Have you ever accidentally added a contact to your Favorites list on your iPhone, only to realize later that you don’t want them there anymore? Or perhaps you’ve changed your mind about keeping a particular contact in your Favorites. Whatever the reason, removing a favorite from your iPhone is a quick and easy process that can be done in just a few steps. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of removing a favorite from your iPhone, whether you’re using an iPhone with a physical Home button or an iPhone with Face ID.
To remove a favorite from your iPhone, start by opening the Phone app. Then, tap on the Favorites tab at the bottom of the screen. You’ll see a list of all of your favorite contacts. To remove a contact from your Favorites list, simply swipe left on their name and tap on the Delete button. You can also remove a contact from your Favorites list by tapping on the Edit button in the top-right corner of the screen, then tapping on the red minus button next to the contact’s name. Once you’ve removed a contact from your Favorites list, they will no longer appear in the Favorites tab.
If you’re using an iPhone with a physical Home button, you can also remove a favorite from your iPhone by tapping on the Favorites icon in the Phone app, then tapping on the Edit button. From here, you can tap on the red minus button next to the contact’s name to remove them from your Favorites list. Once you’ve removed a contact from your Favorites list, they will no longer appear in the Favorites tab.
Identifying Your Favorite Contacts
Navigating the numerous contacts stored on your iPhone can be a daunting task, especially when you need to quickly access your most frequently contacted individuals. Apple’s iOS operating system provides a convenient feature called Favorites that allows you to create a curated list of your most important contacts, ensuring they are always within easy reach. Identifying these favorite contacts is the first step in leveraging this valuable feature.
To identify your favorite contacts, open the Phone app on your iPhone. Once in the app, tap on the “Contacts” tab located at the bottom of the screen. This will display a list of all the contacts stored on your device. To mark a contact as a favorite, tap on the star icon located to the right of their name. A filled-in star indicates that the contact has been added to your favorites list.
You can also access your favorite contacts directly from the Phone app’s dial pad. Simply tap on the “Favorites” tab located at the top of the dial pad to view a list of your favorite contacts. From here, you can quickly initiate a call, send a message, or access other contact options.
Accessing the Favorites Screen
To access the Favorites screen on your iPhone, you can use one of the following methods:
- Open the Phone app: Tap the Phone app icon on your home screen and then tap the “Favorites” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Use the Spotlight search: Swipe down from the middle of the home screen to access the Spotlight search. Type “Favorites” in the search bar and tap the “Favorites” icon that appears.
- Access from the Contacts app: Open the Contacts app and tap the “Favorites” group in the sidebar. You can also tap the “Favorites” button in the top-right corner of the screen.
Removing a Favorite
1. Open the Favorites screen using one of the methods described in the previous step.
2. Locate the contact that you want to remove from your favorites. You can either scroll through the list to find the contact or use the search bar at the top of the screen to search for the contact’s name or phone number.
3. Once you have found the contact, tap on their name to open their contact card. On the contact card, tap on the “Edit” button in the top-right corner of the screen.
4. Scroll down the contact card and tap on the “Remove from Favorites” button. A confirmation dialogue box will appear. Tap on the “Remove” button to confirm the removal.
The contact will now be removed from your Favorites list. You can repeat this process for any other contacts that you want to remove from your favorites.
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| Open Phone app | Open Phone app > Tap “Favorites” tab |
| Use Spotlight search | Swipe down > Type “Favorites” > Tap “Favorites” icon |
| Access from Contacts app | Open Contacts app > Tap “Favorites” group > Tap “Favorites” button |
Editing the Favorites List
To manage your Favorites list, you can:
Create a New Favorite
- Open the Contacts app.
- Tap the plus (+) icon in the top right corner.
- Enter the contact’s information.
- Scroll down and tap the “Add to Favorites” button.
Remove a Favorite
- Open the Favorites list.
- Tap the “Edit” button in the top right corner.
- Tap the red minus (-) button next to the contact you want to remove.
- Tap the “Done” button to save your changes.
Rearrange the Favorites List
- Open the Favorites list.
- Tap the “Edit” button in the top right corner.
- Tap and hold the three lines next to the contact you want to move.
- Drag the contact to the desired position.
- Tap the “Done” button to save your changes.
You can also rearrange your Favorites list by tapping and holding a contact and dragging it to the left or right. This will create a new Favorite group.
| Favorite Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Family | Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother |
| Friends | John, Mary, Bob, Alice |
| Coworkers | Mike, Susan, David, Lisa |
Removing a Contact from Favorites
To remove a contact from your Favorites list, follow these steps:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the Contacts tab.
- Find the contact you want to remove and tap on their name.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the contact’s profile and tap the “Remove from Favorites” button.
The contact will now be removed from your Favorites list. You can add them back to your Favorites at any time by following the same steps and tapping the “Add to Favorites” button.
