How to Delete All Contacts on an iPhone
Open Settings., Scroll down and tap Contacts., Slide "Contacts Found in Apps" to the "Off" position., Tap Accounts., Select a non-iCloud account., Slide "Contacts" to the "Off" position., Tap Delete from My iPhone., Tap Accounts., Tap iCloud., Slide...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Open Settings.
It's a gray app that contains gears (⚙️) and is typically located on your home screen.
If you want to permanently delete contacts from your iCloud account instead, see the next section. -
Step 2: Scroll down and tap Contacts.
It's near the middle of the menu. , It's in the second section of the menu and will turn white. , It's at the top of the menu. , Tap on a non-iCloud account, such as Gmail, that you've added to your iPhone. , It will turn white and you will be prompted to delete all of the contacts stored locally on your iPhone. , All of the contacts that you previously synced with that account will be deleted from your iPhone.
Once complete, repeat for each non-iCloud account on your iPhone. , It's in the upper-left corner of the screen.
This will return you to the Accounts page. , It's in the "ACCOUNTS" section of the menu. , It will turn white and you will be prompted to delete all of the iCloud contacts stored locally on your iPhone. , All contacts will now be deleted from your iPhone.
You can now open your Contacts app (its icon is an outline of a person's head) and it should display "No Contacts." -
Step 3: Slide "Contacts Found in Apps" to the "Off" position.
-
Step 4: Tap Accounts.
-
Step 5: Select a non-iCloud account.
-
Step 6: Slide "Contacts" to the "Off" position.
-
Step 7: Tap Delete from My iPhone.
-
Step 8: Tap Accounts.
-
Step 9: Tap iCloud.
-
Step 10: Slide "Contacts" to the "Off" position.
-
Step 11: Tap Delete from My iPhone.
Detailed Guide
It's a gray app that contains gears (⚙️) and is typically located on your home screen.
If you want to permanently delete contacts from your iCloud account instead, see the next section.
It's near the middle of the menu. , It's in the second section of the menu and will turn white. , It's at the top of the menu. , Tap on a non-iCloud account, such as Gmail, that you've added to your iPhone. , It will turn white and you will be prompted to delete all of the contacts stored locally on your iPhone. , All of the contacts that you previously synced with that account will be deleted from your iPhone.
Once complete, repeat for each non-iCloud account on your iPhone. , It's in the upper-left corner of the screen.
This will return you to the Accounts page. , It's in the "ACCOUNTS" section of the menu. , It will turn white and you will be prompted to delete all of the iCloud contacts stored locally on your iPhone. , All contacts will now be deleted from your iPhone.
You can now open your Contacts app (its icon is an outline of a person's head) and it should display "No Contacts."
About the Author
Janice Ellis
Specializes in breaking down complex home improvement topics into simple steps.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: