Apple phone and pad work great, stay updated regularly on a know schedule, all by themselves. Unlike Android where I
had to use Google to find out if the phone I bought a year ago was ever
going to get an OS update. And was disappointed with the answer a few
times. Unlike my Samsung tablet that came with an outdated OS that did
get one update, then never. Unlike my Android devices that required
manual app reinstall when a new one was purchased, with no data history carried over.

A former Android fan, I will never go back. I have seen the light. BUT,
at the same time very happy that the EU is breaking down the walled
garden too. I even get Google Maps as the CarPlay default now! And
YouTube Music as a default too! Nirvana.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

Tom Elam wrote:

On 1/10/2026 3:02 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background
to its mothership tracking servers, even when idle?
A: ?

How often, even when idle, does Apple secretly contact its mainframes?
a. Minutes?
b. Hours?
c. Days?

Why?

Don't know, don't care. The Apple phone and pad work great, stay updated regularly on a know schedule, all by themselves. Unlike Android where I
had to use Google to find out if the phone I bought a year ago was ever going to get an OS update. And was disappointed with the answer a few
times. Unlike my Samsung tablet that came with an outdated OS that did
get one update, then never. Unlike my Android devices that required
manual app reinstall when a new one was purchased, with no data history carried over.

A former Android fan, I will never go back. I have seen the light. BUT,
at the same time very happy that the EU is breaking down the walled
garden too. I even get Google Maps as the CarPlay default now! And
YouTube Music as a default too! Nirvana.

Hi Tom Elam,

Thank you for sharing your personal experience with iOS and Android.

My original question in this thread was about background network
behavior in iOS, not OS update policies, but since you raised the
update comparison it is worth clarifying the current situation.

1. Google now provides seven years of OS, security, and feature
updates for their latest Pixels.

Google Pixel Update Policy
<https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705>
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will receive 7 years of OS, security, and
Feature Drop updates.

2. Samsung documents extended security update support for Galaxy
devices, up to seven years for recent models.

Security Updates Scope | Samsung Mobile Security
<https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb>
As of January 2024, we are extending our security update support
for Samsung Galaxy devices by up to 7 years, to help our users
enjoy the latest Galaxy experiences longer and securely.

3. Android supports modular system updates through Project Mainline.
This allows many system components to be updated via Google Play,
independent of full OEM firmware updates.

Project Mainline
<https://source.android.com/docs/core/ota/modular-system>
Mainline enables monthly updates to dozens of core system components
through Google Play over the Internet for all Android 10+ phones.

There is nothing even remotely close to this extremely powerful
and frequent monthly update which covers phones from 2019 to today.

4. Both platforms are now comparable in security posture. Modern
Android uses hardware backed keystores, verified boot, SELinux, and
sandboxing. iOS uses similar mechanisms. Neither platform is
inherently more secure in every category, and the details depend on
specific models and configurations.

Your experience with Android devices in the past is valid. The update
landscape today is simply different from what it was ten years ago.

My original question in this thread was about how often iOS contacts
Apple servers in the background, even when idle. That is a separate
topic from OS update policies, but I appreciate your perspective.

I use Apple products every day, along with Android products.
What you "remember" isn't even close to how it works today.

But you're welcome to your memory since you seem to be happy.
And that's what matters to you.

Meanwhile, the question remains so that we can understand iOS:
Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background to servers?
A:
--
Those who don't ask how an operating system works will never be able to understand that what they're told isn't how it actually works in reality.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

On 2026-01-12 15:55, Maria Sophia wrote:

Tom Elam wrote:

On 1/10/2026 3:02 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background
to its mothership tracking servers, even when idle?
A: ?

How often, even when idle, does Apple secretly contact its mainframes?
a. Minutes?
b. Hours?
c. Days?

Why?

Don't know, don't care. The Apple phone and pad work great, stay updated
regularly on a know schedule, all by themselves. Unlike Android where I
had to use Google to find out if the phone I bought a year ago was ever
going to get an OS update. And was disappointed with the answer a few
times. Unlike my Samsung tablet that came with an outdated OS that did
get one update, then never. Unlike my Android devices that required
manual app reinstall when a new one was purchased, with no data history
carried over.

A former Android fan, I will never go back. I have seen the light. BUT,
at the same time very happy that the EU is breaking down the walled
garden too. I even get Google Maps as the CarPlay default now! And
YouTube Music as a default too! Nirvana.

