<p><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/60b01e7c02ac410018f9348f-2400/GettyImages-1229371707.jpg" border="0" alt="iPhone 12" data-mce-source="Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Whether you've left a job, ended a relationship, or just don't need your old plumber's number anymore, it's easy to delete contacts off of your iPhone. And once you've removed a contact, you can also take the extra step and block them so they can't call or text you.</p><h2><strong>How to delete contacts on iPhone</strong></h2><p>There are three ways to delete contacts on your iPhone.</p><h3><strong>Delete individual contacts</strong></h3><p><strong>1. </strong>Open the Contacts app on your iPhone, or open the green Phone app and tap the <strong>Contacts</strong> tab at the bottom of the screen.</p><p><strong>2. </strong>Scroll to the contact you want to delete and tap on their name.</p><p><strong>3. </strong>Tap <strong>Edit</strong> at the top-right corner of the contact's information page.</p><p><strong>4. </strong>Scroll to the very bottom of the page and hit the words <strong>Delete Contact</strong> written out in red.</p><p><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5c891c865b066e125007d7c5-1242/contact.png" border="0" alt="contact" data-mce-source="Steven John/Business Insider" data-mce-caption="After clicking &quotEdit&quot on a contact's page, scroll down to &quotDelete Contact.&quot"></p><p><strong>5. </strong>Tap the red <strong>Delete Contact</strong> button that pops up.</p><p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5c891ca66123ca138b58b1a7-1242/img3279.png" border="0" alt="IMG_3279.PNG" data-mce-source="Steven John/Business Insider" data-mce-caption="Tap &quotDelete Contact.&quot"></p><h3><strong>Delete multiple contacts at once</strong></h3><p>You'll need a computer to do this. Just note that you'll need to have set your iCloud account to save contacts beforehand.</p><p><strong>1. </strong>Head to the iCloud website and sign into your iCloud account. You might need to enter a code sent to your iPhone.</p><p><strong>2. </strong>Open the <strong>Contacts</strong> page.</p><p><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/60b01b60bee0fc0019d5a159-1920/how to delete iphone contacts 1.png" border="0" alt="how to delete iphone contacts 1" data-mce-source="William Antonelli/Insider" data-mce-caption="Open your iCloud contacts."></p><p><strong>3. </strong>Find the contacts you want to delete and select them all at once. The way to do this will differ depending on whether you're using a Mac or PC.</p><ul><li aria-level="1">On a Mac, hold <strong>Command</strong> as you click each contact you want to delete.</li><li aria-level="1">On a PC, hold <strong>Ctrl</strong> as you click each contact you want to delete.</li></ul><p><strong>4. </strong>Once you've got them all selected, click the gear icon in the bottom-left and then <strong>Delete</strong>.</p><p><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/60b01ba202ac410018f9348b-1920/how to delete iphone contacts 2.png" border="0" alt="how to delete iphone contacts 2" data-mce-source="William Antonelli/Insider" data-mce-caption="Delete all the contacts that you've selected."></p><p><strong>5. </strong>You'll be asked to confirm that you want to delete the contacts. Click <strong>Delete</strong>.</p><h3><strong>Delete all contacts </strong></h3><p>If you want to get rid of every contact at once, you'll also need to use your iCloud account. </p><aside class="quick-tip headline-regular"><p><strong>Quick note:</strong> There's a chance that some contacts may be saved onto your SIM cardthis is rare nowadays, but it happens. If this is the case, those contacts will need to be deleted individually.</p></aside><p><strong>1. </strong>Open your iPhone's Settings app and tap your name at the top to open the Apple ID menu. </p><p><strong>2. </strong>Tap <strong>iCloud</strong>.</p><p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/60b01c2cbee0fc0019d5a15a-828/how to delete iphone contacts 6.png" border="0" alt="how to delete iphone contacts 6" data-mce-source="William Antonelli/Insider" data-mce-caption="Tapping &quotiCloud&quot here will open the menu where you pick what data is synced to iCloud."></p><p><strong>3. </strong>On the page that opens, check to see if the button next to <strong>Contacts</strong> is enabled. If it is, tap it to turn it off.</p><aside class="quick-tip headline-regular"><p><strong>Quick note:</strong> If <strong>Contacts</strong> is already turned off, turn it on and wait a few minutes for your contacts to sync, then turn it off again.</p></aside><p><strong><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/60b01c94bee0fc0019d5a15b-828/how to delete iphone contacts 7.png" border="0" alt="how to delete iphone contacts 7" data-mce-source="William Antonelli/Insider" data-mce-caption="Turn off the &quotContacts&quot tab."></strong></p><p><strong>4. </strong>You'll be asked what you want to do with your contacts. Select <strong>Delete from My Phone</strong>.</p><p>Your contacts will be erased from your iPhone.</p><aside class="breakout-box headline-regular"><h2><strong>How to block a contact so they can't call you</strong></h2><p>If there's a number in your contact list that you're certain you'll never need (or want) to hear from again, then by all means go ahead and delete it.</p><p>But even after deleting, if that contact has your phone number, they'll still be able to call you and send texts. To stop this, y<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-happens-when-you-block-a-number-on-iphone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ou should block them before you delete the contact listing</a>.</p><ol><li aria-level="1">Open the Contacts or Phone app and tap the contact you want to block.</li><li aria-level="1">Scroll to the bottom of their information page and select <strong>Block this Caller</strong>.<br><br><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/60b01cd2bee0fc0019d5a15c-828/how to delete iphone contacts 4.png" border="0" alt="how to delete iphone contacts 4" data-mce-source="William Antonelli/Insider" data-mce-caption="Tap the red &quotBlock this Caller&quot option."></li></ol><p>This is also a good move if you don't want to hear from someone, but still want to keep their number or other information saved.</p></aside><p><em>Steven John contributed to a previous version of this article.</em></p><bi-shortcode id="related-article-module-end-of-article" class="mceNonEditable"><a data-type="5c87b945262898556c54946d" data-title="How to easily delete all of the photos and videos on your iPhone at once" data-url="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-delete-all-photos-from-iphone" data-vertical="sai" data-image="https://i.insider.com/5fda7c6fc910a400192e7ed1">How to easily delete all of the photos and videos on your iPhone at once</a><a data-type="605cb662b25116225d07a59e" data-title="How to delete apps on your iPhone, or hide apps from your Home Screen with iOS 14" data-url="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-delete-apps-on-iphone" data-vertical="sai" data-image="https://i.insider.com/605ccaf5106eb50019d059ec">How to delete apps on your iPhone, or hide apps from your Home Screen with iOS 14</a><a data-type="5cf7d1ed11e20510503ca6ae" data-title="How to recover deleted text messages on your iPhone with iCloud, iTunes, or third-party app" data-url="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-recover-deleted-text-messages-on-iphone" data-vertical="sai" data-image="https://i.insider.com/5cf7d74b11e20512cf3243d7">How to recover deleted text messages on your iPhone with iCloud, iTunes, or third-party app</a><a data-type="60abda556381687678209e9b" data-title="How to block a number on your smartphone or landline to stop spam calls and texts" data-url="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-block-a-number" data-vertical="sai" data-image="https://i.insider.com/60abea24a412370019d31a4d">How to block a number on your smartphone or landline to stop spam calls and texts</a></bi-shortcode><p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-iphone" >The best iPhone for every type of person and budget</a></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-delete-contacts-on-iphone#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p>
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