How to Disconnect iPad from iPhone: Photos, Texts, & More

PDF download Download Article
Stop sharing between your iPhone and iPad
PDF download Download Article

Do you want to disconnect your iPad from your iPhone? The Apple ecosystem allows you to seamlessly integrate all devices associated with your Apple ID so you can share apps, photos, videos, and even calls and messages. While sharing data between your iPhone and iPad can be convenient, it might be a problem if you're sharing your iPad with family members and don't want them to see your photos, texts, or calls. In some cases, you may want to remove your iPad from your Apple ID account entirely. This wikiHow article teaches 6 simple ways to disconnect an iPad from your iPhone.

Unlinking Your iPad From Your iPhone

  • To remove your iPad from your iPhone, sign out of your Apple ID on either device.
  • To stop syncing services, go to Settings > Apple ID > Media & Purchases > View Account > Remove from account.
  • To stop receiving texts on your iPad, open Settings > Messages > toggle off iMessage.
Method 1
Method 1 of 6:

Sign Out of your Apple ID

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Open the Settings app on your iPad.
    To completely disconnect your iPad from your iPhone, you can simply sign out of your Apple ID on the iPad. This is useful if you want to allow a family member to use your iPad without giving them access to the data you sync to your iPhone.[1]
    • If you want to keep using the iPad after signing out, you can log in with a different Apple ID.
  2. Step 2 Tap your name.
    It's at the top of the Settings menu next to your profile pictures. This displays the Apple ID menu.[2]
    Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
    It's the red text at the bottom of the Apple ID menu.[3]
  4. Step 4 Tap the toggle switch next to the data you want to keep a copy of.
    If you want to keep a copy of your Calendars, Contacts, Keychain passwords, News, Safari data, or Stocks, tap the toggle switch next to any item you want to keep a copy of.
  5. Step 5 Tap Sign Out.
    It's in the upper-right corner of the menu that asks if you want to keep a copy of your data.[4]
  6. Step 6 Tap Sign Out in the pop-up.
    It's the red text to the right in the pop-up notification. This confirms that you want to sign out of your Apple ID and removes all of your iCloud data. This may take a few minutes.[5]
    • If you plan on selling your iPad or giving it away, you'll want to reset it first. This will erase all apps and data on your iPad and restore it to its factory settings.
    • Additionally, you can remove your iPad from Find my iPad to keep it from being tracked.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 6:

Stop Syncing Purchases to iPad

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Open the Settings app on your iPad or iPhone icon.
    If you don't want the purchases you make with your Apple ID (paid apps, books, movies, Apple Music downloads, and more) to be available on your iPhone or iPad but want to stay signed in, you can remove that device from your iCloud purchases. Open the Settings app on the device you want to prevent from syncing apps and purchases.[6]
    • This includes paid apps, books, movies, and other content.
  2. Step 2 Tap your name.
    It's at the top of the Settings menu next to your profile pictures. This displays the Apple ID menu.[7]
  3. Step 3 Tap Media & Purchases.
    It's about halfway down the menu below the "iCloud" option.
  4. Step 4 Tap View Account.
    It's the third option at the bottom of the pop-up notification.
    • You may be required to enter your passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID to unlock your iPad.
  5. Step 5 Scroll down and tap Remove This Device.
    This stops the apps and purchases you make with this device from being shared and downloading automatically to other devices on your Apple ID.[8]
    • You may need to wait up to 90 days before you can re-associate this devices with your Apple ID account again.[9]
    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 6:

Stop Syncing Apps & Services to iPad

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Open the Settings app on your iPad icon.
    If you don't want to sign out of your Apple ID on your iPad but would rather not sync files, apps, photos, messages, and other data to iCloud, you can disable iCloud syncing for all services on your iPad.[10]
  2. Step 2 Tap your name.
    It's at the top of the Settings menu next to your profile pictures. This displays the Apple ID menu.[11]
  3. Step 3 Tap iCloud.
    It's near the top of the menu. It's next to an icon that resembles a blue cloud.[12]
  4. Step 4 Tap the toggle switch next to the apps and services you don't want to share.
    This will prevent your iPad from uploading or downloading data from these apps and services to iCloud and allowing other devices to access them.[13]
    • You can stop syncing your messages, calendars, contacts, notes, reminders, as well as any apps you have installed.
    • You may be asked if you want to remove the app from your iPhone or iPad. Tap Keep on my iPad to keep the app, or Delete from my iPad to delete the app.
    • If you want to disable Messages, you will be given the option to disable and download your messages. Tap this option to continue.
    • If you want to stop syncing to iCloud Drive, tap the toggle switch next to "iCloud Drive."
    • If you want to stop sharing photos and videos, tap Photos at the top of the iCloud menu. Then tap the toggle switch next to iCloud Photos.
    • If you want to stop sharing your passwords, tap Keychain near the top of the iCloud menu. Then tap the toggle switch next to "iCloud Keychain."
    5. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 6:

