Turn off automatic downloads on iPhone (iOS) and iPad (iPadOS)

Apps that you download on your iPhone also appear immediately on your iPad. Do you not want that or do you find it annoying? iPhoned shows how to turn off these automatic downloads on iOS and iPadOS

Turn off auto-download apps on iPad and iPhone

When you have an iPad and an iPhone, it is sometimes useful that all apps are installed automatically on both devices. But often you don’t want to have the same apps on your tablet.

Even if you regularly install (and throw away) apps on your iPhone, it is of course not useful that they still remain on your iPad. In that case, it is better to turn off the automatic download of apps completely.

Each app always states which device it is suitable for. When you tap an app in the App Store, you’ll see it below the screenshots of the app. For example, an app can only be made for your iPhone and iPad. But it could also be that the app supports a whole range of products, such as the Apple TV and Mac.

Turn off automatic downloads on iPhone (iOS) and iPad (iPadOS)

If you allow automatic downloads on iOS and iPadOS, the apps will be installed on both paired devices. But don’t worry, we’ll tell you exactly how to turn off the automatic download of apps on iPhone and iPad.

Turn off automatic downloads on iOS

To disable automatic downloads on iOS and iPadOS, follow the steps below.

Turn off automatic downloads on iPhone (iOS) and iPad (iPadOS)

  1. Open the settings of your iPhone or iPad;

  2. Scroll down and tap App Store;

  3. At ‘Automatic downloads’, turn off the slider at ‘Apps’.

You need to set this option on both your iPhone and iPad. Otherwise, the apps will still be downloaded on the device where you enabled the option.

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