Besides five settings to enable on iOS 16, there are also some that can be switched off or left switched off in most applications. So if you iOS 16 uses and e.g. B. want to save mobile data and the battery, then switch off the following features. Of course, the individual points are again subjective and you are welcome to leave a comment with your opinion on essential or superfluous iOS content. Note: Most of the points below have been tried on iOS 16.0.2.
Chapter in this post:
- 1 Photos in Search: Turn off Show Featured Content
- 2 Turn off iCloud backup over cellular data
- 3 Don't sync iCloud photos over mobile data
- 4 Opting out of Apple announcements and communications
- 5 Change notification stack on lock screen to old list view
- 6 Bonus: Remove search button from home screen
- 7 Which iOS 16 features did you disable directly?
- 8 Similar posts
Photos in Search: Turn off "Show Recommended Content".
Photos that match a search, as well as specific reminders of events or holidays, the iPhone can present you with display content here and there. But you don't always want to see private photos, e.g. B. typing through the functions of the iPhone during a screen sharing for support matters. If you want to turn off the photo presentations with system-selected snapshots, you can do this as follows:
- Opens the Settings on the Apple iPhone
- Pick the point Photos from
- Disables the toggle on "Show recommended content"
Disable iCloud backup over cellular data
Backing up iPhone data and files is a good idea. In the event of hardware damage or software failure, it can be ensured that you continue to have access to your contacts, emails, photos and other content and data. However, it is rather bad for the battery and your mobile data volume if the iCloud backup is regularly implemented via the mobile connection. If you want to turn off this option, just follow the steps below:
- Opens the Settings on the Apple iPhone
- Tap on your card with picture, name, etc. at the top.
- Now select the point in the Apple ID menu iCloud from
- Tap in iCloud settings iCloud backup
- Now deactivate the slider for “Backup via mobile data” or directly the entire function with the “Create a backup of this iPhone” slider
Do not sync iCloud photos over mobile data
In addition to backing up all iPhone data, you can also control certain content backed up via iCloud and how it is exchanged. So if you create photos and videos with the iPhone and you don't want them to be synchronized with the iCloud via mobile data, you can set this up accordingly. This also saves you battery and high-speed volume in your mobile phone plan. That's how it's done:
- Opens the Settings on the Apple iPhone
- Tap on the point Photos in the overview of media services
- Under iCloud, set the use of mobile data or directly the slider for "iCloud photos" to Off
Opt out of Apple announcements and communications
Something that very few users really want are emails, notifications and other unexpected content from the manufacturers of the devices they use. Nevertheless, Apple sends out e-mails with event and product announcements, among other things. If you want to object to this under iOS 16, you can also do this via the system settings. The features that should be deactivated directly under iOS 16 include the following:
- Opens the Settings on the Apple iPhone
- Tap on your card with picture, name, etc. at the top.
- Choose the first point Name, phone numbers, email from
- Scroll down to the "Subscriptions" overview
- Disables the sliders in "Announcements" and "Apps, Music, TV and more" (in some countries and regions there is a third item "Newsletter")
Change notification stack on lock screen to old list view
If you switched from an older operating system like iOS 15 to the new iOS 16, you had to get used to (or change or deactivate) numerous new functions and little things in terms of design. If you don't like the notifications stack on the lock screen, you can also convert it back to the familiar list. Furthermore, you can replace the notifications entirely with a small display of their number. You can find out how it all works, including screenshots in the guide linked here. The short form is: Settings -> Messages -> Quantity, stack or List.
Personally, it doesn't bother me that from iOS 16, the dots that represent the number of home screens are covered by the search button. When I was researching this guide, however, I read again and again in “Settings you should immediately turn off in iOS 16” articles and similar how annoyed some users are by the new design. However, I find it very helpful for one-hand operation and for problems with swipe gestures. If you personally don't feel that way, you can swap the search button back for the permanent display of the home screen dots:
- Opens the Settings on the Apple iPhone
- Tap on the point Home screen
- Disables the "Show on Home Screen" slider under "Search".
