How to Select All Contacts in iPhone? Best Ways to Manage Contacts

It is very difficult to manage contacts on your iPhone.  It can be so especially if you have hundreds of them. Whether you want to clean up your contact list, send a message to multiple people, or back up your contacts, knowing how to select all contacts in iPhone can make the process much smoother. In this guide, we will let you the steps to do it easily and answer some frequently asked questions related to the selection of all contacts in iPhone. It will help you a lot to manage your contacts more efficiently.

Benefits of Selecting All Contacts in iPhone

Selecting all contacts on an iPhone can be useful for various reasons. Here are some common ones:

Backup and Syncing:

  • To sync contacts across multiple devices.

Exporting Contacts:

  • To export all contacts to a file (like a VCF or CSV) for use on another device or platform.

Bulk Deletion:

  • To delete all contacts if you’re resetting the device, selling it, or giving it away.

Contact Management:

  • To merge duplicate contacts.
  • To organize or clean up the contacts list.

Communication:

  • To send a message or email to all contacts, such as for an announcement or update.

Sharing:

  • To share your entire contact list with someone else.

Importing to Another Service:

  • To import the contacts into another application or service that requires all contacts to be selected.

Recovering Lost Contacts:

  • To restore all contacts from a backup if they were accidentally deleted or lost.

How to Select All Contacts in iPhone: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Open the Contacts App

First, unlock your iPhone and locate the Contacts app. This app is usually found on your home screen, represented by a silhouette of a person inside a gray circle.

Step 2: Access the Groups Feature

In the Contacts app, you’ll notice a “Groups” button in the top left corner of the screen. Tap on this to access different contact groups.

Step 3: Select the Group

To manage all your contacts at once, you need to ensure that all groups are selected. If you have many groups, tap “All Contacts”. It includes every contact in your iPhone. If you don’t see this option, just make sure all group boxes are checked.

Step 4: Use Third-Party Apps (If Needed)

Unfortunately, the iPhone’s native Contacts app does not have a built-in feature to select all contacts at once. However, you can use third-party apps to achieve this. One popular app is “Contacts Backup – IS Contacts Kit Free,” which allows you to select all contacts and perform various actions like exporting, deleting, or merging.

To use such an app:

  1. Download and Install the App: Go to the App Store and download the app.
  2. Open the App: Launch the app and grant it access to your contacts.
  3. Select All Contacts: Most of these apps have an option to select all contacts. Follow the app’s instructions. This will help you to perform the desired action.

Step 5: Managing Contacts via iCloud

Another way to manage all your contacts is through iCloud. Here’s how:

  1. Go to Settings: On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Your Name: You will see this at the top of the screen.
  3. Select iCloud: Tap iCloud to open iCloud settings.
  4. Toggle Contacts On: Make sure the Contacts option is toggled on.
  5. Visit iCloud.com: open a web browser on your device. Go to iCloud.com.
  6. Log In: Sign in with your Apple ID.
  7. Select Contacts: Click on the Contacts icon.
  8. Select All Contacts: To select all contacts press Ctrl+A (Windows). Or Command+A (Mac) 
  9. Perform Actions: You can now delete, export, or manage these contacts.

 Tips for Efficient Contact Management

  • Regular Backup: Regularly back up your contacts to iCloud or your computer to prevent data loss.
  • Clean Up Duplicate Contacts: If you want to find and merge duplicate contacts, you may use apps like “Cleaner Pro”.
  • Update Contact Information: Keep your contacts updated to ensure you have the correct information.

How to Select All Contacts in iPhone to Send a Message?

Selecting all contacts to send a message

We get easy options for highlighting words in a text message on iPhone but unfortunately, the iPhone’s native Messages app does not have a feature to select all contacts at once. However, you can use third-party apps or manage contacts through groups to achieve this.

Using Groups:

  1. Create a Group: Use a third-party app like “ContactsXL” or “Groups” to create a group with all your contacts.
  2. Open Messages: Go to the Messages app.
  3. Start New Message: Tap the new message icon.
  4. Add Group: Start typing the group name and select it from the suggestions.

Using Third-Party Apps:

  1. Download an App: Install an app like “Contacts Backup – IS Contacts Kit Free.”
  2. Select All Contacts: Use the app’s feature to select all contacts.
  3. Send Message: Use the app’s messaging feature or copy contacts to the Messages app.

