How to Hide “Shared with You” on Safari: A Definitive Guide

So, you’re tired of the “Shared with You” section cluttering your Safari experience? I get it. It can feel like an avalanche of links and articles you didn’t explicitly ask for, burying the content you actually want to see. Luckily, Apple provides a fairly straightforward way to tame this feature, giving you back control over your browsing landscape.

The short answer: You can hide the “Shared with You” content on Safari by disabling it on a per-app basis. This means you can choose to stop seeing shared links from Messages within specific applications like Safari, Photos, Music, Podcasts, Apple TV, and News.

Here’s the comprehensive breakdown:

1. Open Settings: On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, navigate to the Settings app. This is your central command center for all things device-related.
2. Find Messages: Scroll down until you locate and tap on “Messages.” We’re going straight to the source of the “Shared with You” feature, as it originates from links shared in iMessage.
3. Shared with You: In the Messages settings, you’ll find an option labeled “Shared with You.” Tap on this. Prepare to unleash your inner Marie Kondo.
4. Toggle the Apps: Here’s where the magic happens. You’ll see a list of apps that integrate with the “Shared with You” feature (Safari, Photos, Music, Podcasts, Apple TV, and News). For each app where you don’t want to see shared content, simply toggle the switch to the “off” position (gray). To hide the “Shared with You” section in Safari, specifically, toggle the switch next to Safari.
5. Confirmation: No need to save or confirm. The changes are instant. Now, go back to Safari and you’ll notice the “Shared with You” section has vanished.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully hidden the “Shared with You” content in Safari (and any other apps you chose to disable). This gives you a cleaner, more focused browsing experience, free from the influx of shared links you may not be interested in at the moment. Remember, you can always re-enable the feature later if your sharing preferences change.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To ensure you’re completely armed with knowledge, here are 12 frequently asked questions about the “Shared with You” feature and how to manage it:

How does the “Shared with You” feature work?

The “Shared with You” feature automatically detects links that are sent to you in iMessage (the Messages app) and intelligently surfaces them within compatible apps like Safari, Photos, Music, Podcasts, Apple TV, and News. It’s designed to make it easier to find and access content that your friends and family have shared with you. However, as you’ve discovered, it can sometimes become overwhelming.

Will hiding “Shared with You” in Safari delete the messages?

Absolutely not! Hiding the “Shared with You” content in Safari only prevents the shared links from appearing in the Safari app. The original messages in the Messages app remain untouched. Your conversations and shared links within those conversations are still accessible as normal. You’re simply controlling where those links are displayed.

Can I hide “Shared with You” for specific contacts only?

Unfortunately, no. Apple does not offer the ability to selectively hide “Shared with You” content based on individual contacts. It’s an all-or-nothing approach for each app. You either see shared content from everyone or no one for that particular app.

Does this also work on macOS?

Yes, the process is essentially the same on macOS. Open the Messages app on your Mac, go to Messages > Preferences > Shared with You and uncheck Safari (or any other app you want to exclude). The principle of toggling apps on and off remains consistent across Apple’s operating systems.

What if I want to quickly access a shared link but have “Shared with You” disabled?

Even with the feature disabled, you can always access any link shared with you by going directly to the Messages app and finding the conversation where the link was shared. This gives you the option to view shared links when you choose to, rather than having them constantly presented to you.

I disabled “Shared with You” but I’m still seeing some links. Why?

This can sometimes happen due to a delay in synchronization or caching. Try restarting Safari and/or your device. Also, double-check that the switch is indeed turned off in Settings > Messages > Shared with You. Another possibility is that the link was directly pasted into a Safari tab or window, bypassing the “Shared with You” mechanism entirely.

Can I customize the “Shared with You” settings for each app individually?

Yes! That’s the beauty of this system. You have granular control over which apps display the “Shared with You” content. You can disable it in Safari while still keeping it active in Photos, for example. This allows you to tailor the feature to your specific needs and preferences for each app.

What happens if I re-enable “Shared with You” after disabling it?

When you re-enable the feature, Safari (or any other app) will immediately start displaying newly shared links. However, you might not see all previously shared links instantly reappear. It might take some time for the app to re-index and display older shared content.

Is “Shared with You” a privacy concern?

Some users might be concerned about Apple automatically detecting and displaying links shared in their messages. However, the links themselves are not being accessed or analyzed beyond identifying them as links. Apple’s privacy policy outlines how data is handled and secured. The feature is designed for convenience and content discovery within your existing iMessage conversations.

Does “Shared with You” affect my data usage?

No, the “Shared with You” feature itself does not directly consume significant data. It’s merely displaying links. However, if you click on a shared link and load a website or stream media, that will consume data as usual. The feature itself is a metadata layer on top of your existing iMessage usage.

How can I give Apple feedback about the “Shared with You” feature?

Apple values user feedback. You can submit feedback through the Apple Feedback Assistant app (if you’re a beta tester) or by visiting Apple’s website and navigating to the feedback section. This is a great way to suggest improvements or express concerns about the feature’s functionality.

Is there an alternative to completely disabling “Shared with You”?

While there isn’t a direct alternative within the system settings to, say, filter the types of links displayed, consider using Safari’s reading list or bookmarking features for links you specifically want to save and revisit. This provides a more curated and organized approach to managing shared content, effectively bypassing the potential overwhelm of the “Shared with You” feature. This will keep your shared links completely separate from your curated content.