Hi Tom Elam,

Thank you for sharing your personal experience with iOS and Android.

My original question in this thread was about background network
behavior in iOS, not OS update policies, but since you raised the
update comparison it is worth clarifying the current situation.

1. Google now provides seven years of OS, security, and feature
updates for their latest Pixels.

Which is great if you have a Pixel...

...and if they live up to that commitment.

Google Pixel Update Policy
<https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705>
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will receive 7 years of OS, security, and
Feature Drop updates.

2. Samsung documents extended security update support for Galaxy
devices, up to seven years for recent models.

Which is great if you have one of those recent models...

...and if they live up to that commitment.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

On 01/10/2026 15:02, Maria Sophia wrote:

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background
to its mothership tracking servers, even when idle?
A: ?

How often, even when idle, does Apple secretly contact its mainframes?
a. Minutes?
b. Hours?
c. Days?

Why?

Tell us why this matters.

Tell us what Apple does with this information.

Tell us how this is different than what Google does with their tracking information.

Tell us how to prevent all of this.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

On 1/12/2026 6:56 PM, Alan wrote:

On 2026-01-12 15:55, Maria Sophia wrote:

Tom Elam wrote:

On 1/10/2026 3:02 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background
-a-a-a-a to its mothership tracking servers, even when idle?
A: ?

How often, even when idle, does Apple secretly contact its mainframes? >>>> -a-a a. Minutes?
-a-a b. Hours?
-a-a c. Days?

Why?

Don't know, don't care. The Apple phone and pad work great, stay updated >>> regularly on a know schedule, all by themselves. Unlike Android where I
had to use Google to find out if the phone I bought a year ago was ever
going to get an OS update. And was disappointed with the answer a few
times. Unlike my Samsung tablet that came with an outdated OS that did
get one update, then never. Unlike my Android devices that required
manual app reinstall when a new one was purchased, with no data history
carried over.

A former Android fan, I will never go back. I have seen the light. BUT,
at the same time very happy that the EU is breaking down the walled
garden too. I even get Google Maps as the CarPlay default now! And
YouTube Music as a default too! Nirvana.

Hi Tom Elam,

Thank you for sharing your personal experience with iOS and Android.

My original question in this thread was about background network
behavior in iOS, not OS update policies, but since you raised the
update comparison it is worth clarifying the current situation.

1. Google now provides seven years of OS, security, and feature
-a-a-a updates for their latest Pixels.

Which is great if you have a Pixel...

...and if they live up to that commitment.

-a-a-a Google Pixel Update Policy
-a-a-a <https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705>
-a-a-a Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will receive 7 years of OS, security, and
-a-a-a Feature Drop updates.

2. Samsung documents extended security update support for Galaxy
-a-a-a devices, up to seven years for recent models.

Which is great if you have one of those recent models...

...and if they live up to that commitment.

Ditto Alan's comments. These claims only apply to premium devices. And
Apple supplies security updates for at least 7 years. It also has yet to
be seen if all OS update features will be available on a 7 year old
Pixel or Galaxy.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

Tom Elam wrote:

On 1/12/2026 6:56 PM, Alan wrote:

On 2026-01-12 15:55, Maria Sophia wrote:

Tom Elam wrote:

On 1/10/2026 3:02 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background
aaaa to its mothership tracking servers, even when idle?
A: ?

How often, even when idle, does Apple secretly contact its mainframes? >>>>> aa a. Minutes?
aa b. Hours?
aa c. Days?

Why?

Don't know, don't care. The Apple phone and pad work great, stay updated >>>> regularly on a know schedule, all by themselves. Unlike Android where I >>>> had to use Google to find out if the phone I bought a year ago was ever >>>> going to get an OS update. And was disappointed with the answer a few
times. Unlike my Samsung tablet that came with an outdated OS that did >>>> get one update, then never. Unlike my Android devices that required
manual app reinstall when a new one was purchased, with no data history >>>> carried over.

A former Android fan, I will never go back. I have seen the light. BUT, >>>> at the same time very happy that the EU is breaking down the walled
garden too. I even get Google Maps as the CarPlay default now! And
YouTube Music as a default too! Nirvana.

Hi Tom Elam,

Thank you for sharing your personal experience with iOS and Android.

My original question in this thread was about background network
behavior in iOS, not OS update policies, but since you raised the
update comparison it is worth clarifying the current situation.

1. Google now provides seven years of OS, security, and feature
aaa updates for their latest Pixels.

Which is great if you have a Pixel...

