Delete a contact from Gmail in three steps

To delete a contact in Gmail, open your Contacts list, find the person you want to remove, click their name, and select the delete button. The contact disappears immediately and cannot be recovered, so make sure you have the right person before you confirm.

Gmail stores contacts in a separate app from your email inbox. You reach it through a menu, not from the email list itself. The steps below walk you through exactly where to click.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail contacts live in a separate app you reach from the Google apps menu, not from your inbox.
  • Deleting a contact removes it permanently and does not affect any emails you already sent or received from that person.
  • You can delete one contact at a time through the web version, or select multiple contacts and delete them together.
  • If you delete a contact by mistake, you cannot undo the deletion, so double-check the name before you confirm.

How to delete a single contact on a computer

Start by going to contacts.google.com in your web browser. If you are already in Gmail, you can click the Google apps menu — the grid of nine dots in the top right corner — and select Contacts from the list.

Once you are in Contacts, scroll through the list on the left side or use the search box at the top to find the person you want to delete. Click their name to open their contact card. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu button) near the top right of the card and click it. A dropdown menu appears with several options. Select Delete from that menu. Gmail asks you to confirm the deletion. Click Delete again to remove the contact permanently.

How to delete multiple contacts at once

If you need to remove several contacts, you can select them all and delete them together instead of doing one at a time. In the Contacts list on the left side, check the small box next to each contact you want to remove. A checkbox appears next to every name once you start selecting.

After you have checked all the contacts you want to delete, look at the top of the list. A delete button (usually a trash can icon) appears once you have selected at least one contact. Click that button and confirm the deletion. All selected contacts are removed at once.

Deleting contacts on your phone or tablet

The Gmail app on Android and iPhone does not have a built-in contacts manager. Instead, you need to use the Google Contacts app, which is a separate download. Search your phone's app store for Google Contacts and install it.

Open the Google Contacts app and find the person you want to delete by scrolling or searching. Tap their name to open their card. Look for the three vertical dots at the top right and tap it. Select Delete from the menu and confirm. On some phones, you may need to swipe left on a contact name to reveal a delete option instead.

What happens when you delete a contact

Deleting a contact removes that person from your Contacts list only. Any emails you sent to or received from them stay in your inbox and your sent folder. You can still read those emails, and the person's email address remains visible in the message itself.

If you delete a contact and later want to add them back, you have to create a new contact entry from scratch. Gmail does not keep a trash or archive of deleted contacts, so the deletion is permanent. Before you confirm, take a moment to make sure you are deleting the right person, especially if you have multiple contacts with similar names.

Removing contacts from specific groups

Gmail also lets you organize contacts into groups — like "Work" or "Family". If you only want to remove someone from a group without deleting their contact entirely, open their contact card and look for the group name listed under their information. Click the X next to the group name to remove them from that group only. The contact stays in your main list.

This is useful if you want to keep someone's information but stop sending them group emails. To delete the contact completely, you still need to use the delete button described above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a contact deletion?

No. Once you delete a contact in Gmail, it is gone permanently. There is no undo button or trash folder for contacts. If you delete someone by mistake, you will need to create a new contact entry and re-enter their information by hand.

Does deleting a contact remove emails from that person?

No. Deleting a contact only removes them from your Contacts list. All emails you sent to or received from that person remain in your inbox and sent folder. You can still read and search those emails.

What is the difference between deleting a contact and removing them from a group?

Removing someone from a group keeps their contact information in your main list but stops them from receiving group emails. Deleting a contact removes them completely from your Contacts app. If you delete them, you lose their phone number, email, and any notes you saved.

Can I delete contacts on Gmail's mobile app?

The Gmail app itself does not manage contacts. You need to use the separate Google Contacts app, available for free on both Android and iPhone. The steps are the same: open the app, find the contact, tap the menu button, and select delete.