If you have a Mac, an iPhone, and an iPad, it’s possible to use the same app on multiple devices. A handy feature of iOS is the ability to automatically download content like music, books, and apps to any device that’s signed in to the same account. Here’s how to turn this feature on or off if you don’t want to use it anymore.

Automatically downloading content is useful if you have multiple Apple devices, so that your content stays in sync. For example, if you buy music on your MacBook, that music is also available on your mobile devices.

If you have a family account, you and your family members don’t have to buy the same apps, e-books, music, or digital magazines. With automatic downloads turned on, new purchases will also download to other family devices.

There is a downside to automatic downloads: lack of storage space. If your devices don’t have much space, they can quickly fill up with content, like music or apps, that you might not want to use on that device. For example, you may enjoy reading e-books on your iPad, but not on the small screen of your iPhone.