Local contact list on iPhone cannot be deleted

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13 points

Local contact list on iPhone cannot be deleted

Hey all,

the contacts app on my iPhone 13 (with iOS 16.1.1) shows a local iPhone contact list, although sync with iCloud is enabled (see image below; language is German).

I cannot get rid of this local list. I tried disabling and enabling iCloud sync and using other contact accounts, but the local contact list stays on the phone and will not get deleted. Especially annoying is that every new contact is created locally, as the contacts app allows only for a standard account when there is more than one active.

Does anyone have an idea how to get rid of the local contacts? Thank you!

iPhone 13, iOS 16

Posted on Nov 27, 2022 01:05 AM

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Answer 1

athenon Author

Level 1

13 points

Nov 27, 2022 01:21 AM in response to SravanKrA

Thanks for your answer. However, my problem is that there is a local iPhone contact list on my phone that is not linked to any account and cannot be deleted.

Furthermore, you can only select a default account if you have more than one account active. My problem is that the local list is treated as default although iCloud sync is active.

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Answer 2

Nov 27, 2022 01:24 AM in response to athenon

There are no limits to the number of contacts you can store on an iPhone.

When you look deeply you will find that Contacts are neither stored on an iPhone nor on SIM. They are synced to an email account that you may have added and enabled Contacts. It could be Google, iCloud, AOL, Exchange, Outlook, Yahoo or any Other email client server.

When you enable Contacts in any of the email accounts they are displayed to you through the Contacts App. When you edit these contacts on an iPhone they are ultimately edited on the client-server.

Please see the pic below.

If you are unable to find your contacts which were stored in the email client, then try this --> Restore contacts, calendars, bookmarks, and more using ...

Check if the email account has been removed from the iOS mail app.

Add the email account that stores your contacts in the IOS mail app and enable Contacts.

What is your default Contacts account? If none, please add an email account and enable contacts.

See the pic below

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Answer 3

athenon Author

Level 1

13 points

Nov 27, 2022 01:11 AM in response to athenon

That's the image, sorry:

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Local contact list on iPhone cannot be deleted

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