In iOS 17 what does the black "iPhone Connected" banner mean?

Question

In iOS 17 what does the black "iPhone Connected" banner mean?

I have two iPhones, named "iPhone 12" and "iPhone 14 Pro Max", respectively, one for work and one personal, and both are signed in with my Apple ID. I've just upgraded them both to iOS 17.

Now when I stack them to put them in my pocket, if they are both unlocked, there's a tone, and then a black banner at the top of the screen on the 14 says "iPhone 12 / connected" and a black banner at the top of the screen on the 12 says "iPhone 14 Pro Max / connected". If I click on either banner nothing happens. If I swipe it in any direction it goes away. The tone is annoying and and if the iPhones are doing something (maybe syncing something?) Or are they telling me they are ready to do something, and if so, what?

I wonder if this behavior is related to the feature for exchanging contacts with another user by bringing the phones together, but since both of these phones are mine that doesn't seem applicable.

What is this behavior and what purpose does it serve?

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on Sep 26, 2023 3:05 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

kmalinina

Level 1

22 points

Sep 27, 2023 5:24 AM in response to Rick_3hiru734

I had the same exact problem so I did a little bit of digging. It’s a new airdrop feature that allows sharing of certain things by placing two iPhones together. Go to AirDrop settings and turn it off in the very bottom!

New IOS update feature:

NameDrop lets you exchange contact information with someone new by bringing your iPhones close together
New way to initiate AirDrop allows you to share content or start a SharePlay session over AirDrop by bringing your iPhones close together

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Answer 2

Oct 10, 2023 2:06 PM in response to Rick_3hiru734

Helpful thread, I was confused by the same issue. I found that you can go to settings, general, airdrop and turn off the option to share by touching phones.

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Answer 3

Dec 14, 2023 11:33 AM in response to wexler2

Finally found a solution (on Reddit). Go to “Settings”, then “General,” then “Airdrop.” Then toggle off “Start Sharing by Bringing Devices Together”.

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Answer 4

Sep 27, 2023 5:50 AM in response to kmalinina

Thanks for explaining.

In case the product team is reading, as a feature suggestion, it would be nice to have an option to have it act differently near my own other phone than when it's near someone else's phone.

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Answer 5

Floppeus

Level 1

8 points

Nov 9, 2023 7:30 AM in response to Rick_3hiru734

How do we turn off the banner? I love the sharing feature between my two phone, but it keeps appearing, even after I swipe it away. Usually have to close an app entirely or reboot phone get it to stay away for a while. Disabling the awesome sharing feature until they fix the banner.

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Answer 6

Nov 26, 2023 7:26 AM in response to Floppeus

Totally agree with fixing the banner prompt and the option to disable. Many of us carry two phone, often stacked together in the pocket or on the desk, one for work the other for home. This banner only pops up on my personal phone. I am not surprised the big corporate IT has turned it off on the work phone

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