The fastest way to add a contact

Open the Contacts app on your iPhone — it has a silhouette of a person's head and shoulders. Tap the + button in the top right corner. Type the person's name in the first field, then add their phone number, email, or both. Tap Done when you finish. The contact saves automatically.

That is the basic path. But there are several other ways to add contacts depending on where the information comes from — a text message, an email, a call you missed, or a contact card someone sent you. Each method saves you from typing the same information twice.

Key Takeaways

  • The Contacts app has a + button that opens a blank form where you can type a name and phone number or email address.
  • You can add a contact directly from a text message, email, or missed call by tapping the person's name or number and selecting the option to add them.
  • If someone sends you a contact card (a file that ends in .vcf), you can open it and tap Add Contact to import their information automatically.
  • You can edit any contact after you create it by opening Contacts, finding the person's name, tapping Edit, and making changes.

Adding a contact from a text message or call

When someone texts you or calls you and they are not already in your contacts, their number or name appears at the top of the conversation or call screen. Tap on their name or number. A menu appears with options. Look for Add to Contacts or a + icon next to their name. Tap it.

A new contact form opens with their phone number or name already filled in. You can add more information — email, address, or notes — or just tap Done to save them as is. This method is faster than typing the number yourself because the phone number is already there.

Adding a contact from an email

Open the Mail app and find an email from someone you want to save. Tap on the sender's name at the top of the email. A small card appears showing their name and email address. Tap Add Contact at the bottom of that card. A contact form opens with their email already filled in. Add their phone number if you have it, or just tap Done.

If you want to add their information to an existing contact instead of creating a new one, tap Add to Existing Contact instead. Your iPhone shows a list of your current contacts. Tap the person's name, and their email address gets added to their existing entry.

Adding a contact from a contact card file

Sometimes someone sends you a contact card — a file that contains all their information at once. On your iPhone, this file usually ends in .vcf. When you receive one, tap it to open it. A preview of the contact appears with all their details. Tap Add Contact in the bottom right. The contact saves with all the information already filled in.

Contact cards are common when someone forwards their information through email or messaging. They save time because you do not have to type anything — all the details transfer at once. If the card has information you do not need, you can edit the contact after you add it.

Editing or deleting a contact

Open the Contacts app and find the person's name. Tap their entry to open it. Tap Edit in the top right corner. You can now change their name, add or remove phone numbers and email addresses, add a photo, or add notes. Tap Done when you finish.

To delete a contact, open it, tap Edit, scroll to the bottom, and tap Delete Contact in red. Confirm by tapping Delete Contact again. Deleted contacts cannot be recovered unless you have a backup of your iPhone.

Adding a photo to a contact

Open Contacts and tap the person's name. Tap Edit. At the top, you see a circle with the initials or a generic silhouette. Tap that circle. You get two options: Take Photo or Choose Photo. If you choose Take Photo, your camera opens and you can take a picture right then. If you choose Choose Photo, your photo library opens and you can pick an existing picture.

After you select or take a photo, you can move it around and resize it inside the circle by pinching and dragging. Tap Done when the photo looks right. The photo now appears next to the contact's name whenever they call or text you.

Syncing contacts across your devices

If you use iCloud, your contacts sync automatically to your other Apple devices — iPad, Mac, or another iPhone. This happens in the background as long as you are signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID on all your devices. You do not have to do anything to make it work.

To check that iCloud syncing is on, go to Settings on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, tap iCloud, and make sure the toggle next to Contacts is turned on (it appears green). If it is off, tap it to turn it on. Your contacts then sync to iCloud within a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a contact without a phone number or email?

Yes. Open Contacts, tap the + button, type a name, and tap Done. You can add just a name with no other information. You can edit the contact later and add a phone number or email whenever you have it.

What happens if I add the same person twice by accident?

Your iPhone keeps both entries separate. To merge them, open one contact, tap Edit, scroll down, and tap Link Contact. Select the duplicate entry from the list. The two contacts merge into one, keeping all the information from both.

Can I import contacts from my old phone?

If your old phone is an Android, you can export your contacts as a file and email it to yourself, then open that file on your iPhone and tap Add Contact. If you are switching from another iPhone, the setup process during first turn-on offers to restore your contacts from a backup automatically.

Why is a contact not showing up in my list?

Check that the contact is not in a different group. Open Contacts, tap Groups at the top left, and make sure all groups are checked. If a contact is assigned to a group you have hidden, it will not appear in your main list.

Can I add a contact to multiple groups?

Yes. Open a contact, tap Edit, scroll down to Groups, and tap Add to Group. Select as many groups as you want. The contact now appears in all of them.