How to Disable Device Left Behind Alerts on iPhone

* This article is from our Tip of the Day newsletter. . *

Tired of seeing notifications on your iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad when you've intentionally left a device at home? Me too. Notify When Left Behind is meant to be handy, but it can be annoying when you don't want to see so many alerts. I'll show you how to disable Notify When Left Behind alerts and turn them back on when you need them.

Why You'll Love This Tip:

  • Stop getting alerted every time you choose to leave a device behind somewhere.
  • Disable or enable Notify When Left Behind alerts on a device-by-device basis.
  • Turn the feature back on only when you need it, like when you're traveling.

How to Turn Off Left Behind Alerts on iPhone

System Requirements

This tip works on iPhones running iOS 16 or later. Find out how to update to the latest version of iOS.

What is Notify When Left Behind? This is a feature in Find My that will send you a notification when you've left a device somewhere, like if you accidentally left your AirPods at a coffee shop. But the last thing you need in your life is more notifications, right? If you're feeling annoyed or overwhelmed by Notify When Left Behind notifications, you're not alone. We'll help you stop them, and teach you how to re-enable Notify When Left Behind for times when you actually want to see them. Here's how to turn off left behind notifications:

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  1. Open the Find My app.

    iphone spotlight search with a red box around find my app
  2. Tap on the Devices tab.

    find my app with devices tab circled in red
  3. Select the device for which you want to disable alerts.

    find my app with iphone circled in red
  4. Swipe up on the menu to see all of the available options.

    find my device info screen with red arrow point upward, indicating to swipe up
  5. Tap on Notify When Left Behind.

    find my device info screen with notify when left behind circled in red
  6. If the Notify When Left Behind toggle is green, it's enabled. If it's gray, the feature is disabled. Tap the toggle to change whether Notify When Left Behind is on or off.

    notify when left behind setting with toggle circled in red
  7. Tap Done in the upper-right corner.

    notify when left behind setting with done circled in red

That's how to disable AirPods left behind notifications, as well as notifications for any device! As you probably noticed, you'll need to do this for each device, setting the Notify When Left Behind toggle for each item according to preference. If you're having trouble with Find My not operating the way that it should, check out what to do if Find My is not working

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Author Details

Erin MacPherson's picture

Author Details

Erin MacPherson

Erin is a Web Editor for iPhone Life and has been a writer, editor, and researcher for many years. She has a degree in communication with an emphasis on psychology and communication, and has spent many of her professional years as a coach in various business and specialty fields. Erin officially joined the ranks of iPhone and Apple users everywhere around nine years ago, and has since enjoyed the unique and customized feel of Apple technology and its many gadgets. When she’s not working, Erin and her son enjoy outdoor adventures, camping, and spending time with their eclectic collection of pets.