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To stop contact-sharing prompts when iPhones are brought close, turn off Bring Devices Together in Settings > General > AirDrop. To stop an app or task from continuing between your iPhone and another Apple device, turn off Handoff in Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity. They are separate features, so change the setting that matches what you see. If you also want to block incoming file transfers, turn off AirDrop receiving separately.
The quickest way to choose is to identify what appeared on screen: a contact-sharing prompt points to Bring Devices Together; a suggestion to continue an app or task points to Handoff; and a request to accept an item points to AirDrop receiving. These controls have different purposes. Turning off one does not automatically turn off the others, and each can be changed back later.
| What you see | Setting to change | What it affects | Check another device? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A contact-sharing prompt when devices are brought close | Bring Devices Together | NameDrop and other bring-together features | Change it on each device where you want the behavior stopped |
| An app or task suggestion to continue on a nearby Apple device | Handoff | Cross-device task continuation | Review Handoff on the companion device if suggestions persist |
| An incoming request to send or receive a file | AirDrop receiving | Whether the iPhone accepts incoming AirDrop items | Change the receiving setting on the device you want to protect |
This distinction matters because the names and behaviors can be easy to conflate. NameDrop is tied to bringing compatible devices together. Handoff is a Continuity feature for moving a task between devices. AirDrop handles transfers of items. If the symptom is unclear, use the action being offered—not simply the fact that another Apple device is nearby—to choose the setting.
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Turn off Bring Devices Together. Apple documents this as the control for NameDrop and other features triggered by bringing devices together; it does not turn off ordinary AirDrop receiving.
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- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then AirDrop.
- Turn off Bring Devices Together.
The change is reversible: return to the same screen and turn the switch on again if you want to use the feature. If you do not see the option in that location, search Settings for AirDrop; menu labels and availability can differ with iOS version and device capability.
Use this setting when the interaction begins because two devices are physically brought close. It is the targeted control for a phone-to-phone or phone-to-watch proximity prompt. You do not need to turn off AirDrop receiving just to stop this bring-together behavior, and you do not need to turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth globally as a first step.
Keep in mind that this is a device setting: if you want the behavior stopped on more than one device, check and change the setting on each relevant device. For example, changing it on your iPhone addresses the behavior on that iPhone; do not assume that it has configured another iPhone or Apple Watch for you.
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Use the same Bring Devices Together switch under Settings > General > AirDrop. NameDrop is not a separate switch in the documented settings path, and Apple says it is on by default.
NameDrop lets you share selected contact details with a nearby iPhone or compatible Apple Watch. Apple’s safety guidance says it requires iOS 17.1 or later on iPhone, along with compatible software on the participating device. You choose whether to share or only receive; turning off Bring Devices Together prevents the proximity interaction from starting on that device.
NameDrop can include your name, the phone number or email address you select, and associated Contact Poster information. If you see a proximity prompt but do not want to share, you can decline or move the devices apart; for a lasting change, switch off Bring Devices Together.
The choice presented during NameDrop is not the same as enabling an automatic transfer of every detail in your contact card. You choose whether to share or only receive, and the details involved are the name, selected phone number or email address, and associated Contact Poster information. If you do not want the interaction to come up when devices are brought together, the setting to change is still Bring Devices Together.
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Turning off this feature prevents the proximity-based NameDrop interaction on the device where you changed the setting. It should not be treated as a way to erase information that was shared earlier or to remove contact details already saved by another person. Those are separate questions from whether the proximity feature is enabled now.
What is the difference between Bring Devices Together, Handoff, and AirDrop?
They handle different actions: Bring Devices Together controls proximity-triggered interactions such as NameDrop, Handoff continues tasks across Apple devices, and AirDrop transfers items. Turning off one does not mean the others are disabled.
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- Bring Devices Together: stops NameDrop and other bring-together interactions.
- Handoff: stops task continuation through Continuity on the device where you switch it off.
- AirDrop receiving: controls whether the iPhone accepts incoming AirDrop items.
The features can seem related because they involve nearby Apple devices and may rely on wireless connectivity, but Apple provides separate controls for them. If your concern is specifically a contact prompt, start with Bring Devices Together. If it is an incoming file request, adjust AirDrop receiving instead.
AirDrop can contribute to the confusion because its receiving options are also located in the AirDrop settings area. The shared location in Settings does not make it the same control as Bring Devices Together. One controls the proximity interactions that include NameDrop; the other determines whether incoming AirDropped items can be accepted.
