Why do I need to tap multiple times to delete calls on my iPhone?

I’ve seen screen protectors effectively wear out from repeated actions. If you swipe the number of times a day you suggest, it’s a possibility, especially when combined with email app actions and other probable swipes.

Other possibilities include an iOS bug or hardware fault necessitating a screen replacement. Apple can review the issue better than we can speculate. 😀

You can have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

If you’re in the US please call  1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

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Official Apple Support

schoodle wrote:

While going through the call history to delete past calls on my iPhone 13Pro (now running iOS 18.4.1), I've been noticing that I have to tap 2-3 times on many calls to/from my family members to remove them. This started happening sometime in the past couple of months, maybe since updating to iOS 18.x.x? I'm not really sure how long it's been going on, but it is very annoying.

Is this happening to anyone else?

Did Apple implemented this change, maybe to help prevent accidental deletions, or to slow the deletion process for other purposes?

Is there a workaround or a way to correct this?

I haven't reported it to Apple as a bug, at least not yet, because I'm not sure it is one, or if it's a new feature they implemented.

To delete all calls:

• Tap Edit at the top left
• Tap Select - this will mark all with a “-"
• Tap Clear

It sounds more like a screen issue. Mine works like it has for the last decade+. Swipe and delete, out of sight out of mind. Are you using a screen protector? What iPhone model and what iOS version are you using?

I swipe then tap the trash can. Poof, they are gone. I just tested it with five entries, both calls with people in my contacts and those who aren't.

Why do you feel the need to delete them at all? The list only holds the last 100 calls, after which they just roll off.

I'm not positive right now, but I thought that I read somewhere that had changed not too long back. I'm going to do a search real quick to see if I can find it again. This support document does not mention the number of calls, View and delete the call history on your iPhone - Apple Support, but is dated 3/25/25, like there was some type of update.

I've been looking but I cannot seem to find anything yet, other than what I linked. There is also information that the phone will hold up to 1000, but only display 100. Once you exceed 100, it starts dropping off the older ones. While I know that you can change the tabs from All to Missed, if I look at the list the red missed calls bothers me, so every once in a while I tend to delete mine too.

KiltedTim wrote:

Why do you feel the need to delete them at all? The list only holds the last 100 calls, after which they just roll off.

Not true anymore. “Recents” is no longer limited; it is now just a call log (as requested by many users over the years)

Mine now has calls from 3 years ago.

ChrisJ4203 wrote:

I've been looking but I cannot seem to find anything yet, other than what I linked. There is also information that the phone will hold up to 1000, but only display 100. Once you exceed 100, it starts dropping off the older ones. While I know that you can change the tabs from All to Missed, if I look at the list the red missed calls bothers me, so every once in a while I tend to delete mine too.

Also not true anymore.