How to disable favourite contacts sync across devices in iOS 26?

Question

Level 1

10 points

How to disable favourite contacts sync across devices in iOS 26?

ios 26 brings favourite contacts sync across devices, I use two iPhones one for work and the other for personal use. Is there a way to turn off the sync as I would like to keep separate favourites between the devices, Apple please give an option to turn these off. Is there a way apart from turning of contacts in iCloud or using a different apple account?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Favourite contacts sync

iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Sep 15, 2025 7:15 PM

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Answer 1

muguy

Level 10

90,344 points

Sep 15, 2025 8:01 PM in response to shramkrish

You can either turn off iCloud sync or use a second iCloud account for business. Otherwise, your data follows you across your devices as intended.

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Answer 2

WR4444

Level 1

30 points

Sep 17, 2025 8:53 AM in response to shramkrish

Same problem. I have 2 iphones (personal & work) on same AppleID but used to keep different “contacts favorites” . Since iOS 26, both iPhones favorites are same.

I turned off iCloud for “FaceTime & calls” but it did not work.

hope that Apple fixes this issue soon

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Answer 3

Sep 15, 2025 8:01 PM in response to shramkrish

Apple isn’t here.

Use a different Apple ID on your devices.

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Answer 4

Sep 16, 2025 3:12 PM in response to muguy

This doesn't work! One can turn off icloud sync, the phones will still sync the favorites.

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Answer 5

Lilla96

Level 1

14 points

Sep 19, 2025 5:36 AM in response to shramkrish

Same problem that did not exist before IOS 26. Needs to be fixed!

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Answer 6

oscarbtt

Level 1

15 points

Sep 21, 2025 5:55 AM in response to shramkrish

Yes

this need to be fixed, why to be forced to have same favorites in all the devices. This should be optional. Turning off ICloud did not work. Very annoying if you do not need it

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