Data transfer to MAC O/S 26.2 from completely shut down i-phone

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Level 1

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Data transfer to MAC O/S 26.2 from completely shut down i-phone

I recently and reluctantly installed O/S 26.2 on my MAC. I preferred not to use the new phone app which loads data from my phone calls directly to my MAC. It takes up hard drive space and deletes the separation I want between my devices. I had previously completely turned off face time on my phone not wanting the data transferred when the new O/S tried to retrieve it. I also completely shut down the i-phone to prevent the data transfer, making sure that there was no available and accessible data to delete, until I was able to disable the phone app and face time on the MAC.

Despite those efforts a significant amount of data was transferred from my i-phone and into my MAC. I previously blocked that kind of transfer to the i-cloud on all of my devices and checked everything else I could think of to block the data transfer but I failed. How was the system able to access my phone data with the phone off and all transfer functions blocked? Was the phone data stored somewhere else? If so where is that and how can I access it? I am very concerned when I cannot figure out where and how my data is stored. I accessed i-cloud and could not find any phone call data. Does anyone have an idea what happened?

iPhone 12, iOS 26

Posted on Feb 9, 2026 7:57 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

SravanKrA

Level 10

432,112 points

Feb 9, 2026 9:38 PM in response to udubec

There are only a few ways iPhone data can make its way onto a Mac.

iCloud Sync: --> Back up and sync your photos and videos with iCloud
1. If iCloud services (Contacts, Messages, Call History, Photos, etc.) were enabled at any point, the data is stored in Apple’s cloud and can sync to any device signed in with the same Apple ID.
2. Even if your iPhone was powered off, the Mac could still pull data directly from iCloud.
Local Backup / Finder Integration: --> How to back up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with ...
1. When an iPhone is connected via USB or Wi‑Fi, macOS can create a backup. That backup may include call logs, messages, and app data.
2. These backups remain on the Mac’s drive until deleted, so they can appear even if the phone is later shut down.
Continuity Features (Phone App, FaceTime, Handoff): --> Continuity features and requirements for Apple devices
1. macOS integrates with iOS through “Continuity.” If enabled, your Mac can access call history, messages, and other data by syncing through iCloud or direct device communication.
2. Disabling FaceTime on the phone alone doesn’t fully block this—settings on the Mac itself also need to be adjusted.
iCloud Drive Mapping on Mac: --> Optimise storage space on your Mac
1. If you have iCloud Drive mapped on your Mac, opening or accessing files stored in iCloud will download them locally.
2. These files consume disk space and remain cached on the Mac until you stop opening them or manually remove them.
3. This can explain why certain data seems to “transfer” even when the iPhone is off—it’s actually being pulled from iCloud storage, not directly from the device.

Important clarifications

No direct transfer from a powered‑off iPhone: If the phone was truly shut down, macOS could not actively pull data from it. The data you saw must have come from iCloud or from a previous backup already stored locally.

Call data size: Call logs are tiny in terms of storage (kilobytes, not megabytes). They don’t meaningfully impact disk space.

App data: Individual iOS app data is not automatically mirrored to macOS. Only specific categories (like Messages, Photos, Notes, Safari history) sync via iCloud.

How to check and control this

On your Mac: Set up iCloud on your Mac
1. Go to System Settings → Apple ID → iCloud and review which categories are enabled.
2. Disable “iCloud Drive,” “Messages in iCloud,” “iCloud Photos,” or “iCloud Keychain” if you don’t want cross‑device syncing.
3. In System Settings → General → AirDrop & Handoff, turn off “Allow Handoff” and “Calls from iPhone.”
On your iPhone: Use iCloud on iPhone
1. In Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud, verify what’s syncing.
2. In Settings → Phone → Calls on Other Devices, disable the option.
3. In Settings → FaceTime, ensure FaceTime is off if you don’t want call integration.
Backups on Mac:
1. Open Finder → Locations → iPhone → Manage Backups to see if a local backup exists. You can delete it if you don’t want that data stored. Locate and manage backups of your iPhone, iPad ...

Bottom line: The data didn’t come from your powered‑off iPhone. It was either synced from iCloud or retrieved from a backup already on your Mac. Reviewing iCloud settings and local backups will give you visibility and control over where your data is stored.

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Answer 2

SravanKrA

Level 10

432,112 points

Feb 9, 2026 9:42 PM in response to udubec

udubec wrote:

I recently and reluctantly installed O/S 26.2 on my MAC.

iOS updates aim to enhance user experience, boost security, and fix bugs rather than disrupt core features. The majority of the issues after updates might stem from underlying, unmentioned factors. Updates won't typically alter personal data but may refine settings or features. Backup before major updates for safety. Review Apple's update details and backup advice for a smooth process.

Kindly consider checking your settings and addressing any device issues before attributing the issue to external factors. This could be a pure coincidence that the macOS / iOS update affected the iPhone/Mac functions.

I have been updating my devices ever since I bought my first device in 2009. iPhone 3Gs, 4S, 5, 6, SE (1st Gen), 7, 8 and iPhone 12 Pro, iPad Pro, iPhone 13, Macbook Air 2019, MacBook Pro 16"

I never had any issues with any iOS, iPadOS, or macOS updates to date.

I would personally recommend everyone update their devices instead of listening to rumors from people who may not have kept their devices free from any spurious software.

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Answer 3

udubec Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 10, 2026 8:24 AM in response to SravanKrA

Thank you. I’ll look into it. I should add that it is not performance that concerned me with this update but my desire to understand what is happening to my private data. I wish to keep all my data under my personal control. When I allow data to be stored on the cloud, I want to know exactly what is there, why it is there and exercise complete control over it at all times. I did not know that these phone logs were manipulated in any way beyond my phone. The process is not clear and understandable to most people. It is that opacity that concerns me. I did not authorize the transfer of any phone data to the cloud. The transfer of data from one machine to another when I tried to prevent it is not some rumor. That data transfer happened twice. It also happened when I updated my iPad to 26.2.

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Answer 4

udubec Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 10, 2026 9:00 AM in response to udubec

I should also add that there should be simple processes in O/S for identifying where your data is kept and promulgate opt outs that are not illogical, such as blunting a phone app by manipulating something not ordinarily thought of as a link for hard drive to hard drive data transfer like Face Time. I think these processes are made opaque and difficult to circumvent.

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