When you tap the “Share” button on your iPhone—whether you are looking at a photo, a web page, or a document—a Share Sheet pops up from the bottom of the screen. At the very top of this sheet, Apple displays a row of “suggested contacts.” These are essentially quick-launch buttons featuring the profile pictures of people you recently texted or called, designed to help you quickly AirDrop or iMessage them a file.
However, this feature is a massive privacy risk if you frequently share your screen, show photos to friends by handing them your phone, or if you simply don’t want a specific recent contact plastered across the top of every share menu. Fortunately, you can completely hide this row of suggested contacts.
How to Remove Suggested Contacts from the Share Sheet
You can turn off these proactive Siri suggestions globally in your iPhone’s settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Siri & Search.
- Scroll down to the section labeled “Suggestions From Apple” (or “Suggestions” on slightly older iOS versions).
- Look for the toggle switch labeled Show When Sharing.
- Tap the toggle to turn it to the Off position (the switch will turn gray).
What Your Share Sheet Looks Like Now
The next time you tap the Share button in any app on your phone, the top row of individual contact bubbles will be completely gone. Instead, your Share Sheet will start immediately with the row of apps (Messages, Mail, WhatsApp, AirDrop, etc.).
You can still share files with anyone you want; you will just have to tap the specific app first (e.g., tap “Messages”) and then type the person’s name into the “To:” field, ensuring your sharing habits remain private and intentional.