This wikiHow teaches you how to delete unwanted contacts from the Contacts app on iPhone, iTunes, and iCloud.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Using the Contacts App
Step 1. Open Contacts
The app is in the form of a silhouette of a person on a gray background and a row of colorful tabs along the right side.
Alternatively, tap the icon Contacts at the bottom of the screen to access Contacts from the Phone app.
Step 2. Tap the desired contact name
The page for the contact opens.
If you want to search for a specific contact, tap the bar Search at the top, then enter the desired name.
Step 3. Tap Edit
It's in the top-right corner. You can use it to edit the person's contact page, including deleting the contact.
Step 4. Scroll down and tap on Delete Contact
It's at the bottom of the contact page.
Step 5. Tap Delete Contact again when prompted
The commands will be displayed at the bottom. Once you do that, the contact will be deleted from the iPhone.
- The " Delete " option will not appear for contacts added from other applications, for example Facebook.
- If the iPhone is connected to your iCloud account, the contacts will be deleted on all connected devices.
Method 2 of 5: Deleting Entire iCloud Contacts
Step 1. Open Settings
This gray app with the gear icon (⚙️) is usually on the Home screen.
Step 2. Tap on your Apple ID
It's at the top of the menu showing your name and photo (if you added one).
- If you are not signed in yet, tap Sign in to (Your Device), enter your Apple ID and password, then tap Sign In.
- You may not have to do this step if you're using an older version of iOS.
Step 3. Tap iCloud
It's in the second part of the menu.
Step 4. Swipe “Contacts” to “Off” position
The contact will turn white, then you will be prompted to delete all iCloud contacts stored on your iPhone.
Step 5. Tap on Delete from My iPhone
All contacts that have ever been synced with an iCloud account will be deleted from iPhone, including contact information stored on the iPhone device (such as manually added contacts).
Method 3 of 5: Disabling Contacts from Email (Email)
Step 1. Open Settings
This gray app with the gear icon (⚙️) is usually on the Home screen.
Step 2. Scroll down and tap on Contacts
It's a third of the way down from the Settings page.
Step 3. Tap Accounts
It's at the top of the page.
Step 4. Tap the desired email account. iCloud you can find on this page.
For example, you have to tap Gmail if you want to open settings for Gmail account.
Step 5. Swipe “Contacts” to “Off”
The contact will turn white, indicating that the contact you selected from the email account no longer appears in the iPhone's Contacts app.
Method 4 of 5: Disabling Contact Suggestions
Step 1. Open Settings on iPhone
This gray app with a gear icon (⚙️) is usually on the Home screen.
Step 2. Scroll down and tap on Contacts
It's a third of the way down from the Settings page.
Step 3. Swipe “Contacts Found in Apps” to “Off” position
It's at the bottom of the screen. The button will turn white. You will no longer receive contact suggestions from apps in iPhone Contacts or in the autocomplete fields for Messages and Mail.
Method 5 of 5: Using the Groups Feature
Step 1. Separate contacts into groups
Create contact groups for family, business friends, friends at the gym, and so on. This way, you can hide all categories of contacts from the list so you don't have to actually delete them.
If you want to manage groups of contacts, tap the Groups button at the top left of the Contacts screen
Step 2. Tap the contact group you want to hide
If you check it, the contact group will be displayed. If you uncheck it, the contact group will not appear in the contact list.
Step 3. Tap Done when you are done
Now your contact list shows only the groups you selected.
