How to Turn Off NameDrop on iPhone
iOS 18 and iOS 26; older versions noted where they differ · Last checked · Suggest an edit
https://instructions.wiki/iphone/turn-off-namedrop
Holding your iPhone near someone else's popped up a contact-sharing card, or a warning about NameDrop made you want it gone. NameDrop never sends anything until you tap Share on your own screen, so nothing left the phone, but the trigger itself is one toggle. Turning it off also stops the bring-together sharing of photos and links.
Open the AirDrop settings
Open Settings, tap General, then tap AirDrop. NameDrop is part of AirDrop, so it has no entry of its own.
Turn off Bringing Devices Together
Turn off the Bringing Devices Together switch. This disables NameDrop and the feature that starts a share when two iPhones touch. The AirDrop receiving mode you already chose stays as it is.
Check the receiving setting
On the same screen, Receiving Off, Contacts Only, and Everyone for 10 Minutes control who can send you files. Contacts Only is the usual choice; leave it there unless you want to stop every incoming transfer.
Turn it off on Apple Watch
Apple Watch has the same toggle. On the watch, open Settings, General, AirDrop and turn off Bringing Devices Together. From the iPhone, open the Watch app, tap General, tap AirDrop, and turn off the same switch.
If you want no AirDrop transfers at all. Set the receiving mode to Receiving Off. Nothing arrives from anyone, and the phone no longer appears in other people's AirDrop sheets.
If the toggle is missing. NameDrop arrived in iOS 17 and watchOS 10. On earlier versions there is nothing to turn off, and a phone that shows no such switch cannot NameDrop.