It’s pretty easy to delete contacts from your iPhone, whether you’ve ended a relationship, or just don’t need a number any longer. You can also block a contact after you’ve removed them to prevent them from calling or texting you.
Your contacts are kept and backed up in the cloud for usage across all of your Apple devices, including iOS and macOS machines if you’re using iCloud. Changes to your contact information are automatically pushed out to all of your devices, thanks to iCloud. When you alter someone’s email address in your iPhone’s Contacts app, for example, the change is reflected on all your Apple devices. How cool is that?!
1. Delete individual contacts
Open the Contacts app on your device, or open the green Phone app and click the Contacts bar displayed at the bottom of the screen.
- Scroll to and tap on the name of the Contact you want to delete.
- On the Contact’s information page, tap Edit in the top-right corner.
- Move down to the very bottom of the page and click the red words Delete Contact.
- On the pop-up window, tap the red Delete Contact button.
2. Delete a large number of contacts at once
The process will necessitate the use of a computer. Keep in mind that you will need to have your iCloud account set up to save contacts first.
- Sign in to your iCloud account on the iCloud website. You may need to input a code received to your iPhone.
- Navigate to the Contacts page.
- Locate and select all of the contacts you want to delete. Whether you’re using a Mac or a PC, there are different ways to do this.
- Hold Command while clicking each Contact you want to delete on a Mac.
- Hold Ctrl while clicking each Contact you want to delete on a PC.
- Once you have selected all of them, go to the bottom-left, click the gear icon, and then delete.
- You will be prompted to confirm your decision to delete the contacts. Select Delete from the menu.
3. Delete all of your contacts
Deleting all of your contacts at the same is easy.
Quick note: If some of your contacts are saved on your SIM card – this is uncommon nowadays, but it does happen, delete the contacts separately.
- Open the Settings app on your device and tap your name at the top to access the Apple ID menu.
Quick note: If Contacts is already turned off, turn it on and wait a few minutes for your contacts to sync, then turn it off again.
- Then select iCloud from the drop-down menu.
- By tapping “iCloud” in this location, a menu where you may choose what data is synchronized to iCloud will be displayed. Check the button next to Contacts on the new page to see if it is activated. If it is, tap it to disable it.
A quick tip: If Contacts is already turned off, switch it on and wait a few minutes for your contacts to sync before turning it off.
- You’ll be asked what you want to do with the information you’ve gathered.
- You’ll be asked what you’d like to do with your contact information. Select Delete from My Phone from the drop-down menu.
- Your iPhone’s contacts will be wiped clean.
4. Making Use of Groups
One third-party tool stands out for deleting contacts in bulk on your iPhone: Groups. Advanced features are available through in-app purchases in the freemium app. However, the ability to delete contacts is a free tool.
Using the Groups app, you can delete contacts:
- On your iPhone, install the Groups app.
- On your iPhone, open the Groups app.
- When prompted, give Groups access to your contacts.
- From the Groups menu, choose All Contacts.
- By clicking on the circular outline to the left of their name, go through your contacts and highlight the contacts you want to delete.
- At the top, tap Choose Action.
- Select Delete Contacts from the drop-down menu.
- Select “delete from my iPhone” from the drop-down menu to be specific.
You may now check that the selected contacts have been deleted on the iPhone’s built-in Contacts app. Your other devices, such as the iPad and Mac, are also missing these contacts. While Groups isn’t the most appealing tool on the market, it does the job swiftly and effectively. Give it a shot.