Which iOS 16 features did you disable directly?
Is something important still missing from the list? In your opinion, are there any other functions and options that should be activated or deactivated directly on the iPhone in order to improve everyday use? Feel free to leave a comment with your attitudes and opinions on the topic :)
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After graduating from high school, Johannes completed an apprenticeship as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which resulted in his independence. For several years he has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others. His articles include product introductions, news, manuals, video games, consoles, and more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.
I think you misunderstood the point about iCloud photos.
There is an entry for photos in the Cellular section where you can turn off syncing over cellular data, but what you showed turns off iCloud photos completely.
Hi Robert,
I'll just write you what I answered Dirk, because it refers to the same misunderstanding:
“I think we're both right. Because I am pointing out that either the mobile data (the point that you mention as a single sub-point) or can disable all iCloud Photo features directly. So I refer to both points and name them separately. Perhaps the misunderstanding arises from the screenshots? Since I only have the basic 5GB iCloud, when I turn on iCloud Photos I get a message that there isn't enough cloud space. Ergo, I can't activate the function and therefore can't show the cellphone switch."
Best regards
John
My incoming and outgoing calls are suddenly grouped completely randomly into groups of 2 and 3. If I go to the call list and a nr. type, the other 2 numbers are also called at the same time. How can I stop this?
Hello Andrea! I found the following solution on Apple's English support site:
1. Open the Phone app, then tap “Call History” to view a list of recent calls.
2. Tap Edit.
3. Delete your entire call history or a specific call. To clear the entire log, tap Clear, then tap Clear All Calls. To delete a single call, tap the Delete buttonthen tap Delete.
Then
1. Press and hold either volume button and the side button until the power off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider and then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off. If your device is frozen or unresponsive, force restart your device.
3. To turn your device back on, press and hold the side button (on the right side of your iPhone) until you see the Apple logo.
Quote: “Under iCloud, set the use of mobile data or directly the slider for “iCloud Photos” to Off”.
I don't understand this point. If you set "iCloud photos" to Off, then you switch off the entire synchronization, ie the photos are no longer saved / backed up in the cloud (the latter is also not done with a backup, by the way). If you lose the iPhone, these are then irrevocably gone...
With regard to mobile data, there is an explicit sub-item of the same name under Photos, in which you can make the options. I couldn't find anything about this in iCloud.
Hi Dirk,
I think we're both right. Because I am pointing out that either the mobile data (the point that you mention as a single sub-point) or can disable all iCloud Photo features directly. So I refer to both points and name them separately. Perhaps the misunderstanding arises from the screenshots? Since I only have the basic 5GB iCloud, when I turn on iCloud Photos I get a message that there isn't enough cloud space. Ergo, I cannot activate the function and therefore cannot show the mobile phone switch.
If the iPhone is lost, the photos are not always irrevocably gone. You can still make regular backups on your Mac or PC to protect data and files from being lost.
Best regards
John
Hi John,
You describe a course of action under the context of “do not sync iCloud photos over mobile data” and in it recommend something completely different, namely disabling syncing altogether.
For those who have activated the option (since they obviously still have enough free iCloud storage), this advice is not particularly helpful in my opinion - on the contrary - even dangerous!
And I don't think that with regular manual backups on the PC or Mac is the common practice anymore. The normal user simply uses the iPhone and only thinks about backups and the like when it is lost.
Blessed are those who did not read your article or followed your advice in such a case and left everything with the default settings. At least he still has his photos.
I just unchecked the "Turn off Apple announcements and communications" item. I find all other functions useful and stay with me.
Hi, I would like to know if you can turn off the notifications for individual lists in the Reminders app... Since iOS 16 I have always received a reminder for shared lists when new entries have been added to the list. For example, with a shared shopping list, I get a message for each new entry. That adds up to 20 messages.
If anyone knows if and how it could work, please provide a solution!