Apple’s Shared with You feature automatically surfaces links, media, and other content shared via iMessage within apps like News and Podcasts. You can also pin items so they surface on your iPhone and iPad whenever you open the app.
But these suggestions can sometimes be unhelpful or annoying. Luckily, you can disable them with just a few taps.
Airplane mode
Airplane mode is a great way to block out calls, texts and data when you’re using your phone on an airplane. It also disconnects your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. This makes it difficult for thieves or robbers to track your iPhone. To turn off airplane mode, tap the plane icon in your Control Center or on your lock screen. If you want to use your WiFi or Bluetooth again, you’ll need to turn them on individually.
You can also toggle airplane mode on or off from your Settings menu. On older iOS devices, you’ll find the Airplane mode option under Network & Internet. To activate airplane mode, you’ll need to swipe up from the bottom of your screen (iPhone X and later) or swipe down on the top-right corner of your device’s display (iPad and iPod Touch). The airplane icon turns blue when Airplane mode is enabled and returns to its default hue when disabled.
While in airplane mode, you can still send text messages and use apps like email, but you won’t be able to make phone calls or browse the Internet over a cellular connection. If you’re traveling overseas, turning on airplane mode can help prevent expensive roaming fees from being incurred.
Another benefit of airplane mode is that it protects your privacy by stopping the GPS feature on your iPhone from sharing your location with other people or companies. This feature can be useful for business travelers who need to keep their work private, or for parents whose kids are playing games on the phone and accidentally dialing numbers.
When you switch your iPhone to airplane mode, you’ll notice that the internet and phone signal disappears. You’ll be unreachable by phone, text, and the internet until you turn off airplane mode again. You can do this by tapping the airplane icon in the top-right of your screen.
If you’re using an iPhone with a child, it’s a good idea to put it in airplane mode before handing it over for a game of Pokemon or a movie. This will prevent the phone from being called or texted and will stop push alerts from interrupting their gameplay or movie. You should also use this mode if you’re taking the train or subway to avoid annoying your fellow passengers.
Find my iPhone
A new feature called Shared with You has been added to the iOS 15 and iPadOS 16 versions of Apple’s mobile operating system. This feature automatically syncs content sent with iMessage across all devices running on the same Apple ID. Photos sent via Messages will show up in the “For You” tab of the Photos app, and web links will appear in Safari. Some music files will even appear in the Apple Music app. While this is a useful feature, it can also be a privacy concern.
Many people worry that someone will be able to track their iPhone’s location with the new Shared with You feature. While law enforcement and your phone company can still look at your iPhone’s location in certain circumstances, this is generally limited to cases of warrants and subpoenas. However, there are ways that you can hide your iPhone’s location without anyone knowing about it.
One of the easiest ways to prevent your iPhone’s location from being tracked is to turn off iCloud Find. To do this, open the Settings app and tap “your name” at the top of the menu. This will open the iCloud Settings screen. Then, tap “iCloud,” and make sure that the “Find My iPhone” option is disabled.
You can also use a third-party app to hide your iPhone’s location. Some apps, such as iMazing, offer this service for free. Others charge a fee. If you decide to use an app that charges a fee, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before installing it.
If you’re concerned that your phone might be stolen, you can also lock your iPhone using the iCloud website. This will require a passcode or PIN, so be sure to keep this password in a safe place. This method should only be used when you’re confident that your phone won’t be returned to its owner.
You can also use a tool called FoneTool to transfer contacts from one iPhone to another. It’s easy to use and works on any iPhone. It’s especially helpful if you’re switching to a different iPhone or you need to backup your contact list for any reason.
Find my Friends
The iPhone can be useful for keeping in touch with friends and family, but it can also be a privacy concern. If you are concerned about sharing your location, you can turn off the feature on your device. This can be done by opening Control Center and tapping the airplane icon. This will disable cellular data and WiFi, which will prevent other people from seeing your location. However, this method will not work if your friend or family member has location services turned on.
If you want to share your location with someone, you can do so through iMessage or on your contacts list. You can even set a time limit for how long you want to share your location. This way, you can be sure that no one will see your location for longer than you intend. This is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family or coordinate meeting locations.
Another way to share your location with friends is by using the Find My Friends app on the iPhone. This allows you to track the location of other iPhone users, though it may not be as accurate as when a person is using their cellular connection. This app can be a good way to coordinate a gathering or to help someone who is lost in a new city.
Some iOS apps, such as Apple Music, Apple TV, and Photos, have a Shared with You section that lists all the links and media that you or your contacts have shared with you. This can make your apps feel cluttered and it might be distracting if you are not interested in this type of content.
The good news is that you can easily remove Shared with You entries from your apps on your iPhone and iPad. This is easy to do and can be done in a few steps.
In previous versions of iOS, there was no way to hide contacts from the top row in the Share Sheet on your iPhone or iPad. This can be a problem if you share something with someone often or if you have someone who is constantly looking over your shoulder. However, in iOS 14 and later, you can disable the Shared with You suggestions so that you do not see any contacts on your iPad or iPhone.
Family Sharing
Apple’s family sharing feature makes it easy for up to five people to share iTunes, App Store and iCloud content. It also allows parents to manage children’s apps and purchases, set screen time restrictions and more. However, there may come a time when you or someone in your family needs to leave a shared account. Whether you’re moving to a new country, or simply ready to escape parental controls, it’s easy to disable and remove your account from family sharing.
You can access your family sharing settings in the Settings app. On iOS, tap iCloud and then Family. On macOS, go to System Preferences and select iCloud. You’ll see your family sharing information, including all current members and Shared Features. If you want to leave the group, choose your name and tap Stop Using Family Sharing.
When you’re done, you’ll lose access to any shared content in iCloud, such as music, videos, and app subscriptions. Any DRM-protected content that was downloaded by a member of the group will remain on your device, but you’ll need to purchase it again. You’ll also lose access to any shared reminders or calendars. If you have an Apple Watch that uses Family Setup, you’ll also lose the ability to find and access your location in Find My iPhone.
Any family member 13 or older can remove themselves from the group. The organizer will receive a notification on their devices and can approve the transfer from the Family Sharing page in the Settings app. If you’re an organizer, you can also choose to stop sharing completely, but the removed member will lose access to their purchases.
If you’re the organizer, you can add a new member by tapping your name, then choosing “Family Sharing.” If you aren’t the organizer, you can create a new account in iCloud by opening the Settings app and tapping your name. From there, you can set up a new family group or choose an existing one to join. You’ll need to use a different Apple ID than the one used for your current family group.