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Your Mac rings every time your phone does? One switch stops it

How to stop iPhone calls ringing on Mac and iPad

On your iPhone, open Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls on Other Devices. Turn off the Mac or iPad you don't want ringing, or turn off Allow Calls on Other Devices to stop it everywhere. The iPhone itself keeps ringing as normal.

How to do it

  1. On your iPhone, open Settings and tap Apps, then Phone.

  2. Tap Calls on Other Devices.

  3. Switch off the Mac or iPad you don't want ringing.

  4. To stop it everywhere, turn off Allow Calls on Other Devices at the top instead.

My MacBook started ringing halfway through a work video call, and then the iPad in the kitchen joined in. I didn't even know they were set up to take calls.

On a lot of setups they are, straight out of the box, as long as they're on the same Wi-Fi and the same Apple Account as the phone. The list under Calls on Other Devices shows every one of them, and you can switch them off one at a time.

If you're sitting at the Mac anyway, FaceTime > Settings > Calls from iPhone does the same thing for that one Mac.

Other ways to do it

  • Calls from iPhone on the Mac Built in

    Pick it if you're on the Mac and want only that one machine to stop ringing.

    Stick with this tip if you want to see and control every device from the phone in one place.

  • A Focus on the Mac Built in

    Pick it if you only want quiet during meetings and still take calls on the Mac the rest of the day.

    Stick with this tip if you never answer calls on the Mac or iPad anyway.

Questions people ask

Can I stop just the Mac and keep the iPad?

Yes. Leave Allow Calls on Other Devices on and switch off only the Mac in the list underneath.

Can I turn it off on the Mac itself?

Yes. Open FaceTime on the Mac, choose FaceTime > Settings, and untick Calls from iPhone. On an iPad it's Settings > Apps > FaceTime > Calls from iPhone.

Does this stop FaceTime calls on the Mac too?

Not always. This switch covers normal phone calls relayed from the iPhone. FaceTime calls to your Apple Account can still ring on any Mac or iPad signed in to FaceTime.

My iPhone has Settings > Phone, not Settings > Apps.

That's iOS 17 or older. The same Calls on Other Devices option is under Settings > Phone.

Will my messages stop showing on the Mac as well?

No. Texts are a separate setting, Text Message Forwarding under Settings > Apps > Messages.

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