You’re scrolling through your iPhone, trying to find that one message… but there’s just too much going on. Photos, links, random articles—it’s like your apps are collecting everything your friends send you. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Apple’s “Shared with You” feature is likely the reason. It automatically pulls content—like links, images, and other stuff—your friends send you and places them inside apps like Safari, Photos, and News. The idea? To make things easier to find. But let’s be real—it can get messy fast.
So why should you care? Well, for one, it makes your apps feel cluttered. You might also have privacy concerns.
Maybe you don’t want shared photos showing up in your Photos app, or links popping up every time you open Safari. It’s like your personal space isn’t so personal anymore.
But don’t worry—you don’t have to deal with this forever. I’ll walk you through how to turn off “Shared with You” in just a few quick steps.
It’s easy. And once you’re done, your iPhone will feel a whole lot less chaotic. Ready? Let’s clean things up together.
Why “Shared with You” feels like too much sometimes
1. Feeling overwhelmed by clutter?
You open Messages, and boom—there’s stuff everywhere. Links from your friend, photos from your cousin, memes from your group chat. And then you check Safari or your Photos app… and there it is again.
That’s “Shared with You” doing its thing. It takes what people send you and spreads it across your apps. Sounds helpful, right? But when everything’s everywhere, it just feels overwhelming. It’s hard to find what you actually want.
2. Worried about your privacy?
Let’s be honest—privacy matters. When stuff from your messages shows up in other apps, it can feel like your iPhone is sharing things without asking. You might not want a shared photo showing up in your Photos app when someone else is using your phone.
And links in Safari? Maybe you don’t need everyone seeing what your friends are sending you. It’s your phone, your space—and it should stay that way.
3. Annoyed by random stuff showing up?
Sometimes, you just don’t care about that article someone sent. Or the playlist. Or the podcast. But “Shared with You” doesn’t know that—it just adds everything. It’s like spam, but inside the apps you actually use every day.
If you’re tired of seeing content you didn’t ask for, you’re not alone. Good news? You can stop it. Let’s go over how to fix it.
How to Turn Off “Shared with You” in Messages
Alright, now let’s fix this together. These changes are easy to make, and you’ll feel a lot more in control once you’re done.
I’ll guide you step by step. You don’t need to be tech-savvy—just follow along.
#1. Turn it off for certain apps only
Maybe you don’t mind seeing shared stuff in Messages, but you don’t want it showing up in Safari or Photos. That’s totally fair.
Here’s how you can turn it off just where you don’t want it:
- Go to Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap on Apps.
- Scroll down and tap Messages.
- Tap on Shared with You.
- You’ll see a list of apps like Safari, Photos, and Music.
- Toggle off the ones you don’t want to use with this feature.
That’s it. Now those apps will stop showing shared content, but the rest will still work if you want them to.
#2. Turn off “Shared with You” completely
If you’re like, “Nope—I don’t want this at all,” then let’s just shut it down everywhere.
Here’s how:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap on Apps.
- Scroll down and tap Messages.
- Tap Shared with You.
- Turn off the switch next to Automatic Sharing at the top.
And that’s it. You’ve just turned it off completely. No more random links or content popping up where you don’t want it.
#3. Adjust your notifications to reduce the noise
Sometimes it’s not the content itself, but the alerts that drive you nuts. You can still get messages without all the extra clutter.
Here’s what you can do:
- Go to Settings and tap Notifications.
- Find the app you want to adjust, like Messages, Safari, or Photos.
- Change the alert style or turn off previews so you don’t see the full content right away.
Now you’ll only see what matters, when you want to—without the overload.
#4. Use Focus mode to block distractions
If you ever feel like your phone is constantly buzzing with stuff you don’t need, Focus mode can help. It lets you decide what gets through and what doesn’t.
Here’s how to set it up:
- Open Settings and tap Focus.
- Pick a focus mode like Work or Do Not Disturb, or create your own.
- Add only the apps and people you want to hear from during that time.
It’s like putting your phone on “quiet mode” but smarter. You’ll still get the important stuff—just not the extra noise.
#5. Keep your Messages app tidy
Let’s make your Messages app easier to use. You can pin the chats you care about and group the rest.
Here’s how:
- Open Messages.
- Swipe right on a conversation and tap Pin to keep it at the top.
- Create group chats for different topics or friend circles to keep things organized.
Now, instead of digging through a bunch of threads, everything important is right where you can find it.
Other simple tips to stay in control
1. Stay in control with notification settings
Let’s be honest—notifications can get annoying fast. You don’t want to miss anything important, but you also don’t want your phone buzzing every five seconds.
Go into Settings, tap Notifications, and adjust each app so you only get alerts that matter. Want to stop previews from showing up? You can do that too. Less noise, more peace.
2. Use Focus mode when you need quiet
Need a break? Focus mode is your friend. Whether you’re working, chilling, or sleeping, you can set it up so only certain apps and people can interrupt you.
Just go to Focus in Settings, pick a mode, and make the rules. It’s that simple.
3. Sort your chats the smart way
Want to find your favorite chats faster? Just pin them. Swipe right on a conversation and tap Pin. Boom—it stays at the top.
You can also create group chats for different people or topics. That way, your inbox doesn’t feel like a mess every time you open it.
4. Check your “Shared with You” settings now and then
Maybe you don’t want to turn it off completely. That’s okay. Just check the settings once in a while. You can leave it on for apps where it’s useful and turn it off for the others.
It’s all about balance—and making your phone work for you.
5. Take tech breaks when it gets too much
Sometimes, the best fix is to just step away. Take a short break from your phone. Go for a walk, stretch, or just do nothing for a while.
When you come back, your phone will feel less overwhelming. It’s all about finding that balance.
The Takeaway
So, what did we just do? We took back control. You don’t have to let “Shared with You” take over your apps anymore.
Whether you turn it off completely or just disable it in certain apps, you’re now in charge of what shows up where.
A lot of people think this feature is just part of the iPhone experience—but that’s not true. You can customize it, manage it, or get rid of it altogether. It’s your phone. You should decide what goes where.
Now that you’ve made it this far, take a moment to check your settings and make the changes that work best for you. Want a cleaner, calmer iPhone experience? You’ve got all the tools now.
Let me know—did this help you out? Drop a comment below and share your thoughts!
