5 Ways | How to Permanently Delete Contacts from iPhone

How do I permanently delete contacts from my iPhone?

If your iPhone contacts are full of useless contacts, you may need to delete them immediately. However, deleting hundreds of contacts on iPhone is a headache, and Apple doesn't provide a quick way to delete multiple iPhone contacts in batches.

Be aware that basic contact deletions only remove them from the address book, which can still be recovered by special data recovery software. If you wanna how to permanently delete multiple contacts from iPhone before selling or giving it away, this article provides you with a complete guide.

How to delete multiple contacts from iPhone permanently

In this section, you can learn 3 ways to delete multiple or all contacts from iPhone permanently with ease, the first method also supports on how to delete blocked contacts from WhatsApp on iPhone.

Way 1. Delete all contacts on iPhone at once permanently [Easiest]

How to delete multiple contacts on iPhone without iCloud? The best way is to use professional iOS data cleaner - FoneTool. It can not only help you delete iPhone contacts, photos, videos, and other types of data permanently with one click, but also manage iOS data, you can easily backup and transfer iPhone data.

Download the freeware to your computer, and follow the steps to learn how to delete all contacts from iPhone permanently.

Step 1. Keep connecting your iPhone to PC > Launch FoneTool, and click Toolbox > Data Eraser > Erase private data and click Get Started.

Step 2. Check the Contacts icon > Check Enable Deep Erase Technology to ensure complete and deep data erasure > Tap Start Erase to begin the task.

Way 2. Permanently delete multiple contacts from iPhone directly 

If your iPhone is running iOS 16 or later, you can effortlessly mass delete contacts from iPhone using the new feature in Contacts app. With a simple finger swipe across the desired entries, you can bid farewell to unwanted contacts in a straightforward manner.

Step 1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone > Locate the group of contacts that you wish to remove.

Step 2. Utilizing two fingers, press and hold on a contact within the list.

Step 3. Then proceed to slide your fingers upwards or downwards to highlight adjacent contacts as part of your selection. Release your fingers once you have finished selecting the contacts you want to delete.

If you wish to select other contacts, simply scroll through the contacts list and repeat the steps above.

Step 4. To delete the selected contacts, press and hold with one finger on any of the highlighted contacts. From the dropdown menu that appears, tap Delete [X] Contacts option.

Step 5. Confirm the deletion by tapping on Delete Contacts in the prompt that appears.

Way 3. Delete multiple contacts from iPhone with iCloud

If you used to backup iPhone contacts using iCloud, to permanently delete contacts from iPhone, you can log in to the iCloud website and accessing your contacts to delete. In this way, your iPhone contacts will be cleared automatically and permanently.

Step 1: On your iPhone, open the Settings app > tap [your name].

Step 2: Tap iCloud > Switch off the Contacts option.

Step 3: On the pop-up window, tap Delete from My iPhone to remove contacts from iPhone.

How to delete a contact on iPhone permanently

If you just want to delete one or a few contacts, the above methods are overkill, please continue reading this part where you can learn how to remove a contact from iPhone or iCloud permanently.

Way 1. Delete a single contact on iPhone Contacts app directly

 The Contacts app on your iPhone also provides a way to delete contacts permanently, but with an important caveat - deleted contacts can be recoverable using certain data recovery tools. Nonetheless, if you prefer using the built-in method, follow the steps below to permanently delete single contacts from iPhone.

Step 1. Launch the Contacts app on your iPhone > Locate and select the contact you wish to remove.

Step 2. Once you have the contact open, tap on the Edit button > Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and tap Delete Contact.

Step 3. Confirm the deletion by tapping on Delete Contact again.

Way 2. Delete single/multiple iPhone contacts from iCloud

Above we have introduced you how to permanently delete all contacts on iPhone via iCloud, if you only want to delete one or more contacts, it can also be done in the web version of iCloud. But please note that by doing so, the contacts that share the same Apple ID on all other devices will also be deleted.

Step 1. Open a browser and go to iCloud.com > Log in using your Apple ID and click the Contacts icon.

Step 2. Press and hold the Control key on a PC and select all the contacts you want to delete. They will be highlighted in blue as you select them.

Step 3. In the lower-left corner of the screen, click on the gear icon > From the pop-up menu, choose Delete.

Step 4. Confirm the deletion by clicking on Delete in the dialogue box that appears.

FAQs on deleting iPhone contacts

Summary

The above shows you how to delete contacts from iPhone permanently, all the methods are simple and even a novice can do it. We recommend you to use FoneTool to delete contacts and even erase all data from your iPhone in one click.

What's more, this comprehensive iOS manager also helps you transfer, backup, manage iPhone and iCloud data. Download it now and enjoy a better iOS experience!