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iOS 16 Contact Lists

One of the "hidden" new features of iOS 16 is the contact lists instead of contact groups.

In the old groups interface I was able to choose multiple groups from several accounts that I have (Gmail, Exchange ...) to populate the contacts that I can search/browse in.

Now, in the new lists interface I am forced to select one list at a time or the All Contact lists. Am I missing something?

Thanks, Roni


iPhone 12, iOS 16

Posted on Sep 14, 2022 2:09 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 10, 2022 10:42 PM

This is a step back in functionality. Now I need to find a new solution for reducing the noise on my contact list which I sync with my email provider via CardDAV. Not being able to hide certain lists means what was once a selective/filtered view is now all-or-nothing.


There appears to be no release notes on this change. It happened without any notice. There is no mention of the change here - iOS 16 - New Features - Apple (CA) - which is where I would expect to find a material change like this. Has anyone else seen docs on this?

26 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 10, 2022 10:42 PM in response to SravanKrA

This is a step back in functionality. Now I need to find a new solution for reducing the noise on my contact list which I sync with my email provider via CardDAV. Not being able to hide certain lists means what was once a selective/filtered view is now all-or-nothing.


There appears to be no release notes on this change. It happened without any notice. There is no mention of the change here - iOS 16 - New Features - Apple (CA) - which is where I would expect to find a material change like this. Has anyone else seen docs on this?

Jan 24, 2023 6:21 AM in response to FranconianX

FranconianX wrote:

Still nothing in iOS 16.3

This new 'feature' is horrible and made contacts absolutely useless for people that use iCloud and other accounts like Exchange. When I select All Contacts my contact list is crowded with hundreds suggested contacts from Outlook/Exchange. All the years I could filter.

Apple, what where you thinking? Please fix this mess!

Why are you just telling other users in this user-to-user forum that has minimal Apple involvement? Here is how to let Apple know your opinion→Product Feedback - Apple

Nov 16, 2022 3:32 AM in response to Andrew Peel

The management of contacts is quite a personal preference issue, however, Microsoft had this cracked at least 20 years ago. Why can’t Apple get it right? It’s not rocket science! When I was a software developer we designed optional features in a series of settings files, the old version of ⚙️. Sure it makes for extra code but back in the 80s I was writing programs to fit in 64Kb of memory 😀


if someone from Apple’s product research team reads this, come on give us what we want and need.


Jeff

Dec 29, 2022 10:39 AM in response to cortizsc

cortizsc is spot on. I used to be able to split out a list of Restaurants/Shopping, Work Vendors, New York Contacts, Seattle Contacts, Vegas Contacts, Old Coworkers, Local Coworkers, Old Contacts, and Friends/Family.


Day to day I. would only want to see Restaurants/Shopping, Local Coworkers, and Friends/Family to avoid having a massive list of contacts. Then on the rare/special occasion I needed to reach out to someone on another list I could simply add them into the view or custom the view based on a need at the time. For example, I fly to New York, I simply add in the New York list.


The way the app appears to work now, I'd have to switch to the dedicated New York list which removes everyone else I need to see.


This is another example of a step backwards in functionality in Apple apps. it's unrelated, but if you need another example of stepping backwards, I'm old enough to remember when the Music app had half and quarter speed scrubbing on the time bar - still bitter about that one.

Jan 17, 2023 12:44 PM in response to Roni_Ziv

Has anyone figured out a solution to this new change from groups to lists. You can only view all contacts OR one list at a time. NOT multiple lists. When we had groups you could select any combination of groups to populate your contact list. This is a step backwards in functionality and an absolute disaster for staying organized. @APPLE please allow us to select any combination of LISTs.

Feb 6, 2023 8:36 AM in response to Roni_Ziv

Likewise, I find this a major step backwards. The whole point of having groups is that you can display or hide them as needed.


As the previous poster noted, hiding noise is important. When I travel, I need a lot of contacts at a specific country that I can easily see, but I don't want all those hundred-plus foreign contacts displayed when I'm home, because it just increases the chances of an accidental butt-dial of a foreign (costly) number.


Please pass on my unhappiness with this "improvement."


Thanks

S

iOS 16 Contact Lists

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