Removing a Contact from Favorites Using the Phone App
You can also remove a contact from your Favorites list using the Phone app.
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the Favorites tab.
- Find the contact you want to remove and tap on the “x” button next to their name.
- Tap the “Remove” button to confirm.
The contact will now be removed from your Favorites list.
Removing a Contact from Favorites Using the Contacts App
You can also remove a contact from your Favorites list using the Contacts app.
- Open the Contacts app.
- Find the contact you want to remove and tap on their name.
- Tap the “Edit” button.
- Scroll down to the “Favorites” section and tap the “Remove” button.
- Tap the “Done” button to save your changes.
The contact will now be removed from your Favorites list.
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| Phone App | Open Phone app > Tap Contacts > Tap contact name > Scroll down and tap “Remove from Favorites” |
| Phone App (Favorites Tab) | Open Phone app > Tap Favorites > Tap “x” next to contact name > Tap “Remove” |
| Contacts App | Open Contacts app > Tap contact name > Tap “Edit” > Scroll down and tap “Remove” under “Favorites” > Tap “Done” |
Deleting a Favorite Group
To delete a Favorite group:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the “Recents” tab.
- Tap the “Edit” button.
- Tap the “Delete” button next to the Favorite group you want to delete.
- Tap the “Delete” button again to confirm.
Additional Information
You can also delete Favorite groups from the Contacts app:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Tap the “Groups” tab.
- Tap the “Edit” button.
- Tap the “Delete” button next to the Favorite group you want to delete.
- Tap the “Delete” button again to confirm.
When you delete a Favorite group, all of the contacts in that group will be removed from your Favorites list.
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| Phone app | 5 |
| Contacts app | 5 |
Unpinning a Contact from the Home Screen
To unpin a contact from your Home Screen, follow these steps:
- Locate the contact’s widget on your Home Screen.
- Long-press the contact’s widget.
- A menu will appear. Select the “Remove from Home Screen” option.
- Confirm the removal by tapping “Remove”.
- The contact’s widget will be removed from your Home Screen.
- You can re-add the contact’s widget to your Home Screen at any time by searching for their name in the Widgets Gallery or by manually adding it from the “+” button in the top-left corner of the Home Screen.
Additional Details for Step 6: Re-Adding a Contact Widget to the Home Screen
There are two ways to re-add a contact widget to your Home Screen:
- **Using the Widgets Gallery**:
- Swipe left to access the Widgets Gallery.
- Search for the contact’s name or scroll through the widget categories.
- Tap the contact’s widget and drag it to the desired location on your Home Screen.
- **Manually adding from the “+” button**:
- Tap the “+” button in the top-left corner of the Home Screen.
- Select the “Contacts” widget.
- Choose the desired contact from the list.
- Tap the “Add Widget” button.
Removing a Favorite from iMessage
Favorites make it easy to quickly access your most frequently contacted people in iMessage. However, you may want to remove a favorite if you no longer communicate with them as often or for any other reason.
1. Open the iMessage App
Launch the iMessage app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Favorites Tab
In the bottom navigation bar, tap the “Favorites” tab.
3. Find the Favorite You Want to Remove
Scroll through the list of favorites until you find the one you want to remove.
4. Swipe Left on the Favorite
Swipe your finger from right to left across the favorite.
5. Tap “Unfavorite”
A red “Unfavorite” button will appear. Tap it to remove the contact from your favorites.
6. Confirm the Removal
A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm the removal. Tap “Unfavorite” again.
Clearing the Recent Contacts List
Disconnect your iPhone from all devices that are signed into your iCloud account. Tap on the "Settings" app on your iPhone. Tap on your name at the top of the screen. Select "iCloud." Toggle the switch next to "Contacts" to the "Off" position. Wait a few minutes, then toggle the switch back to the "On" position. This will refresh the contacts list on your iPhone and remove any recent contacts that are no longer associated with your iCloud account.
Additional Steps for Removing Favorites from the Recent Contacts List
- Open the "Phone" app on your iPhone.
- Tap on the "Recents" tab.
- Find the contact that you want to remove from the Favorites list.
- Swipe left on the contact’s name.
- Tap on the "Remove" button.
- Repeat steps 3-5 for any other contacts that you want to remove from the Favorites list.
- Once you have removed all of the desired contacts from the Favorites list, tap on the "Done" button.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the “Phone” app. |
| 2 | Tap on the “Recents” tab. |
| 3 | Find the contact to remove. |
| 4 | Swipe left on the contact’s name. |
| 5 | Tap on the “Remove” button. |
| 6 | Repeat for other contacts. |
| 7 | Tap on “Done” when finished. |
Managing Favorites with Siri
Here’s how you can manage your favorites using Siri:
1. Ask Siri to Add a Favorite
Say “Hey Siri, add [contact name] to favorites.” Siri will then confirm the addition.
