Copying information from Contacts app

Question

Level 1

9 points

Copying information from Contacts app

How do I copy information out of the Contacts app? It seems like Apple has ruined this app with the latest macOS Tahoe. I cannot find a way to copy information without choosing to "Edit" the contact. This is suboptimal!!! 😖

I want to be able to copy the contact's name.
I want to be able to copy the contact's phone.
I want to be able to copy the contact's email.
I want to be able to copy the contact's address.

These all seem like primary functions for a contact application. Do I need to export my contacts to Google in order to use them?

I was trying to copy a number the other day and instead the OS tried to dial the number. (Luckily I didn't have that feature configured, and now I'm not going to turn that feature on.)

Apple seems to have given up on the Contacts app. There is no longer even a category in the portal for the Contacts app. It's the main way to find people to call/text/email on the phone, but it doesn't have a category when looking for help?!?!?!?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 26.0

Posted on Nov 10, 2025 10:16 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

neuroanatomist

Level 9

55,689 points

Nov 10, 2025 10:54 AM in response to kludge

There are a variety of issues with the Contacts app in Tahoe, including graphical bugs and the one you're experiencing. Workarounds aside, only Apple can provide a real fix:

To have Apple consider your feedback, submit it here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

FYI, to copy a number you can secondary-click (control-click, two finger click) on the number and select Copy.

The same works for an address, though it puts white text on the clipboard so in the destination app you need to use the Paste and Match Style/Formatting option (Command-Shift-Option-V).

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Answer 2

6x6

Level 6

19,269 points

Nov 10, 2025 10:41 AM in response to kludge

You could drag a contact to a Numbers spreadsheet (install Numbers from the App Store if you don’t have it) and then copy the information from the spreadsheet.

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Answer 3

Nov 12, 2025 3:41 PM in response to kludge

kludge wrote:

BTW, the answer is, no — I still cannot copy the contact's name without editing!

Yep the new interface has some limitations/complications/ and undesirables...

Do what works for now. File your feedback:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/contacts

We can only hope it improves as the point-updates roll out.

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Answer 4

kludge Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 12, 2025 1:57 PM in response to neuroanatomist

Huh! That's the first thing I tried. Yesterday it wasn't working. Today it is. Between yesterday and today I got an update to 26.1, so maybe that's it, or maybe it is buggy and it needed a reboot.

Yeah, it's definitely buggy. As I am typing this, I was trying to see what happens if I secondary click the contact name and I did something that made it try to call that contact. A call went out (I see it in my phone history), but A) I couldn't hear anybody, B) I couldn't hang up, C) I couldn't quit, and D) I was very frustrated. I don't want this integration. I want my phone to be my phone and my laptop to be my laptop and I want sweeping new features to require me to actively opt-in! 😡

BTW, the answer is, no — I still cannot copy the contact's name without editing!

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