How to Add a Contact to Your Phone or Computer

The basic steps differ slightly by device, but the process is the same everywhere

Adding a contact means storing someone's phone number, email address, or other information so you can find it later without writing it down. On a smartphone, you open the Contacts or Phone app, tap a button to create a new contact, type in the person's name and number, and save it. On a computer, you use an email program like Outlook or Gmail, click to add a new contact, fill in their details, and save. The exact buttons and menu names change depending on what device and software you use, but the idea stays the same: you are creating a record you can search for by name.

Most people add contacts one at a time as they meet someone new or get a phone number. You can also import contacts from another phone, from a file, or from a backup if you are switching devices or recovering information you already had stored somewhere else.

Key Takeaways

On an iPhone, open the Contacts app, tap the plus sign, enter the name and phone number, and tap Save.
On an Android phone, open the Contacts app, tap the plus sign or Create Contact button, fill in the details, and tap Save.
On a Windows computer using Outlook, click File, then New, then Contact, fill in the information, and click Save.
On a Mac using Contacts, click File, then New Contact, enter the details, and press Command+S to save.
You can add multiple phone numbers, email addresses, or physical addresses to a single contact record.

Adding a contact on an iPhone

Open the Contacts app — it has a gray icon with a silhouette of a person's head. Tap the plus sign in the top right corner. A blank contact form will open. Tap the First Name field and type the person's first name, then tap the Last Name field and type their last name. Tap the phone number field and type their number, including the area code.

If you want to add more information — like their email address, home address, or birthday — scroll down and tap the field you need. When you are done, tap Save in the top right corner. The contact is now stored and you can find it by searching for their name in the Contacts app or by typing their name when you start a new text message or call.

Adding a contact on an Android phone

Open the Contacts app. The icon and exact layout vary by phone manufacturer, but the app is usually on your home screen or in your app drawer. Look for a plus sign, a button that says Create Contact, or a menu option to add a new contact. Tap it. A form will open with fields for First Name, Last Name, and Phone Number. Fill in the information you have.

You can add a second phone number by tapping Add Another Field or a similar option, then selecting Phone. You can also add email, address, birthday, or notes the same way. When you are finished, tap Save. The contact appears in your list and you can call or text them by tapping their name.

Adding a contact on a Windows computer using Outlook

Open Outlook. Click the File menu at the top left. Select New, then Contact. A contact form opens. Type the person's name in the Full Name field. Type their phone number in the Business Phone field, or click the dropdown next to it to choose a different phone type like Mobile or Home. Type their email address in the Email field if you have it.

You can add a physical address, birthday, website, or notes by scrolling down and filling in the fields you need. When you are done, click Save and Close. The contact is now in your Outlook address book and you can find them by typing their name in the search box at the top of Outlook.

Adding a contact on a Mac using the Contacts app

Open the Contacts app — it is usually in your Applications folder or in the Dock. Click File at the top of the screen, then New Contact. A blank contact card opens. Click in the First Name field and type the person's first name. Click in the Last Name field and type their last name. Click in the phone field and type their number.

To add more information, click the green plus sign next to any field to add another entry of that type, or scroll down to see additional fields like email, address, or birthday. When you are finished, press Command+S or click File and Save. The contact is stored and you can search for them by name in the search box at the top of the Contacts app.

Adding multiple phone numbers or email addresses to one contact

You can store more than one phone number or email address for the same person. On an iPhone, open the contact, tap Edit, then tap Add Phone Number or Add Email. Type the new information and tap Save. On Android, open the contact, tap Edit, then tap Add Another Field and select Phone or Email. Type the information and tap Save.

On a Windows computer in Outlook, open the contact, click Edit Contact, then click in an empty phone or email field and type the new information. Click Save and Close. On a Mac, open the contact, click Edit, then click the green plus sign next to the phone or email field and type the new information. Press Command+S to save.

Importing contacts from another device or file

If you are switching phones or recovering contacts you had before, you may be able to import them instead of typing each one. On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap Contacts, then tap Import SIM Contacts if you have a SIM card with stored numbers. You can also restore from an iCloud backup or use a file if someone sent you a contact list. On Android, open Contacts, tap the menu (three lines), then look for an Import option. You can import from a SIM card, a file, or another account.

On a Windows computer in Outlook, click File, then Open and Export, then Import/Export. Choose Import from a File and follow the steps to select the file containing your contacts. On a Mac, open Contacts, click File, then Import, and select the file. The exact steps depend on what type of file you have and where the contacts are coming from, so look for an import option in the menu if these steps do not match your screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a contact without a phone number?

Yes. You can add just a name and email address, or just a name and physical address. Fill in whatever information you have and leave the other fields blank. You can always edit the contact later and add more details.

What happens if I add a contact with the wrong number?

Open the contact, tap Edit, change the phone number to the correct one, and save. The old number is replaced. If you need to keep both numbers, add the correct one as a second phone number instead of replacing the first one.

Can I add a contact from a text message or email?

Yes. On an iPhone, open a text message from the person, tap their name at the top, then tap Create New Contact or Add to Existing Contact. On Android, open the message, tap the person's number or email, then tap Create Contact. On a computer, right-click the sender's email address in an email and look for an option to add to contacts.

Do contacts sync across my devices?

If you use iCloud on an iPhone or iPad, or Google Account on Android devices, your contacts sync automatically across your devices. On a computer, contacts sync if you use the same email account in Outlook or if you use iCloud on a Mac. Check your account settings to make sure syncing is turned on.

Can I organize contacts into groups?

Yes, most devices and programs let you create groups or categories. On an iPhone, you can create a group in the Contacts app by using a third-party app, or you can use the Notes app to keep a list. On Android, some phones let you create groups in the Contacts app. In Outlook and Mac Contacts, you can create groups or distribution lists to organize contacts by category.

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