When using my iPhone, I often download apps to try out. Later, when I unlock my iPad, all of the apps I downloaded to test on my iPhone are suddenly on my tablet! This is annoying, but thankfully you can fix it with a quick setting. Here's how to turn off app sync between iPhone and iPad.

Why You'll Love This Tip:

Stop automatic app downloads to save storage space.
Keep apps only on the devices where you use them.
Learn how to turn off automatic downloads of apps to prevent apps from cluttering other devices.

How to Turn Off App Sharing between Devices

System Requirements

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

If you're wondering how to stop apps from downloading automatically on all your Apple devices, you're not alone. Luckily, you can do so easily in the App Store's settings. Make sure you repeat these steps for each Apple device you have that you don't want to sync apps for. To learn more about the best ways to use your Apple devices, like how to remove an iPhone app, check out our Tip of the Day newsletter. Here's how to stop apps from downloading on all devices:

Open the Settings app, scroll down and tap App Store.
Toggle off App Downloads in the Automatic Downloads section.
Repeat these steps on each device (like your iPad) on which you want to stop automatic app downloads.

Now you know how to turn off automatic downloads on iPhone and iPad! Also, check out our article on how to hide apps on your iPhone and how to find them later.