iPhone Basics

Adding and Managing Contacts

Adding and managing contacts

The iPhone allows you to save phone numbers and contact information for the people you know. You can use saved contact information to quickly place a phone call, send an email, and more. The iPhone allows you to create as many contacts as you need so you'll always have important contact information with you.

If someone helped set up your iPhone, he or she may have imported the contacts from your old phone to your iPhone. If you purchased your iPhone online, you can visit your wireless provider and ask someone to transfer your contacts.

To add a contact:

The iPhone gives you different ways to save contact information from the Phone app:

  • Tap Contacts, then tap the + button in the top-right corner.
  • Tap Recents, then tap the Info button next to the desired number. From here, you can create a new contact or add the number to an existing contact.
  • Tap Keypad, enter a phone number, then tap Add Number.

Adding contact information

When creating a contact, you should (at the very least) enter a first and last name and a phone number. However, you can also enter other information, like an email address, street address, and birthday.

  1. You can add contact information when first creating a contact or by opening an existing contact and tapping Edit.
  2. Edit the contact information as desired. When you're finished, tap Done.

Navigating contacts

If you have several people saved to your contacts list, it can be difficult to find a contact quickly. Fortunately, there are two easy ways to navigate your contacts:

  • Search: You can quickly search all of your contacts by using the Search bar at the top of the contacts list. Just tap the Search bar and type. Any contacts matching your search will appear.
  • Browse by letter: You can quickly browse through your contacts list by letter. Just tap the desired letter to the right of the contacts list. You can also drag your finger up or down the letters to quickly scroll through your contacts.

To set the My Info card:

If you'd like Siri to access your personal contact information, you'll need to set the My Info card. This will allow Siri to answer more complex requests, such as Give me directions home or Remind me about my meeting when I get to work.

Before you can set the My Info card, you will need to create a contact with your own name and information.

  1. Tap the Settings icon on the Home Screen.
  2. Scroll down and tap Contacts.
  3. Scroll down and tap My Info.
  4. Your contacts list will appear. Locate and select your name.
  5. The My Info card will be set with your information.

To add relationship labels:

If you'd like Siri to understand your relationships to different contacts (for example, that Frank is your brother and that Susan is your mother), you can add relationship labels.

To add a relationship, press and hold the Home button to access Siri, then explain the contact relationship.

screenshot of an iPhone

After adding a relationship, Siri can respond to more personal requests, such as Call my husband or Send mom a text message.

screenshot of an iPhone

You can also set a relationship label for a contact manually. When viewing the contact, tap Edit, then scroll down and select add related name.