Due to the advent of the iCloud, personal information and media files automatically get synced with your Apple ID every time you get a new iPhone device. This also includes old contacts, email addresses, and phone numbers.
As a result of this backup, your contact list may get too overwhelming with unused contacts, emails, and phone numbers, especially when trying to find a specific contact to call or text. This could be difficult since you have hundreds or thousands of contacts on your iPhone.
If you want to clear and delete some contacts, it could be tiring if you’re deleting each contact one at a time. So in this tutorial, I’ll teach you the quick ways to delete single and multiple contacts on your iPhone in one go. So let’s begin!
Multiple Ways To Delete Contacts on your iPhone without iCloud
There are multiple ways to delete contacts on your iPhone without deleting them on your iCloud. The iCloud acts as a backup medium, so you may delete the contacts from your phone, but they won’t be deleted permanently from the iCloud.
Method 1: Delete via Phone App
This is the first method to delete all contacts on your iPhone without using iCloud. To do this, follow the steps below.
1. Launch the Phone app.
2. Tap on the Contacts tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Then, tap on Groups here.
4. Tap on the Edit icon at the top right corner of your screen.
5. Select the Delete All Contacts button at the bottom left corner of your screen.
That’s it! This method is straightforward to use.
Method 2: Hide All Contacts
Next, you can choose to hide all contacts on your iPhone. This is done by switching off the synchronization option of the Contacts app on your iPhone.
This method doesn’t delete your entire contact list. It temporarily removes them from your iPhone.
Follow these steps below to use this method.
1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Contacts.
3. Select Accounts. Here, the email accounts linked to your iPhone are displayed.
4. Tap on the accounts with the unused contacts.
5. Tap on the toggle switch on Contacts to turn it off.
6. You can repeat the process for the other email accounts.
If you want to switch off the contacts via iCloud, follow these steps.
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen.
3. Select iCloud.
4. Turn off the toggle switch for Contacts.
Alternatively, you can hide contacts by filtering the email accounts your iPhone should sync.
1. Launch the Phone app or Contacts app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the Contacts tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap on Groups on the top left corner of the screen.
4. Tap on Hide All Contacts.
That’s it. All of your contacts will be removed. To add the contacts back, switch on the toggle switches in the listed methods.
Method 3: Deleting All Contacts Permanently Using iCloud.
As stated earlier, iCloud is a backup medium for all your important data, including your contacts. If you want to delete all the contacts on your iPhone permanently, you have to delete them from the iCloud.
The steps below will show you how to do so.
1. Log into your account via the iCloud website on your computer or MacBook.
2. Select all the contacts on the list by pressing the shortcut Ctrl key + C.
3. Tap on the Settings tab on the bottom left corner of the screen.
4. Tap on Delete.
5. Tap on Confirm to delete the selected contacts permanently.
This method is very useful for deleting multiple contacts in one go permanently on the iCloud on all your Apple devices.
Method 4: Deleting Selected Contacts
When you’re manually deleting a contact, you can simply tap on the contact, select the Edit icon at the top right corner of your screen and select Delete Contact from the provided option.
But in a case where you want to delete numerous multiple contacts, the processes above may become slow and tedious. You should use the method that requires you to delete contacts via your iCloud account permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Account Deletion
Below are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about deleting iPhone contacts without iCloud
Question 1: Can you delete all contacts on your iPhone at once?
Yes, you can. You can delete contacts on your iPhone via the Phone App.
1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap on the Contacts tab below.
3. Long-press a single contact till a tick icon appears.
4. Select the other contacts on your iPhone.
5. Then, tap on Delete.
Alternatively, you can use a third-party app to help with this.
1. Download the AnyTrans app on your computer to use this method.
2. Open the AnyTrans app on your computer, then connect your iPhone to the computer through a USB cable.
3. Tap on Device Manager, then select the More option.
4. On the left panel, click on Contacts. Then, click on Select All.
This selects all the contacts on your iPhone.
5. Click on Delete.
Question 2: What is the easiest way to delete a contact on an iPhone?
The easiest way to delete a contact is via the Phone app.
1. Launch the Phone app.
2. Tap on the Contacts tab at the bottom of the screen
3. Select the contact you want to delete.
4. Tap on the Edit icon at the top left corner of the screen.
5. Scroll down and tap on Delete Contact.
Question 3: Why can’t I delete contacts from my iPhone?
If you are having difficulty deleting a phone number from your iPhone, it means a restriction has been placed on your contacts. To remove these restrictions, follow these steps.
1. Open Settings.
2. Tap on Screen Time.
3. Tap on Content and Privacy Restrictions.
4. Tap on Contacts.
5. Turn on Allow Changes.
Then, you can delete any contact on your iPhone.
Question 4: How do I delete multiple contacts on my iPhone 2022?
1. Log into your account via the iCloud website on your computer or MacBook.
2. Select all the contacts on the list by pressing the shortcut Ctrl key + C.
3. Tap on the Settings tab on the bottom left corner of the screen.
4. Tap on Delete.
5. Tap on Confirm to delete the selected contacts permanently.
Delete Your accounts With/Without iCloud
In this guide, we’ve discussed the methods that can be used to delete all the contacts on your iPhone with or without the use of iCloud. If you have a favorite method or know any other method that wasn’t discussed in this guide, please let me know in the comment section, and you’ll get a response ASAP.
We hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Ciao.
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