How to Delete Multiple Contacts on iPhone
Unfortunately, there is no native way to delete or select multiple contacts on iPhone and iPad. However, two workarounds exist that allow you to delete contacts in bulk on iOS and iPadOS.
1. Delete Multiple Contacts on iPhone with iCloud
With this method, you’ll need to access iCloud on a computer to delete multiple contacts from your iPhone. The idea is that if your iPhone contacts are synced to iCloud, you can delete them via iCloud’s web version from a Mac or Windows PC. Here are the steps to do so: The selected contacts will be deleted from your iPhone and other Apple devices after some time. If the contacts aren’t deleted from your iPhone, restart and make sure the Contacts toggle under iCloud settings is enabled on your iPhone as shown in step #1.
2. Delete Multiple Contacts on iPhone Using Third-Party Apps
If you don’t have access to a computer, you can mass delete contacts directly on your iPhone using third-party apps. One of the more popular apps for doing this is Groups. Use the following steps to delete several contacts from iPhone using the Groups app. Once deleted from your iPhone, these contacts will be removed from all connected Apple devices, such as iPad, Mac, etc. Two more apps that you can use to mass delete contacts on iPhone are:
Delete Contacts+ appCleanup Duplicate Contacts
How to Recover Deleted Contacts on iPhone
If you accidentally delete a contact from your iPhone or the web version of iCloud, you can easily recover it using iCloud’s web version on a PC.
How to Delete Multiple Contacts on Android
You can delete multiple or all contacts on Android from your phone or the Web by following these steps.
Delete Contacts in Bulk on Android Phone
Tip: touch and hold a contact to select it, then tap the other contacts to select them. The selected contacts will be deleted from your phone. If they were saved on a Google account, they will be deleted from across all devices. The deleted contacts are moved to Trash, but you can recover them within 30 days.
Delete Android Contacts in Bulk on PC
Note: this method will only delete contacts saved to the particular Google account. Contacts saved in your phone’s local storage or SIM will not be deleted. Use the first method to delete them.
How to Recover Deleted Android Contacts on PC
The deleted contact(s) will reappear in your contacts list in a bit.
How to Recover Deleted Android Contacts on Mobile
How to Delete Multiple Contacts on Samsung Galaxy Phones
To delete your contacts on the Samsung Contacts app, follow these steps: 4. Press “Move to Trash” in the confirmation pop-up window.
How to Restore Deleted Contacts on Samsung Galaxy Phones
1. I can’t find the Trash option in my Contacts app. What can I do?
The Trash option or the ability to restore deleted contacts is available in some Contacts apps only. If you don’t see the Trash or Bin option in your Contacts app, it means the feature isn’t available in the app. You need to install a contacts app that supports restoring contacts, such as Google’s Contacts app.
2. How can I easily get rid of duplicate contacts?
On Android, open the Google Contacts app, tap on the three-bar icon and select “Merge & fix.” The app will automatically detect duplicate contacts. Select the contacts to merge. Sadly, there is no native way to easily delete multiple duplicate contacts on iPhone. You can link individual duplicate contacts by tapping on Edit contact followed by Link contacts. Alternatively, export the iPhone contacts from iCloud and add them to Google Contacts, where you can merge duplicate contacts. Later, import the final version back to iCloud.
3. Will formatting the phone delete contacts?
If the contacts are stored in your phone’s storage, then formatting the phone will delete the contacts. However, if the contacts are saved to Google, iCloud, or any other cloud storage, then a factory reset will delete the contacts from your phone but not from the cloud services. You can easily sync them back.
