You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How to mass delete contacts from iphone?

I just got a new iphone. Ive been using android for the past few years but used to use iphones. When i set my phone up it loaded all the contacts from my old iphones. Which is a TON of contacts i dont use anymore. I went on to my icloud and deleted a ton of them but they're still on my iphone! How do i update it so it reflects what i deleted on my icloud?

iPhone 11 Pro Max

Posted on Aug 19, 2020 4:52 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 19, 2020 5:08 PM

Hello there, ContactsQuestions!


The only solution I have to your issue is only able to work if you have a PC or Mac. Follow the steps listed.

  1. Open a browser, and go to www.icloud.com. This website is completely operated by Apple.
  2. Sign into your iCloud account.
  3. Click on the Contacts icon.
  4. Then highlight all (ctrl + A or cmnd + A)
  5. Click the gear in the bottom left hand side of the website.
  6. Then, click delete, and confirm your action.


Note for Step 4: If you don't want to delete all of your contacts, only highlight the ones you want by ctrl + Left click or cmnd + Left Click on the contact.


If there is an easier way, please refer to other comments (if any other comments)


I really hope I helped you!

brandonbng



5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 19, 2020 5:08 PM in response to ContactsQuestions

Hello there, ContactsQuestions!


The only solution I have to your issue is only able to work if you have a PC or Mac. Follow the steps listed.

  1. Open a browser, and go to www.icloud.com. This website is completely operated by Apple.
  2. Sign into your iCloud account.
  3. Click on the Contacts icon.
  4. Then highlight all (ctrl + A or cmnd + A)
  5. Click the gear in the bottom left hand side of the website.
  6. Then, click delete, and confirm your action.


Note for Step 4: If you don't want to delete all of your contacts, only highlight the ones you want by ctrl + Left click or cmnd + Left Click on the contact.


If there is an easier way, please refer to other comments (if any other comments)


I really hope I helped you!

brandonbng



Sep 16, 2020 10:42 AM in response to ContactsQuestions

I had the same issue and these are the steps I followed. This was just done today so I'm not sure if everything happened as expected.


  • On your iPhone, open up 'Settings'
  • Select your name at the top
  • Select 'iCloud'
  • Turn off 'Contacts' and select 'Delete from My iPhone'
  • Go to 'Contacts' and make sure all of them have been removed from your phone
  • Go back to 'Settings' and turn 'Contacts' back on
  • This will then download the contacts in your iCloud.com account.


I have an iPad and an iPhone and want both of them to be the same. However, after doing this my iPad states it has 7 more contacts then my iPhone has. Comparing this with my iCloud.com account, it has 2 more then the iPad. This is why I stated that everything may not have happened as I expected. Anyway, my iCloud.com account has all the contacts I need and my iPhone and iPad have most of them. At some point I may compare them to find the discrepancy.

Aug 19, 2020 5:20 PM in response to ContactsQuestions

That depends on where the contacts came from. On an Android the contacts are usually in your gmail account; the iPhone is just displaying those gmail contacts. If this is where your contacts came from log in to https://mail.google.com and check. If that’s where the contacts are delete them from there and they should disappear from your phone.

How to mass delete contacts from iphone?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.