How To Disable Name Drop on iPhone & Keep Your Info Private (iOS 17)

What to Know

  • NameDrop is a new iPhone contact-sharing method that Apple introduced with iOS 17.
  • Apple's NameDrop feature can be turned off completely; open Settings, tap General, tap AirDrop, and toggle off Bringing Devices Together.
  • iPhone users can also choose not to share their contact card when a NameDrop notification arrives by selecting the Receive Only option. 

NameDrop, a new iOS 17 feature from Apple, lets iPhone users quickly and easily send contact info to each other. But what if you want a bit more privacy? Here's how to disable NameDrop or receive other people's Contact Cards but not share your own.

How To Turn Off Name Drop on iPhone & Keep Your Info Private

Once you have Apple's NameDrop set up, you may want to know how to turn off NameDrop, or how to set NameDrop to receive only, but not share your contact card. Once you've learned these NameDrop settings, be sure to check out our free Tip of the Day for more great Contacts tutorials!

How to Turn Off NameDrop

Are you about to go out and don't want unwanted NameDrop notifications popping up on your iPhone all night? Here's how to disable NameDrop. Don't worry; you can reverse the steps to turn NameDrop back on when you need it. 

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  1. Open the Settings app.

    iphone settings app
  2. Tap General.

    iphone general settings
  3. Tap AirDrop.

    tap airdrop in general iphone settings
  4. Toggle off Bringing Devices Together

    toggle off bringing devices together in airdrop settings

How To Set NameDrop To Receive Only

You can't permanently set NameDrop to Receive Only at this time; you have to decline invites or set them to Receive Only on a case-by-case basis. Here's how:

When you receive a NameDrop invitation, you'll see the options to share your contact card and receive the other person’s, or just receive the other person’s.

If you tap Receive Only, you'll get the Contact Card of the other person, so you can get back to them at your leisure.

tap receive only to get contact card but not share yours

FAQ

  • How do I set up NameDrop on my iPhone? Make sure Bluetooth and AirDrop are turned on and AirDrop is set to Everyone for at least ten minutes. Then, just bring your iPhones close together. 
  • How do I customize my NameDrop? At this time, you have to either turn off NameDrop or choose not to give your Contact Card for each NameDrop notification. 
  • Why is NameDrop not working? Both iPhones have to be updated to iOS 17 and have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirDrop enabled. 

Now you know how to disable NameDrop on your iPhone, or choose to receive the other iPhone's contact card but not share your own. If you enjoyed this tutorial, learn how to fix it if your Contact Card is not available for FaceTime.

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Author Details

Leanne Hays's picture

Author Details

Leanne Hays

Leanne Hays has over a dozen years of experience writing for online publications. As a Feature Writer for iPhone Life, she has authored hundreds of how-to, Apple news, and gear review articles, as well as a comprehensive Photos App guide. Leanne holds degrees in education and science and loves troubleshooting and repair. This combination makes her a perfect fit as manager of our Ask an Expert service, which helps iPhone Life Insiders with Apple hardware and software issues.
In off-work hours, Leanne is a mother of two, homesteader, audiobook fanatic, musician, and learning enthusiast.