To remove the Next Up link from the News app on an iPhone, open Settings, tap News, and turn off Always Show “Next Up”. That switch belongs to older versions of iOS, such as iOS 10. Apple’s current iPhone User Guide does not list it, and on a current iPhone you move to the next story by swiping left instead.
This guide explains what the Next Up bar is, how to turn it off where the switch exists, how to tell whether your iPhone has it, and what to do in the News app on newer versions of iOS.
What the Next Up Link Is
When you read a story in the News app on an older version of iOS, a bar can sit at the bottom of the screen with a Next Up link. Tapping it opens the next story in the same group, so you can keep reading without going back to the list.
The bar is handy, but it covers part of the screen and can get in the way when you tap near the bottom of a story. The Always Show “Next Up” switch controls whether the bar stays on screen the whole time you read.
Turning the switch off does not delete the bar completely. In the iOS 10.3 version of the app, the bar still appears when you first open a story and when you scroll back up. It only stops being pinned to the screen while you scroll down through the story.
Before You Start
- Check your iOS version. Open Settings, tap General, then tap About. Apple shows the version number on that screen. See Apple’s page on how to find the software version on your iPhone.
- Know which steps apply. The steps in the next section were written for an iPhone 7 Plus running iOS 10.3. If your iPhone runs a recent version of iOS, skip to the section on newer versions.
- Confirm you have the News app. Apple says Apple News is not available in all countries or regions. If the app is not on your iPhone, there is no News menu in Settings to change.
Nothing in this guide deletes stories, channels, or your reading history. The switch only changes how one bar is displayed, and you can turn it back on at any time.
How to Turn Off Always Show “Next Up” (Older iOS Versions)
Use these steps if your iPhone runs an older version of iOS that has the Next Up bar.
Step 1: Tap the Settings icon on your Home Screen.
Step 2: Scroll down the main Settings list and tap News.
Step 3: Find Always Show “Next Up” and tap the switch to its right to turn it off. The switch has no green shading when it is off.
The change saves as soon as you tap the switch. There is no Save or Done button, so you can press the Home button and go straight back to the News app.
How to Check That It Worked
- Open the News app.
- Tap any story to open it. The bar may show at first. That is expected.
- Scroll down through the story. The bar at the bottom should slide away and leave the full screen for the text.
- Scroll back up. The bar returns, so you can still tap Next Up when you want it.
If the bar never hides, close the story, go back to Settings > News, and make sure the switch is still off.
How to Turn the Next Up Bar Back On
Go back to Settings > News and tap the Always Show “Next Up” switch again. When the switch is green, the bar stays at the bottom of every story while you read.
What to Do on Newer Versions of iOS
Apple has redesigned the News app several times since iOS 10. Its user guide for iOS 12 describes an arrow in the lower right of the screen for moving to the next story. The current guide, which covers iOS 18, iOS 26, and iOS 27, does not mention a Next Up bar or an arrow at all.
According to Apple’s page on how to read and share stories in News on iPhone, these are the current ways to move around while a story is open:
- Read the next story: swipe left.
- Read the previous story: swipe right.
- Return to the list of stories: tap the back button at the top of the story.
You can still look for the old switch in case your version has it. The path to the News settings changed in iOS 18:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps. Apple’s guide uses this step for iOS 18 and later. On earlier versions, News is in the main Settings list.
- Tap News.
- Look through the list for Always Show “Next Up”. If it is there, turn it off. If it is not, your version of iOS does not offer that control.
Apple does not document a way to add the switch back or to remove story navigation on current versions, so there is nothing to install or reset to get it.
Other News Settings That Change What You See
If your real goal is a cleaner News app, these documented settings may help more than the Next Up switch.
| Goal | Where to go | What Apple says it does |
|---|---|---|
| See stories only from channels you follow | Settings > Apps > News > Restrict Stories in Today | Limits the variety of stories, and removes Top Stories and Trending Stories |
| Stop a publication from appearing | News > Search > open the channel > More Actions > Block Channel | Blocks the channel in your feed, though a Top Stories headline can still appear |
| Get fewer stories like one you saw | Today feed > More button below a headline > Suggest Less | Your feedback is used for future recommendations |
| Choose which channels send alerts | News > Following > Notifications & Email | Turns notifications on or off for each channel and for Apple News |
Warning: think before you turn on Restrict Stories in Today. Apple notes that it significantly limits what the Today feed shows. You can undo it by turning the same switch off.
Apple covers the first and third options on its page about news stories chosen just for you. For the full blocking steps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, see our guide on how to block a channel in Apple News.
Troubleshooting
There is no Always Show “Next Up” switch
This is the most common result on a modern iPhone. Apple’s current documentation does not list the switch, so its absence is not a fault with your phone. Use the swipe gestures described above instead.
There is no News option in Settings
On iOS 18 and later, tap Apps first, then look for News in the alphabetical list. If it is still missing, the News app may not be installed, or Apple News may not be offered in your country or region.
The bar still appears after turning the switch off
That is how the setting works. Off means the bar is no longer shown all the time. It still appears when a story first opens and when you scroll up.
The steps and pictures do not match my iPhone
The pictures in this article come from iOS 10.3. Menu names, the order of the Settings list, and the look of the switches have changed since then. Check your version under Settings > General > About and follow the section that matches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove the Next Up link from the iPhone News app completely?
Not with this setting. On older versions of iOS, turning off Always Show “Next Up” in Settings > News only stops the bar from staying on screen as you scroll down. It still shows when you open a story or scroll up.
Where is Always Show “Next Up” on a current iPhone?
Apple’s iPhone User Guide for current versions of iOS does not list it. To check your own phone, open Settings, tap Apps, tap News, and read through the options. If the switch is not there, your version does not include it.
How do I go to the next story in Apple News now?
Open a story in the News app and swipe left to read the next one. Swipe right to go back to the previous story. Apple lists both gestures in the iPhone User Guide.
Does turning off the Next Up bar change my News recommendations?
No. The switch only affects whether a navigation bar stays visible. Recommendations are shaped by what you read, the channels and topics you follow or block, and the Suggest More and Suggest Less options.
Does this setting sync to my iPad?
Apple does not document syncing for this switch, so treat it as a setting you change on each device. If your iPad has the same switch, look for it in the News section of the Settings app there.
Next Step
Check your iOS version first, then look in the News settings for the switch. If it is not there, practice the left and right swipes inside a story, and use the table above to trim what the News app shows you.
Want another way to see alerts? You can set the iPhone camera flash to blink for notifications. Read our guide to turning on the flash notification on an iPhone.
If you follow markets as well as headlines, see how to add a cryptocurrency to the iPhone Stocks app.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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