No. Apple says an item shared with Anyone with the link is no longer end-to-end encrypted, even if Advanced Data Protection (ADP) is on. ADP protects what you keep in iCloud, such as Photos, iCloud Drive and Notes, but a public link makes the item readable by anyone with the link, including Apple.
What ADP is
Advanced Data Protection is an optional iCloud setting. According to Apple's ADP page, it raises the number of iCloud data categories with end-to-end encryption from 15 to 25, including iCloud Backup, Photos, iCloud Drive and Notes. Apple does not hold the keys for those categories, so you need a recovery contact or a recovery key to get your data back if you lose access. Apple cannot recover it for you.
What ADP does not cover
- Anyone with the link items. In its November 3, 2026 support article, Apple says such items are checked for harmful content from version 27.3 and are not end-to-end encrypted, even with ADP.
- Mail, Contacts and Calendars. Apple lists these as outside ADP.
- Content shared with others in some features. Apple's ADP page says shared albums and iWork collaboration are not end-to-end encrypted.
The change concerns what happens to an item once you create a public link. Press coverage ties the policy to child safety and CSAM; Apple's own words are "harmful content". It is not an invitation to look for ways around it, and none are offered here.
A quick yes or no check
- Photos you keep in iCloud, with ADP on: end-to-end encrypted.
- Files in iCloud Drive, with ADP on: end-to-end encrypted.
- Notes, with ADP on: end-to-end encrypted.
- An item behind Anyone with the link: not end-to-end encrypted, checked by Apple from 27.3.
- Mail, Contacts, Calendars: not covered by ADP.
If you want end-to-end protection for a shared file
Encrypt the file before it reaches any link or cloud.
Password-Protect ZIPEncrypt files into a password-protected ZIP with AES-256 in your browser. The password and files never leave your device.Open toolPassword-Protect ZIP creates an AES-256 encrypted ZIP on your device. Whoever has the link still cannot open the contents without the password, which you send in another app. For one PDF, Password Protect PDF works the same way.
Before sharing, check what the file reveals.
PDF Privacy ScanSee what a PDF leaks before you share it: metadata, emails, phone, card and IBAN numbers. Results show right on the page.Open toolPDF Privacy Scan lists hidden information in a PDF, and Remove Metadata clears it from PDFs, photos, video and Office files.
Where a vault app fits
A private vault is for storage, not sharing. The Filevale iPhone app has a Vault with a passcode or pattern lock and a 12-word recovery key, and iCloud Vault backup (Pro) keeps an encrypted copy in your own iCloud. See Filevale for iPhone. For a full comparison read Notes lock vs Hidden album vs a private vault app and iCloud public link vs People you choose.
Frequently asked questions
If I turn on ADP, are my public links protected?
No. Apple states that a public link item is not end-to-end encrypted even with ADP turned on.
Does ADP stop Apple checking my private photo library?
Apple's article is about items shared with Anyone with the link. It does not describe checks on a library you keep private, and press coverage says private libraries are not covered.
Can Apple recover my data if I lose an ADP recovery key?
According to Apple's ADP page, no. You need a trusted recovery contact or a recovery key. The same rule applies to a vault app with a recovery key: write the key down and store it somewhere safe.