when your contacts have multiple phone numbers, is there a way to indicate one of them as the primary number for that contact? In messages, it’s hard to tell which phone number you’re using to text. This is important when you want to keep certain things on work numbers, answering things on personal numbers. I would like to set a default for contacts where it matters.
iPhone 13 Pro Max
Except that this doesn’t work!?
Except that this doesn’t work!?
Hello,
When you start a new message, type in a portion of the name. Then, when the name comes up, click on the little right pointing arrow next to the name. It will then show all of the numbers for that contact. It will then remember the last one that you used:
Use Messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Good luck.
Replying to myself. Talked with Apple Support and came to the conclusion works as designed ;-) Anyway, here's what we found:
In reference to Case #************ on 9/13/2023
It seems when you start a text message by entering the first few letters of a contact name it drops down a few possibilities. If the contact has multiple numbers and you just click on the entry shown it selects the lowest numbered phone number regardless of positioning or naming in the contact entry.
If you click the ">" of the entry and select entry you want, i.e. put a check mark next to a different number, it sends to that number but does NOT remember that selection if that entry is deleted from the history. If it is in history, it will remember the selection, as if it's adding to the existing conversation.
So... two 'problems': can't control the 'default' selection (it always picks the lowest numerical number, and also, it doesn't remember the 'checked' number selection if that number is not in the history.
I sent feedback so maybe someday...
[Edited by Moderator]
So that works as long as the message you sent stays in messages in some way. Either the list of conversations or in recently deleted. Once I clear that conversation then when I go to send a text to that contact again it winds up using the 'other' number of the two of that contact.
I guess the question is, where is it getting the 'default' number for a contact from? And how do I change it? There was a thread out there that said you could long-tap (hold) on the number in contact and you would get a "set default" option but I only get "copy". Is that done somewhere else now? (iOS 16.6.1)
Feel like I should have known that. Thank you!
set default number for a contact
