How to Delete Multiple Contacts on iPhone

If you’re a long-time iPhone user, you probably know that you can’t delete contacts in bulk unless your iPhone is running on iOS 16 or later. This situation could even be a shock for starters who came from Android. Well, that’s iOS for you.

Regardless, there are situations where you need to delete multiple contacts ASAP. You may be erasing old, inactive contacts, giving away your phone, or looking for a way to delete them in bulk because your iPhone isn’t updated to or supported by iOS 16. You may also need to erase contacts due to multiple duplicates.

In case you can relate to these situations, you’d be glad you’re on the right page. Below, we will introduce 3 ways you can easily delete multiple contacts on iPhone. Read on for more information.

Method 1: Delete Multiple Contacts on iPhone (iOS 16)

If your iPhone runs on iOS 16 or later versions, this method is the simplest way to delete contacts in bulk in case they’re saved internally. However, if you have an iPhone 8 (2017) or newer, we recommend updating it to iOS 16 before proceeding.

With that in mind, this method won’t work if you have an iPhone 7 Plus or lower iteration as it’s no longer supported by iOS 16.

Step 1

Go to the Contacts app. On the list of contacts, use your two fingers to select one contact and slide them down to tick multiple contacts. Selected items should have a gray highlight.

Step 2

Release your two fingers once you’re done with your selection. Then, tap and hold on to the selected contacts to summon a pop-up menu. There, select Delete and all selected contacts should be deleted immediately.

Method 2: Delete Multiple Contacts on iPhone by iCloud/Apple ID

If your iPhone isn’t supported by iOS 16 and the target contacts happen to be synced with your Apple ID via iCloud, this method is for you. All you need to do is un-sync Contacts in the iCloud settings or sign out of your Apple ID if you’re giving the phone away. Doing so will automatically remove all the linked contacts.

To un-sync contacts via iCloud:

Step 1

Open Settings and tap on your Profile. There, scroll down and select iCloud.

Step 2

There will be a list of apps and data that are toggled on. Disable Contacts and exit. Check the Contacts app and see if they’ve been removed.

To sign out of your Apple ID:

Step 1

Go to Settings and your Profile. Scroll all the way down to the bottom and tap on the Sign-Out button.

Step 2

Then, enter your Apple ID password for confirmation and hit Turn Off. You may toggle on the data you wish to remain after your sign-out. After that, just tap Sign Out and confirm that you’re also signing out of iCloud.

Method 3: Delete Multiple Contacts on iPhone via iCareFone

If you want the quickest way to delete multiple contacts from iPhone without iCloud/Apple ID or iOS 16, iCareFone is the key! It’s an iPhone data management app that lets you manage contacts, photos, videos, music, and other files. Since it’s designed for managing, it has the ability to delete contacts in bulk or selectively. How convenient is that?

iCareFone can scan all the contacts on your iPhone, regardless of whether they’ve been imported from a SIM card or synced via Apple ID/iCloud. If they appear on the screen, you can select and delete them instantly. Yes! After selecting, it only takes one click to delete multiple contacts. You can definitely save time and effort.

The app is user-friendly, too. It’s easy to navigate and use. All you need to do is set it up on your computer (Mac/Windows) and connect your iPhone via a USB cable. Then, you can use the app right away. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1

Download and install the program on your computer. Then, run it and attach your iPhone via a compatible USB data cable. Make sure that that phone is unlocked so iCareFone can detect it.

Step 2

On the main interface, select the Manage tab and you will see a list of all the iPhone data on the screen. Then, click on the Contacts section.

Step 3

After that, tick the contacts you wish to delete. If you want to erase them all, just tick the box beside the Name label to select all contacts. Then, click on the Delete button and confirm the deletion.

If you want to delete duplicate contacts, you may click the De-Duplicate button instead.

Besides contacts, iCareFone can also be used to delete multiple photos, music files, videos, and other iPhone data.

Tip: Back Up Contacts Before Deleting Them

You don’t need to lose those contacts completely, especially when there’s a possibility you’ll need them later. So, we suggest backing them up first. You don’t need to make a backup on your iPhone. Instead, you can transfer the contacts from your iPhone to your computer.

This way, you can always access them whenever you need them. The good news is you can use iCareFone’s transfer feature to send them all to your PC. It’s the easiest way for you.

Conclusion

Deleting multiple contacts from iPhone is easy if the device runs on iOS 16 or later versions. If not, it may be a hassle if you’re in a hurry. But this doesn’t mean there are no other ways to delete multiple contacts, including duplicate ones, in bulk. Just check the methods above and see which one fits your situation.