Stop Receiving iPhone Calls on iPad

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Open the Settings menu on your iPhone icon.
    It's the gear icon on your Home screen or in your app list. If you don't want your iPad to make or receive calls through your iPhone, you can disable Calls on Other Devices.[14]
  2. Step 2 Tap Cellular or Mobile.
    The option you'll see varies by location.
    • If your iPhone has multiple SIM cards, select the SIM you want to modify now.
  3. Step 3 Tap Calls on Other Devices.
    This displays a list of all devices that can currently make and receive phone calls through your iPhone.[15]
  4. Step 4 Remove your iPad (and any other devices you'd like) from the list.
    Once you remove your iPad from this list, you won't receive calls on your iPad, nor will you be able to make calls from your iPad through your iPhone. However, you'll still receive FaceTime calls until you complete the next step.
  5. Step 5 On your iPad, open the Settings app and select FaceTime.
    This time, you'll be using the Settings app on your iPad, not your iPhone.
  6. Step 6 Turn off "FaceTime and Calls from iPhone."
    Now you won't be able to receive FaceTime or other calls from your iPhone on this iPad.
    7. Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 6:

Stop Receiving Texts on iPad

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 On your iPad, open the Settings menu icon.
    If you don't want your iPad to receive iMessages, you can disable iMessage on your iPad without having to remove your Apple ID from the iPad.
  2. Step 2 Tap Messages.
    It's the green icon with a white speech bubble.[16]
  3. Step 3 Tap the "iMessage" switch to disable iMessages.
    Your iPad will no longer receive the text messages sent to your iPhone.[17]
    4. Advertisement
Method 6
Method 6 of 6:

Disable Handoff

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Open the Settings menu on your iPhone icon.
    If you've enabled Handoff so you can start something on your iPhone or iPad (such as writing an email or browsing a website) and access that same screen on your other device, you can easily disable the feature.[18]
  2. Step 2 Tap General.
    This is in the third group of settings.[19]
  3. Step 3 Tap AirPlay & Handoff.
    You'll see this in the second group of settings.
  4. Step 4 Tap the "Handoff" switch to disable the feature icon.
    Once you've turned off Handoff, you will no longer be able to hand off tasks from your iPhone to your iPad or vice-versa.[20]
    5. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Submit
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

Expert
1

7 Simple Ways to Disconnect Your iPhone from Your Mac
Expert
2
How to

Turn Off iCloud Completely or Disable iCloud Sync: Simple Guide
3
How to

Sign Out of iCloud on iPhone or iPad: Step-by-Step Tutorial
4
How to

Sign Out of Apple Messages
5

7 Simple Steps to Remove an Apple ID Phone Number on an iPhone
6

Logging Out of LINE for iPhone and iPad
7
How to

Delete, Disable, or Mute iMessage on Your Mac Computer
8
How to

Sync iMessages & Text Messages Between iPhone and iPad
Expert
9
How to

Sign Out of Your Apple ID Account on an iPhone
10
How to

Turn Off AirPlay: The Complete Guide
Expert
11

4 Simple Ways to Delete Messages from iCloud Storage
Expert
12

Turn Off Location Sharing on an iPhone Without Anyone Knowing
Expert
13
How to

Delete Photos from Your iPhone and Avoid Syncing to iCloud
Expert
14
How to

Remove or Delete an Apple ID: Step-By-Step Guide
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104958
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104958
  3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104958
  4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104958
  5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104958
  6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-ph/102649
  7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-ph/102649
  8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-ph/102649
  9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118412
  1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118225
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118225
  3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118225
  4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118225
  5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/make-and-receive-phone-calls-ipadf97892b2/ipados
  6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102405
  7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102545
  8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102545
  9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/hand-off-tasks-between-devices-iphcec5d0a9d/ios
  10. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/hand-off-tasks-between-devices-iphcec5d0a9d/ios
  11. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/hand-off-tasks-between-devices-iphcec5d0a9d/ios/

About This Article

Luigi Oppido
Reviewed by:
Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
This article was reviewed by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 53,593 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 5
Updated: December 6, 2024
Views: 53,593
Categories: IPhone
In other languages
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 53,593 times.

Is this article up to date?

Advertisement