How to Delete Multiple Contacts on Your iPhone?

Open the Contacts app.

  • Go to “Groups”.
  • Select “All Contacts”.

Use a third-party app like Groups:

  • Open the app and allow access to contacts.
  • Select “All Contacts”.

Tap “Choose Action” and select “Delete Contacts”.

How to Select a Group of Contacts on My iPhone

Use the Contacts app:

Create groups using iCloud on your computer:

  1. Go to iCloud.com and sign in.
  2. Select Contacts, click the “+” button, and choose “New Group”.
  3. Add contacts to the group.
  4. On your iPhone, go to Contacts, tap Groups, and select the group.

FAQs About Selecting All Contacts in iPhone

Can I Select All Contacts in the iPhone Contacts App Directly?

No, the native Contacts app on the iPhone does not support selecting all contacts at once. You need to use third-party apps or manage contacts through iCloud for bulk actions.

What Are the Best Third-Party Apps for Managing iPhone Contacts?

Some of the best third-party apps for managing contacts include:
Contacts Backup – IS Contacts Kit Free
Cleaner Pro
My Contacts Backup
SA Contacts Lite
These apps offer features like bulk selecting, deleting, and merging contacts.

How Do I Back Up All My Contacts on iPhone?

You can back up your contacts on your iPhone by using iCloud:
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
Toggle on Contacts.
Your contacts will be backed up to iCloud.
Alternatively, you can use apps like “My Contacts Backup” to create a backup file.

How Can I Delete All Contacts on My iPhone?

To delete all contacts, you can use iCloud:
Go to iCloud.com and sign in.
Open Contacts.
Select all contacts (Command+A on Mac, Ctrl+A on Windows).
Click the settings gear icon and choose “Delete.”
Using third-party apps like “Contacts Backup – IS Contacts Kit Free” can also help with bulk deletion.

How Do I Merge Duplicate Contacts on My iPhone?

You can merge duplicate contacts using apps like “Cleaner Pro”
Download and install Cleaner Pro.
Open the app and allow the app to access your contacts.
Use the “Find Duplicates” feature to merge contacts.

Can I Export All My iPhone Contacts to a File?

Yes, you can export contacts using iCloud or third-party apps:
Using iCloud: Select all contacts and choose the export option to save as a vCard.
Using Apps: Apps like “My Contacts Backup” allow you to export contacts to a CSV or vCard file.

How Do I Transfer All My Contacts to a New iPhone?

To transfer contacts to a new iPhone, use iCloud:
Ensure Contacts are toggled on in iCloud settings.
On the new iPhone, sign in with the same Apple ID.
Enable Contacts in iCloud settings, and your contacts will sync.

How to Select All Contacts in Android?

Open Contacts App: Go to the Contacts app on your Android device.
Select Menu: Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
Select All: Depending on your Android version, you might see an option to “Select All.” If not, proceed to step 4.
Use Checkboxes: Tap on each contact to select it. Some versions allow you to select multiple contacts by holding down one contact and then tapping others.
Perform Action: Once all contacts are selected, choose the desired action (e.g., message, delete).

How to Select All Contacts on iPhone to AirDrop?

iOS does not support AirDropping all contacts at once. You will need to export your contacts first:
Export contacts using iCloud: Go to iCloud.com and sign in.
Select Contacts and then click the gear icon, then “Select All”.
Export as vCard.
AirDrop the vCard file to the desired device.

How to Select All Contacts on iPhone iOS 15?

iOS does not provide an in-built way to select all contacts at once. Using third-party apps like Groups can help:
Download and open the Groups app from the App Store.
Allow the app to access your contacts.
Select All Contacts from the Groups list.
Tap “Choose Action” and select the desired action (e.g., send message).

Conclusion

Managing your contacts efficiently on your iPhone can save you a lot of time and hassle. While the native Contacts app doesn’t allow for selecting all contacts at once, using third-party apps or iCloud can help you achieve your goal. Regularly backing up and updating your contacts ensures you always have access to the right information. Updating your contacts ensures you always have access to the right information.

Hope, this guide on how to select all contacts in iPhone has provided you with the required knowledge. And, you will be able to manage your iPhone contacts like a pro.

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