Can't Delete Contact on iPhone? Let's Delete Read-only Contacts

Why can’t I delete contacts on iPhone?

When you delete contacts from your iPhone, you might encounter an error saying, “Not all contacts were deleted. One or more of the contacts may be read-only.”  What is a read-only contact on iPhone? Read-only contacts are data temporarily saved in your device's storage and displayed in your contact list, and you can only view the contact, but you can't edit or delete it.

"Why can't I Delete read-only contacts?"  The main reasons for this are as follows:

• The device has been set to read-only mode due to changes or hardware issues.
• Your contacts may have been created from other devices and subsequently synced to your iPhone.
• iPhone contacts are imported by a third-party service, such as Google Contacts or Facebook.
• Contacts are stored in iCloud, and only the contacts are allowed to be viewed on iPhone.

So how can you further delete all iPhone contacts including read-only contacts? Here are four solutions on iPhone can't delete contact error.

How to delete read-only contact on iPhone

Once you understand why you can't delete contacts in your iPhone, then it will be easy to fix the problem. Continue reading the article and take steps to try to delete read-only contacts.

Solution 1. Disable and re-eable iCloud contacts sync

If your iPhone always won't delete contacts, the first step to fix the problem is to disable the iCloud sync and backup.

Step 1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone > Tap on your Apple ID name located at the top of the screen.

Step 2. From the list of settings, select iCloud and scroll down until you locate Contacts and then click it.

Step 3. Disable the toggle switch next to Contacts to stop the synchronization process.

Step 4. Then try to delete your iPhone contacts. And take it easy, they will remain securely stored in iCloud.

Step 5. Now you can check if the read-only contacts still exist in your Contacts app.

Solution 2. Remove read-only contacts from iCloud

If the problem “I can't delete a contact on my iPhone” is still unsolved, you can try to remove contacts from iCloud.

Step 1. To begin, visit iCloud.com and log in using your Apple ID, which is the same one you use on your iPhone.

Step 2. Once logged in, access the Contacts app on iCloud. Select the specific contact you want to delete.

Step 3. Hit the Delete button to start the deletion process for the selected contact.

Step 4. Confirm to delete the contact, and reconfirm it on the subsequent prompt that appears.

After completing these steps, check if the contact is still present in the Contacts app. If it’s no longer listed, which indicates that the issue of "can't delete contact iPhone" has been successfully resolved.

Solution 3. Delete contacts from the associated accounts

The contacts linked to some accounts may cause the read-only issue. Then you can see where contacts are linked:

Going to Contacts > Groups > Select one account at a time. If the contacts are linked to an email account, try going to that webmail account, then deleting the contact.

For example, if they are linked to WhatsApp, launch the app on your iPhone and delete contacts. Then see if this method works.

Solution 4. Erase all contacts on iPhone at once [professional]

If you don't want to try the solutions about can't contacts from iPhone one by one, you can directly use FoneTool, a professional iPhone eraser to help you delete all contacts on iPhone in one click, including read-only contacts.

Download and install FoneTool on your PC, connect your iPhone to PC to delete all iPhone contacts permanently.

Step 1. Go to Toolbox and choose Data Eraser. Go to Erase private data and click Get Started.

Step 2. Navigate to the Contacts option and if necessary, you can enable Deep Erase Technology to completely delete them. Then click on Start Erase to initiate the process.

Bonus tip: Backup iPhone contacts to computer

Once you delete your iPhone contacts with FoneTool, they will not be able to get back. Just in case one day you might need these contacts as well, we highly recommend that you make an iPhone contacts backup before deleting them.

Step 1. Install FoneTooland connect your iPhone to PC, and click Phone Backup > Selective Backup > Click Get Started.

Step 2. Check the Contacts icon, and ensure that the others are unchecked. Preview the list of contacts and select the ones you wish to back up to your computer. Once you've finished, click on OK to confirm your choices.

Step 3. Then select a backup destination by clicking Backup Storage Path, and tap Start Backup.

Step 4. If you need to restore iPhone contacts from backup, go to the Backup History, then select the backup and press the Restore button to restore the contacts you need to any devices.

Conclusion

Hope this guide can help you fix the can't delete contact iPhone issue. If you have any other method, share it with us in the comment section. It may help other users here. If you want to erase iPhone data including contacts once and for all, choose FoneTool.