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

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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.


261 replies

Jan 20, 2020 2:27 PM in response to jjmck

I completely agree with all the comments on this thread. Random contacts popping up is an unwelcome intrusion and feels like it is primed for embarrassing content sharing.


this is based on the premise that all sharing is good and it is not. Incredible poor ux design from a supposedly world leading brand that is unaware of the ways individuals use their browsers, save and share.

Jan 21, 2020 4:56 AM in response to Emma0928

Emma0928 wrote:

I completely agree with all the comments on this thread. Random contacts popping up is an unwelcome intrusion and feels like it is primed for embarrassing content sharing.

this is based on the premise that all sharing is good and it is not. Incredible poor ux design from a supposedly world leading brand that is unaware of the ways individuals use their browsers, save and share.


The problem here is you assume the way you use your device and what you want to see is how all people use their device.


Several reviewers have lauded Apple for this new feature, and in general many users like it and the convenience it provides.


Certainly I think it's great when I just need to tap a contact in the share sheet rather than dig up their information via Contacts.

Jan 22, 2020 10:00 AM in response to jjmck

I completely agree Apple should remove this complicated way of sharing or at least give us the ability to simplify it or moreover personalize it. My suggestions would be on/off switches in settings for: airdrop devices in sharing, contact suggestions in sharing. Also, maybe a way to manually sort and favorite options per app. I suspect it’s not only me that would like the option to have in some apps custom set sorted options/apps, setup once and forget. Like in entertainment media based apps I would like to save to files or photos in my funny collection but when I am using pages for example I want to save the file to dropbox. The sharing switches are absolutely a requirement.

Jan 26, 2020 7:49 AM in response to jjmck

My problem is a little different. Was in a group message with two other iPhone users arhat are in contacts. Deleted message conversation but their icon/numbers still show up in share sheet. No other contacts are there. Others disappear as expected when conversation is deleted. I even deleted them from my contacts. All that did was change their name to a number. If I resend a message via the share sheet to them 8 end up with two frequent icons in the row. I delete conversion and o my the new contact deleted. Leave I g the other. BYW... It is not showing up on iPad. Just iPhone. Frustrating.

Jan 26, 2020 8:05 AM in response to Dogcow-Moof

I felt that some ppl here are not just expressing their own opinions but they try to defend on the feature which is not everyone’s desired to have as default.

I understand that some people love to have that feature and happy to see you guys in a better experience with it. But here is to be clear that ppl who are complaining about the feature that isn’t useful one and could be made worse for some ppl out there. So, we here complaining about it based on own experience and just asking an option to be able to hide it upon user choice.


So, stop defending for it because we are not asking it to be completely removed but we all should have equally rights to choose which we want. Aren’t we?

Feb 8, 2020 4:24 PM in response to KrazyCat

KrazyCat wrote:

i think it would be swell


Obviously, you didn't thing about it very logically. Settings would go on for pages and pages. And, the reality is that Apple has never been big on giving people choice. Mr. Jobs was big on giving people what he thought they should have, not what they said they wanted.


and read the darn thread which is 10 pages long and has 140 replies
clearly this is a "feature" that many people ... hate ...

Out of how many millions of people using iOS 13?


Feb 8, 2020 4:49 PM in response to KrazyCat

read the darn thread which is 10 pages long and has 140 replies
clearly this is a "feature" that many people ... hate ...

We have. We get it. Many, many people do not like the feature. As is your right.


Understood and accepted.


Does not alter the reality that nobody here can change it. You are bellowing to the wrong crowd.


Perhaps you should read and reach out to where your concerns are encouraged, welcomed and perhaps even will reach the correct audience.


This community is not that audience.


Please note Idris did not resort to name calling to make their point. Perhaps you can do the same.


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Turn off contacts in the iOS 13 Share Sheet

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