Level 1

72 points

Turn off contacts in the iOS 13 Share Sheet

I need to be able to remove the list of suggested contacts on the top row of the "share sheet" in Safari and other iOS 13 applications. In just the past week since I switched to iOS 13, I've had a couple accidental shares; moreover, sometimes I present the contents of my screen to an audience, and I do not want them to see my frequent contacts. Finally, most of the suggested contacts are not contacts I would use anyways and are actually in frequent. This create some awkward circumstances an accidental sharing possibilities that can result from an accidental tap or brush with the screen. (Please see attached image from a similar request from another discussion group.) Thank you for your answers.

[Image Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Oct 2, 2019 5:01 PM

Top-ranking reply

lcascio

Level 1

51 points

Posted on Oct 15, 2019 7:32 AM

The share tab was changed and while there is some ability to control what apps you can share to, there appears to be no way to turn off having contacts listed on the share tab nor is there an ability to control which contacts appear. They appear to be selected based on most recently used possibly among other factors or "secret formula".

I think Apple took this move as a strong arm approach to promote/force more usage of the iMessage app over other sharing apps. For example, when I do share links, it is usually with WhatsApp, which now requires deeper screen navigation to get at each time because the screen real-estate is now taken up by Apple's choice of my iMessage recipients (none of whom I ever share links with).

I put in an apple feedback to: Feedback - iPhone - Apple. Recommend that anyone who does not like this feature to put in a feedback for it also asking Apple to allow the user to configure whether they want iMessage/text message contacts to appear there or not.

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261 replies

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,821 points

Apr 29, 2020 5:07 AM in response to Forgewire

Here are two:

Jay_G28

Level 1

4 points

Jun 3, 2020 9:36 PM in response to jjmck

I totally hate this apple feature. Isn’t there a way to turn this off? One can easily accidentally share a confidential document to someone on the unintended suggestion list.

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,821 points

Jun 4, 2020 3:20 AM in response to Jay_G28

To "accidentally" share something requires at least two taps, where it saves a lot of effort for anyone using even a modicum of care when sharing items.

sergi288

Level 1

11 points

Jul 19, 2020 11:31 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Yes.

FJR030

Level 1

4 points

Aug 3, 2020 12:22 PM in response to jjmck

Please give the user the ability to control what apps/FB show in the share screen. I’m looking for the same answer. Did anyone find out anything?

FJR030

Level 1

4 points

Aug 29, 2020 6:47 AM in response to aliman5000

Your solution also hasn't worked for me. Too pitty I had been looking forward to it.

FJR030

Level 1

4 points

Sep 7, 2020 12:12 AM in response to jjmck

Done

sergi288

Level 1

11 points

Sep 24, 2020 4:52 AM in response to Jay_G28

Yeah! Problem solved in iOS 14

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,821 points

Sep 24, 2020 6:08 AM in response to Weedspot

Weedspot wrote:

needless to say I will never have that awfully feature turned on ever again

…and I use it daily as it would be a major pain to lose it.

Everyone's happy.

Nov 4, 2020 3:41 PM in response to Southpaw964

Thank you so much!!! This has been driving me crazy and I finally found the solution thanks to you!

Dec 6, 2020 3:35 PM in response to jjmck

https://www.howtogeek.com/683443/how-to-disable-contacts-and-siri-suggestions-in-iphone-share-sheet/

Jul 5, 2020 6:26 AM in response to jjmck

I've just run into this 'share sheet' debacle with contact names and images being present in an area of my iPad Pro's interface that has proven to be awkward. I use my iPad often in a work environment, and more often this issue pops up. This is 1. a privacy issue, and 2. an unnecessary space-sucker.

I completely agree with many here that this 'feature' needs to go OR provide a way to turn it off completely in the Settings panel. ASAP. Next update.

Thank you

Aug 28, 2020 7:03 AM in response to aliman5000

Thanks for the insight. I've had all that Siri & Search stuff turned off the first day I picked up my iPad Pro. It still is turned off, yet the junk keeps adding. So your solution hasn't worked for me, I'm afraid. I hope you're right that Apple is, at least, going to provide an option to turn on or off this feature, as I'm sure many like it. I don't, and simply want to turn this off.

Aug 28, 2020 11:38 AM in response to aliman5000

I started by shutting off all of the individual apps first, then I threw the 'master switch' and shut the whole thing down (Siri & Search). All options are grey ghosts. But just throwing the master switch will shut everything off. Or it's supposed to. (I remember days in the 90's when a lingering and corrupt preference would cause gremlins.-LOL!)

All the same—didn't work for me, but MAYBE iOS14 will fix it. It's still possible YOU have a linger preference file from your beta try. ;-)

Thanx!

Sep 17, 2020 7:07 AM in response to artemis49

Already done all of that, and nothing changes. I also did a 'restart' when I turned everything off in the event that may remove old cached material, but no dice. We're stuck with that annoyance until Apple chooses to remedy this 'feature' by either removing it OR making it optional. I'm sure some users love it.

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Turn off contacts in the iOS 13 Share Sheet