How can I delete saved contacts in iPhone with iOS 26?

I was having the same issue. When searching for a contact by name then opening the contact, and pressing edit, the option to delete was mysteriously absent.

I found a solution. Instead of using the search feature to find the contact, I scrolled down and found the contact alphabetically. Then when clicking the contact, then edit, the option to delete contact was back where expected at the bottom of the screen in red.

It seems like a bug that it is not there when searching for the contact. These days we are all overloaded with contacts to the point that most everyone searches instead of scrolling through long contact lists. I hope this gets fixed.

For now, I hope the workaround helps.

ADeLoy wrote:

I was having the same issue. When searching for a contact by name then opening the contact, and pressing edit, the option to delete was mysteriously absent.

I found a solution. Instead of using the search feature to find the contact, I scrolled down and found the contact alphabetically. Then when clicking the contact, then edit, the option to delete contact was back where expected at the bottom of the screen in red.

It seems like a bug that it is not there when searching for the contact. These days we are all overloaded with contacts to the point that most everyone searches instead of scrolling through long contact lists. I hope this gets fixed.

For now, I hope the workaround helps.

I don't have that problem on iCloud contacts on my phone but if you do then report it https://apple.com/feedback

Tap on the contact

Tap Edit top right

scroll to bottom -“delete contact” is in red.

I am not aware this has changed, but then I have been on iOS26 since June.

Sierra_S wrote:

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/d8accf90-0e5a-483e-abf4-ab12351ab865

Hmm...I don't' have an "edit" on the top right. This seems to have disappeared with my iOS 26 update. None of the clickable fields (name, phone, share contact, or mark as unknown) allow me to delete the contact.

The lack of an edit suggests a restriction in Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions, Contacts

LD150 wrote:

Tap on the contact

Tap Edit top right

scroll to bottom -“delete contact” is in red.

I am not aware this has changed, but then I have been on iOS26 since June.

You are correct. It has not changed from previous iOS versions.

Hmm...I don't' have an "edit" on the top right. This seems to have disappeared with my iOS 26 update. None of the clickable fields (name, phone, share contact, or mark as unknown) allow me to delete the contact.

That's a clever solution; however, not one that will work for me. I added this contact after installing iOS 26, and it's not in the list when I scroll. I can only find it by searching, and from my call history and text thread.

Thank you for the detailed instructions and photo! I confirmed that mine is set to "allow". Also, it's just this one contact, which I added after updating to iOS 26 (all of my other contacts were pre-iOS 26 and I can delete them).