It is a menace to see the same name multiple times while making a call or sending a text. To address this problem, let us look at some effective ways to delete duplicate contacts on iPhone and Mac.
How to remove duplicate contacts on iPhoneHow to delete duplicate contacts on Mac
How to remove duplicate contacts on iPhone
It is not easy to eliminate duplicate iPhone contacts using the inbuilt Contacts app. But there is a workaround that lets you link contacts. On the other hand, third-party iOS apps enable you to delete or merge duplicate contacts quickly. Let’s look at both methods! If you use the same Apple ID (and iCloud contacts) on Mac and iPhone, the changes will sync. Thus, when you remove Mac’s duplicates, they will automatically be removed from the iPhone and vice versa. For this, make sure ‘Contacts’ under iCloud is enabled on both devices. On Mac: Click on the Apple Logo from the top right → System Preferences → Apple ID → iCloud → make sure Contacts is enabled. On iPhone: Open the Settings app → your Apple ID from the top → iCloud → ensure the toggle for Contacts is on.
Merge contacts using the linked contacts feature
Now, those two (or more) contacts are linked together. This does not delete the other entry but adds both phone numbers under one contact. Suppose there is a contact Donald with his home phone number 1234567, and there is another contact named Donald T with his office number 9876543. When you link them, the single entity will have both phone numbers under one contact. In your iPhone address book, you will see just one entry. To unlink, tap on the contact → Edit → Tap on the red minus icon below LINKED CONTACTS → Unlink → Done.
Use third-party iPhone apps to delete duplicate contacts
In case you wish to merge duplicate contacts, download Duplicate Cleaner App, and tap on Merge Duplicates. Next, tap on Name Duplicates, Phone Duplicates, or Full Duplicates. Tap on the individual entries and tap on Merge → MERGE → Ok. To merge duplicate iPhone contacts in bulk, download the Contact Manager & Backup app. Tap on Duplicate Name or Duplicate Number. Review the list and tap on Merge → OK. These were three of many applications to complete this job successfully. We have a separate list of best apps to delete duplicate contacts. Make sure to take a look and use the one that excites you the most.
How to delete duplicate contacts on Mac
As mentioned above, if you use iCloud contacts on your other Apple devices with the same Apple ID, this change will reflect everywhere. You can also visit iCloud.com, log in using your Apple ID, click on Contacts, and manually delete duplicate entries. Signing Off This is how you can remove duplicate contacts on iPhone and Mac. Which method are you going to use? Let us know in the comments down below. Do you use Google or Outlook contacts on the iPhone? If yes, make sure to check their support articles for removing duplicate entries. You may like to read:
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