AirDrop uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and Apple describes transfers as encrypted. Apple also says a recipient can accept or decline each transfer as it arrives. Those details explain why someone may associate AirDrop, NameDrop, and Handoff with nearby devices, but the controls remain separate and should be changed according to the action you want to stop.
All three controls are reversible. You can turn Bring Devices Together back on, turn Handoff back on, or choose a different AirDrop receiving mode later. A change to one does not require changing the other two. If you disable only the feature responsible for the behavior you dislike, you can leave the other services available for the situations in which you still want them.
How do I turn off Handoff on my iPhone?
Open Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity, then turn off Handoff. This disables Handoff on the iPhone; it is separate from the NameDrop and AirDrop receiving settings.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then AirPlay & Continuity.
- Turn off Handoff.
Apple describes Handoff as a way to start a task on one device and complete it on another. It can work among iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch when the devices meet compatibility requirements, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, and they use the same Apple Account.
That means a Handoff suggestion is not the same thing as a NameDrop prompt. Handoff relates to continuing a task across devices, rather than sharing selected contact details when two devices are brought close. If the thing you want to stop is an app or task appearing as something you can pick up on another device, Handoff is the relevant setting.
If an app or task suggestion still appears on a companion Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch, check that device’s own Handoff setting too. Handoff is a cross-device feature, and the iPhone switch should not be treated as a guarantee that every other endpoint has been configured identically. If the menu path differs, search Settings for Handoff.
For a Handoff connection to work as Apple describes it, participating devices must meet compatibility requirements, have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and be signed in to the same Apple Account. These are requirements for using the feature, not additional switches that replace its Handoff control. If your goal is to disable Handoff on the iPhone, use its dedicated switch rather than changing wireless settings or signing out of an account.
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If you use several Apple devices, think about the setting on each endpoint you want to configure. The iPhone control applies to the iPhone, while a companion device can have its own setting. If a task suggestion continues on a Mac or another device after you have changed the iPhone setting, review Handoff on that device instead of assuming the iPhone setting controls every endpoint.
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Change AirDrop’s receiving setting separately from Bring Devices Together. Choose Receiving Off if you do not want the iPhone to accept incoming AirDrop items, or Contacts Only if you want to restrict who can send to you without fully turning receiving off.
Open Settings > General > AirDrop, then choose the receiving option you want. Apple’s documented options include Contacts Only, Everyone for 10 Minutes, and receiving off. Under the documented account conditions, Everyone for 10 Minutes returns to a more limited state after ten minutes, so it is not a permanent open setting.
AirDrop’s receiving control is the relevant one for incoming file requests. Turning off Bring Devices Together alone does not block ordinary AirDrop, while turning off AirDrop receiving is not the documented way to disable Handoff or NameDrop.
Choose the narrowest receiving mode that matches what you want. Receiving Off is the direct option if you do not want incoming AirDrop items on that iPhone. Contacts Only leaves AirDrop available with a more restricted audience. Everyone for 10 Minutes is a temporary setting; under the account conditions Apple documents, it changes back to a more limited state after ten minutes.
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That ten-minute change is useful to understand if you temporarily choose the broader receiving option and later wonder why the setting has changed. It is not a reason to treat AirDrop receiving as permanently open. If you want to stop receiving altogether, choose Receiving Off; if you want to keep receiving available to a narrower set of people, choose Contacts Only.
Set the receiving option on the iPhone you want to protect. A change on one device should not be treated as a change to every other Apple device nearby. Also, remember that receiving controls concern incoming AirDrop items, not the separate NameDrop proximity interaction or Handoff task continuation.
Should I turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to stop nearby sharing?
No; use the dedicated setting that matches the behavior instead. Turning off Bring Devices Together, Handoff, or AirDrop receiving is more targeted and avoids changing wireless connectivity used by unrelated features.
Apple describes AirDrop as using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and says transfers are encrypted; recipients can accept or decline each transfer as it arrives. Those details help explain why nearby features may be associated, but the controls remain distinct. Disabling radios globally is not necessary as the first step for the specific behaviors covered here.
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Use the dedicated controls because each one directly corresponds to a different action: Bring Devices Together for proximity-triggered interactions, Handoff for cross-device task continuation, and AirDrop receiving for incoming file transfers. Switching off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth globally changes wireless connectivity more broadly than changing the specific feature setting. It is not the recommended first move for stopping these particular prompts or suggestions.
Similarly, you do not need to disable all AirDrop functionality to stop NameDrop. If you still want to receive files through AirDrop, leave its receiving setting at the mode you prefer and turn off Bring Devices Together. If you want to stop incoming files but keep NameDrop available, adjust receiving instead. Choose each control independently.
