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How to mass delete contacts from iphone?

I just got a new iphone. Ive been using android for the past few years but used to use iphones. When i set my phone up it loaded all the contacts from my old iphones. Which is a TON of contacts i dont use anymore. I went on to my icloud and deleted a ton of them but they're still on my iphone! How do i update it so it reflects what i deleted on my icloud?

iPhone 11 Pro Max

Posted on Aug 19, 2020 4:52 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 19, 2020 5:08 PM

Hello there, ContactsQuestions!


The only solution I have to your issue is only able to work if you have a PC or Mac. Follow the steps listed.

  1. Open a browser, and go to www.icloud.com. This website is completely operated by Apple.
  2. Sign into your iCloud account.
  3. Click on the Contacts icon.
  4. Then highlight all (ctrl + A or cmnd + A)
  5. Click the gear in the bottom left hand side of the website.
  6. Then, click delete, and confirm your action.


Note for Step 4: If you don't want to delete all of your contacts, only highlight the ones you want by ctrl + Left click or cmnd + Left Click on the contact.


If there is an easier way, please refer to other comments (if any other comments)


I really hope I helped you!

brandonbng



5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 19, 2020 5:08 PM in response to ContactsQuestions

Hello there, ContactsQuestions!


The only solution I have to your issue is only able to work if you have a PC or Mac. Follow the steps listed.

  1. Open a browser, and go to www.icloud.com. This website is completely operated by Apple.
  2. Sign into your iCloud account.
  3. Click on the Contacts icon.
  4. Then highlight all (ctrl + A or cmnd + A)
  5. Click the gear in the bottom left hand side of the website.
  6. Then, click delete, and confirm your action.


Note for Step 4: If you don't want to delete all of your contacts, only highlight the ones you want by ctrl + Left click or cmnd + Left Click on the contact.


If there is an easier way, please refer to other comments (if any other comments)


I really hope I helped you!

brandonbng



Sep 16, 2020 10:42 AM in response to ContactsQuestions

I had the same issue and these are the steps I followed. This was just done today so I'm not sure if everything happened as expected.


  • On your iPhone, open up 'Settings'
  • Select your name at the top
  • Select 'iCloud'
  • Turn off 'Contacts' and select 'Delete from My iPhone'
  • Go to 'Contacts' and make sure all of them have been removed from your phone
  • Go back to 'Settings' and turn 'Contacts' back on
  • This will then download the contacts in your iCloud.com account.


I have an iPad and an iPhone and want both of them to be the same. However, after doing this my iPad states it has 7 more contacts then my iPhone has. Comparing this with my iCloud.com account, it has 2 more then the iPad. This is why I stated that everything may not have happened as I expected. Anyway, my iCloud.com account has all the contacts I need and my iPhone and iPad have most of them. At some point I may compare them to find the discrepancy.

Aug 19, 2020 5:20 PM in response to ContactsQuestions

That depends on where the contacts came from. On an Android the contacts are usually in your gmail account; the iPhone is just displaying those gmail contacts. If this is where your contacts came from log in to https://mail.google.com and check. If that’s where the contacts are delete them from there and they should disappear from your phone.

How to mass delete contacts from iphone?

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