...and if they live up to that commitment.

aaa Google Pixel Update Policy
aaa <https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705>
aaa Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will receive 7 years of OS, security, and
aaa Feature Drop updates.

2. Samsung documents extended security update support for Galaxy
aaa devices, up to seven years for recent models.

Which is great if you have one of those recent models...

...and if they live up to that commitment.

Ditto Alan's comments. These claims only apply to premium devices. And
Apple supplies security updates for at least 7 years. It also has yet to
be seen if all OS update features will be available on a 7 year old
Pixel or Galaxy.

Hi Tom Elam,

Your points about your personal understanding of the ecosystem update
support are noted, but they do not change the original question in this
thread, which was specifically about background network behavior in iOS.

However, since you raised update policy, it is worth keeping the comparison accurate. The devices that compete directly with the iPhone are the
flagship Pixels and flagship Galaxy models. Those are the ones that now
receive seven years of OS, security, and feature updates. Apple supports
its devices for many years too, but only one major iOS release is
supported at a time, while Android supports multiple active releases in parallel.

Apple's written promised support is only five years, not seven years.
*Apple finally confirms how long it will support iPhones*
*(five years, 5 years) and it's less than Samsung and Google*
<https://www.androidauthority.com/iphone-software-support-commitment-3449135/>

In addition, Project Mainline delivers monthly updates to dozens of core
system modules for all Android 10+ devices, regardless of manufacturer.
There is no equivalent mechanism on iOS. Not even close.

Not in scope. Not in frequency. Not in number of device.

There's no iOS comparison to that sheer overwhelming Android support to billions of Android devices, which has no known end of life period.

However, all of that is separate from the question I originally asked,
which is about how often iOS contacts Apple servers in the background, even when idle. That behavior exists regardless of update policy.

So returning to the topic:

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home to Apple servers when the device is
idle?
A: ?

Until we can answer that, we cannot say we understand how iOS actually
operates behind the scenes.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

badgolferman wrote:

On 01/10/2026 15:02, Maria Sophia wrote:

Q: How frequently does iOS phone home in the background
to its mothership tracking servers, even when idle?
A: ?

How often, even when idle, does Apple secretly contact its mainframes?
a. Minutes?
b. Hours?
c. Days?

Why?

Tell us why this matters.

Tell us what Apple does with this information.

Tell us how this is different than what Google does with their tracking information.

Tell us how to prevent all of this.

Hi badgolferman,

This question is asked to help us all understand how iOS works, especially since iOS is designed differently from all other systems (including macOS).

Hence, I thank you for your thoughtful questions which are exactly the
right ones to ask if we want to understand how iOS connectivity behaves.

Q: Tell us why this matters.

Because background network activity reveals how often the device checks
in with Apple servers for identity, activation, push notifications,
location services and other functions. If we do not know the frequency,
we cannot understand the load, the privacy impact, or the design choices
behind it. Without knowing this, we don't really understand how iOS works.

Q: Tell us what Apple does with this information.

While I have no special insight into what Apple does with the immense information it collects about us in iOS' background connections, at a
minimum, the iOS device contacts Apple for push notification keepalives, activation status, iCloud sync, Find My, and token renewal. Each of
those services has its own server endpoints.

The question is how often each one runs when the device is idle.

Q: Tell us how this is different than what Google does.

I didn't intend this thread to be a comparison with Android, but it's clear that both platforms contact their servers, yet the mechanisms differ.

Android documents its heartbeat intervals for FCM, Play services and system modules especially as much of Android is open source & open to purview.

iOS, being proprietary, does not publish equivalent timing details.
That is a fundamental reason for why the question is worth asking.

Q: Tell us how to prevent all of this.

The question was only asking what the frequency is of the various and
sundry connections that iOS performs in the background ot Apple servers.

The question was not deigned to "solve" how iOS happens to work.
The question is only meant to understand how iOS is designed to work.

However, if I make a stab at answering your faithfully placed questions, I would think that on any platform, the only way to reduce background contact
is to know which services are responsible for it. Without understanding the frequency and purpose of the connections, there is likely no reliable way
to evaluate what can be disabled or limited, if that is our end goal.

So the original question remains unanswered as I don't know the answer yet myself, but I was hoping that we could discuss the topic to flesh it out.

Q: How frequently does iOS contact Apple servers when the device is idle?
A: That is what we are trying to determine so as to better understand iOS.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2