Why Is My iPhone Downloading Apps By Itself and How To Stop It?

Non-expandable storage space on your iPhone is a precious commodity. That’s why iOS is designed by design to offload apps when free space gets too low. So it’s surprising when it’s the other way around – apps are downloaded automatically by themselves.

While it can be pretty frustrating to have various apps open on your iPhone’s Home Screen without you installing them, there’s a simple reason why it does. Let’s check what it is and then review what you need to do to stop your iPhone from downloading and installing apps on its own.

Why Are iPhone Apps Downloading Automatically?

Your iPhone downloads apps by itself – automatic app downloads. When you use multiple iOS devices, any new apps you install on one device will also be installed on your other devices, provided the automatic app download function is enabled.

Note: Only apps you install for the first time are downloaded to your other devices. Reinstalling old apps will not trigger the automatic app download function.

And it’s not just limited to iOS devices, either. Let’s say you’re carrying an iPad running iPadOS with you – any new apps you install on it will also be downloaded to your iPhone, provided existing apps have iOS-specific versions. This happens the other way around – apps you install on the iPhone will appear on the iPad.

Having your apps available on all your devices can be quite beneficial. You can pick up where you left off on any of your devices with zero hassle, provided the app syncs your data and actions via the cloud. Apps will be installed even when the devices are not in active use, making the whole process extremely smooth.

But the automatic app download function has its drawbacks. For example, your iPhone or iPad’s storage is running low – automatic downloading of apps will exacerbate the problem. Or you may not like the use of cellular data for these downloads. Maybe you don’t need the same app to be available on all your devices.

Disabling Automatic App Downloads

Fortunately, it’s easy to stop your iPhone or iPad from automatically downloading apps. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, then tap iTunes & App Store. Now just turn off the switch next to Apps (located under the Automatic Downloads section). This should get rid of the automatic app download functionality.

However, this setting does not apply to any of your other iOS or iPadOS devices. To stop apps from automatically downloading apps on them, you have to manually turn off the functionality on each device.

If you want to keep the automatic app download functionality but stop it from consuming cellular data, turn off the switch next to Automatic Downloads under the Cellular Data section instead. When you do this, apps will only download on their own when connected to Wi-Fi.

Fly: You can also enable Low Data Mode if you want to limit unlimited cellular data usage on your iPhone or iPad.

Security Tip — Apple ID in Danger

If you’re not using another iOS or iPadOS device, or if you’re absolutely sure you haven’t downloaded any new apps on your other devices, your Apple ID may have been compromised.

Someone else may have signed in with your Apple ID credentials to download free or paid apps, thereby initiating the automatic app download function to install them on your device or devices. Therefore, it is always wise to take a few precautions.

Start by looking at the list of devices connected to your Apple ID – tap your Apple ID in the Settings app, then swipe down on the Apple ID screen. If there are any devices you don’t recognize listed, remove them from your Apple ID.

You should change your Apple ID password as soon as possible. On your iPhone’s Apple ID screen, tap Passcode & Security, then tap Change Passcode. Also, set up your device with two-factor authentication to further increase security.

You should also check for unauthorized app purchases made with your Apple ID. To do this, open the App Store, tap your profile portrait, then click Purchased. If such purchases are made, you can request a refund from Apple, provided they were made within the last 90 days.

Once you’ve done all this, continue to regularly monitor the list of Apple ID devices and purchases for signs of unusual activity.

Convenience and Inconvenience

Automatically downloading apps to iPhone can be useful or annoying. Secondly, it’s pretty easy to disable the functionality. Turning it off also doesn’t restrict other functions like syncing data between apps on your iPhone, so you should be fine.

If you’re not sure it was you who triggered the download of apps to your iPhone from another device, be sure to do your due diligence. It’s always better to be on the safer side.

Next: Control Center access via your iPad’s Lock Screen can be dangerous. Here is a helpful guide to know how to turn it off.