What if the setting is missing or the prompt continues?
First confirm which behavior is appearing, then search Settings for the feature name rather than changing every nearby-sharing control. Menu labels can vary with iOS release, regional documentation, and device capability.
- Contact-sharing prompt: search Settings for AirDrop and check Bring Devices Together.
- Cross-device app or task suggestion: search for Handoff and check both the iPhone and the companion device.
- Incoming file request: search for AirDrop and set receiving to Receiving Off or Contacts Only.
If you later want the feature back, return to its setting and re-enable it or select a different receiving option. Avoid assuming that changing one control changes the others: each has its own purpose and can be managed independently.
If the AirDrop screen does not show the option you expect, search Settings for AirDrop and check the available settings on that device. If the Handoff path differs, search Settings for Handoff. Apple’s documented labels are Bring Devices Together, AirPlay & Continuity, and Handoff, but labels or availability can differ with iOS release, regional guide, or device capability.
When something continues to appear, return to the symptom rather than turning off unrelated features. A contact-sharing interaction calls for checking Bring Devices Together. A task suggestion calls for checking Handoff on the iPhone and, if needed, the companion device. An incoming transfer request calls for changing AirDrop receiving on the device where you do not want to receive files.
These controls are easy to reverse if you change your mind. To restore the proximity interaction, return to AirDrop settings and turn Bring Devices Together on. To restore task continuation, turn Handoff on in AirPlay & Continuity. To allow AirDrop receiving again, choose the receiving option you want. Revisit only the control you changed; the three settings remain independent.
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Use this short check to confirm that you changed the intended control:
- If the concern was two devices being brought together and showing a contact prompt, confirm Bring Devices Together is off.
- If the concern was continuing an app or task on a Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, or another iPhone, confirm Handoff is off on the device you are configuring; check the companion device if suggestions persist there.
- If the concern was an incoming file, confirm AirDrop is set to Receiving Off or to Contacts Only, depending on whether you want to stop receiving completely or limit who can send.
These checks avoid a common troubleshooting detour: changing a setting that sounds related but does not control the behavior you actually saw. An AirDrop receiving change is not the NameDrop switch, and the Handoff control is not the incoming-file switch. Use the symptom and the corresponding control as your guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off NameDrop stop someone from seeing my contact information?
It stops the proximity-based NameDrop interaction on the device where Bring Devices Together is off. It does not retract contact information you previously shared or change what is already saved in another person’s contacts.
Can I still use AirDrop after turning off Bring Devices Together?
Yes. Bring Devices Together is distinct from AirDrop’s receiving control, so you can disable the proximity interaction while keeping AirDrop available. Choose the receiving mode separately based on who should be able to send items.
Does Handoff work if my devices use different Apple Accounts?
Apple lists the same Apple Account as one of Handoff’s requirements across participating devices. If devices use different accounts, Handoff may not work as expected even when its switch is on.
Will turning off Handoff delete apps or close their sessions?
The setting controls cross-device task continuation; it is not described as an app-removal or account-data deletion control. Manage app sessions or saved information within the relevant app if that is your concern.
How do I stop two iPhones from trying to connect?
If the prompt appears when the phones are brought close, turn off Bring Devices Together at Settings > General > AirDrop. If the screen is instead an incoming file request, change AirDrop receiving separately.
Why does my iPhone keep showing AirDrop when phones are close?
Identify what the screen is offering. A contact-sharing prompt points to Bring Devices Together; an incoming request to transfer an item points to AirDrop receiving. The settings are separate, even though both are found in the AirDrop area.
How do I stop my iPhone from handing apps off to my Mac?
Turn off Handoff on the iPhone at Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity. If suggestions persist on the Mac, review Handoff on that companion device as well.
Does turning off Bring Devices Together turn off all AirDrop?
No. It stops NameDrop and other bring-together interactions. AirDrop’s receiving mode is a separate control; choose Receiving Off if you also want to stop incoming AirDrop items.
Can I turn these features back on later?
Yes. Return to the same Settings area and turn Bring Devices Together or Handoff back on, or select a different AirDrop receiving option.
What does NameDrop share?
NameDrop can include your name, the phone number or email address you select, and associated Contact Poster information. You choose whether to share or only receive.
The Bottom Line
Match the setting to the behavior: turn off Bring Devices Together to stop NameDrop and other proximity interactions, turn off Handoff to stop cross-device task continuation, and set AirDrop to Receiving Off to stop incoming files. These are separate controls, and each can be changed back in Settings.
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