2. Call a Favorite Using Siri
Simply say “Hey Siri, call [favorite name]” to make a call to your favorite contact.
3. Message a Favorite Using Siri
Say “Hey Siri, message [favorite name]” to send a message to your favorite contact. Siri will open the Messages app and create a new message thread.
4. FaceTime a Favorite Using Siri
If you want to video call your favorite contact, say “Hey Siri, FaceTime [favorite name].” Siri will initiate a FaceTime call.
5. Get Directions to a Favorite’s Address
Need directions to your favorite’s place? Say “Hey Siri, directions to [favorite name]’s house.” Siri will open Apple Maps with the route.
6. Remove a Favorite Using Siri
You can remove a favorite from your list by saying “Hey Siri, remove [favorite name] from favorites.” Siri will confirm the removal.
7. View All Favorites Using Siri
To view all your favorites, say “Hey Siri, show me my favorites.” Siri will display a list of your saved favorites.
8. Edit a Favorite’s Name Using Siri
To change the name of a favorite, say “Hey Siri, change [favorite name] to [new name].” Siri will update the name accordingly.
9. Manage Favorites Using the Commands Menu
- Say “Hey Siri, favorites commands.”
- Siri will present a list of available commands.
- Select the command you want to execute (e.g., “Remove a favorite,” “Add a favorite,” “Call a favorite,” etc.).
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| “Add a favorite” | Adds the specified contact to your favorites list. |
| “Remove a favorite” | Removes the specified contact from your favorites list. |
| “Call a favorite” | Initiates a phone call to the specified favorite contact. |
| “Message a favorite” | Opens a new message thread with the specified favorite contact in the Messages app. |
| “FaceTime a favorite” | Initiates a FaceTime video call with the specified favorite contact. |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
1. The Favorite Is Not Listed
If the favorite you want to remove is not listed, it may have been deleted or moved to a different location. Check your other Favorites folders or use the search bar to find it.
2. The Delete Button Is Disabled
If the delete button is disabled, the favorite may be locked or protected. To unlock it, tap the lock icon and enter your passcode or Apple ID password. You can also try restarting your iPhone to see if that fixes the issue.
3. The Favorite Is Still Appearing After Deleting It
If the favorite is still appearing after you delete it, it may be a cached version of the favorite. To clear the cache, close the Favorites pane and restart your iPhone. When you reopen the Favorites pane, the favorite should be gone.
4. I’m Having Trouble Finding the Favorite to Delete
If you’re having trouble finding the favorite you want to delete, try using the search bar at the top of the Favorites pane. You can also try sorting your favorites by name, date, or type to make them easier to find. This can be done by tapping the “Sort” button at the top of the Favorites pane.
5. I Accidentally Deleted a Favorite
If you accidentally deleted a favorite, you can try to restore it from the Recently Deleted folder. To do this, open the Favorites pane and tap the “Recently Deleted” folder. If the favorite is there, tap the “Restore” button to restore it.
6. I Deleted All My Favorites
If you accidentally deleted all your favorites, you can try to restore them from a backup. To do this, open the Settings app and tap on your Apple ID. Then, tap on “iCloud” and scroll down to the “Favorites” section. If you have a backup of your favorites, you can tap the “Restore” button to restore them.
7. I’m Still Having Trouble Deleting a Favorite
If you’re still having trouble deleting a favorite, you can try contacting Apple Support for help. They can help you troubleshoot the issue and delete the favorite for you.
10. Using the Command Line to Delete Favorites
If you’re comfortable using the command line, you can also delete favorites using the following command:
defaults delete com.apple.Safari Favorites
This command will delete all of your favorites. Be sure to back up your favorites before using this command.
| Platform | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Windows |
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| Mac |
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| iOS |
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| Android |
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How To Remove A Favorite On iPhone
To remove a favorite from your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the Favorites tab.
- Tap the Edit button.
- Tap the red minus button next to the favorite you want to remove.
- Tap the Delete button.
The favorite will now be removed from your list of favorites.
People Also Ask About How To Remove A Favorite On iPhone
How do I remove a favorite from my iPhone home screen?
To remove a favorite from your iPhone home screen, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the favorite icon until it starts to jiggle.
- Tap the X button in the top-left corner of the icon.
- Tap the Delete button.
The favorite will now be removed from your home screen.
How do I remove a favorite from my iPhone contacts?
To remove a favorite from your iPhone contacts, follow these steps:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Tap the Favorites tab.
- Tap the Edit button.
- Tap the red minus button next to the favorite you want to remove.
- Tap the Delete button.
The favorite will now be removed from your list of favorites.
How do I remove a favorite from my iPhone email?
To remove a favorite from your iPhone email, follow these steps:
- Open the Mail app.
- Tap the Favorites tab.
- Tap the Edit button.
- Tap the red minus button next to the favorite you want to remove.
- Tap the Delete button.
The favorite will now be removed from your list of favorites.
