How to add contacts to Favourites on iPhone 14 Plus without SIM card or iCloud?

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Level 1

5 points

How to add contacts to Favourites on iPhone 14 Plus without SIM card or iCloud?

iphone 14Plus, my first ever iphone, so I'm an absolute newbie.

My contacts were successfully transferred manually from my Android phone (not via the SIM card which is not yet installed, being kept in my old phone until I've got used to the iphone).

When I went to a contact and selected Add to favourites, a white box came up entitled Add to Favourites, below which were Message and Call, each with an arrow to the right.

On selecting either of them all it shows is the phone number, and going back to the home screen and selecting the Phone button, there is no mention of Favourites or a Star which may also be expected.

Am I correct in thinking that the SIM card has to be installed in order to achieve my objective?

I also do not wish to use iCloud at all, but the system seems to suggest it is necessary to get full functionality.

Is this correct, please?

Thanks.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Setting Favourite contacts.

iPhone 14 Plus

Posted on Nov 30, 2025 6:34 AM

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Answer 1

roscoebear Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 30, 2025 8:35 AM in response to Ingo2711

Thanks - I had, but it did not help at all.

BUT - umpteen more searches about the issue finally gave me the answer, via https://youtu.be/BrN9gyZGXB8 ,which was to change the phone view to Classic from the presumed default called Unified.

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Answer 2

FelipeV

Level 6

12,261 points

Nov 30, 2025 6:49 AM in response to roscoebear

If you have phone numbers saved on the physical SIM card, you can transfer them to the iPhone. The card must be in the phone. The iPhone does not store information on the SIM card, and will only access it to transfer the numbers when you set up the phone.

Phone numbers are stored on the iPhone memory and iCloud. I highly suggest using iCloud, as it will maintain an up to date copy of your data. Why do you have an aversion to using iCloud?

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Answer 3

Nov 30, 2025 6:49 AM in response to roscoebear

Did you already have a look at the iPhone User Guide and the section about the Contacts app?

Add and use contact information on iPhone - Apple Support

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Answer 4

roscoebear Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 30, 2025 8:43 AM in response to FelipeV

Sorry, I had not picked up on your implied question.

I used Apple Devices to effect the transfer between my phones using a usb cable.

The SIM card, as I stated, was not used at all.

BUT - umpteen more searches about the issue finally gave me the answer, via https://youtu.be/BrN9gyZGXB8 ,which was to change the phone view to Classic from the presumed default called Unified.

Are you able to answer the other question re- iCloud, please?

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Answer 5

roscoebear Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 30, 2025 7:51 AM in response to FelipeV

Thanks, but you haven't answered my questions.

Re-iCloud - it's a personal choice, which I know many will not understand.

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Answer 6

FelipeV

Level 6

12,261 points

Nov 30, 2025 8:51 AM in response to roscoebear

Are you able to add the contacts to Favorites? When you select a contact, it will ask what part of the contact you want to add (Phone, email...etc). Are you able to do that?

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Answer 7

roscoebear Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 30, 2025 9:51 AM in response to FelipeV

Yes.

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Answer 8

FelipeV

Level 6

12,261 points

Nov 30, 2025 6:36 PM in response to roscoebear

So you achieved your objective…

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Answer 9

FelipeV

Level 6

12,261 points

Nov 30, 2025 8:19 AM in response to roscoebear

And you never answered my implied question mine which was meant to understand the process you used to "manually transfer " your contacts to your iPhone. Did the Android store the contacts on your SIM card? Did you insert the SIM to the iPhone 14 in order to transfer the contacts? The way you transferred the data could have a bearing on the way it is being read and displayed by the iPhone.

Import contacts from your SIM card to your iPhone - Apple Support (CA)

Move from Android to iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

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How to add contacts to Favourites on iPhone 14 Plus without SIM card or iCloud?

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