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

In iOS 26. I used the contacts app to delete the contact using the old method of clicking 'edit' then scrolling to the bottom and delete contact will be there.

I did what the person recommended. I opened my contact and went through them and found what I wanted to delete and then I hit edit and scroll to the bottom and there it was delete contact wow you can’t search and delete you gotta go through each one. That’s one thing the next update needs to correct

Try this:

Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Contacts - Make sure Allow Changes is checked.

i have the same error when i open contact after searching for get the contact i want to delete it or block it

and press edit i cant found delete or block

you must in this case to scroll all contact to found it manually without searching

then press edit to see block or delete option

Issue: I do not use iCloud. I have a number lets say 123-456-7890, under Recents I tap on the blue circled "i" button next to the number, on iOS 26, if you use the "Add Name" function instead of the "Edit" function, you're screwed. When you search for the name or number you just created under Contacts using the "Add Name" function and delete it, the name remains in your Contacts and your Recents list. When you tap on the blue circle "i" button under Recents it crashes out to the Home Screen. Very annoying bug where I heard they fixed it under iOS 26.1, nope, bug still exists.

Solution: NEVER use the "Add Name" function to create new Contacts.

Tap the contact. Tap Edit. Swipe to the bottom of that page and tap Delete Contact. It's honestly no different than it was in previous iOS versions.

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.

MacApple881 wrote:

Issue: I do not use iCloud. I have a number lets say 123-456-7890, under Recents I tap on the blue circled "i" button next to the number, on iOS 26, if you use the "Add Name" function instead of the "Edit" function, you're screwed. When you search for the name or number you just created under Contacts using the "Add Name" function and delete it, the name remains in your Contacts and your Recents list. When you tap on the blue circle "i" button under Recents it crashes out to the Home Screen. Very annoying bug where I heard they fixed it under iOS 26.1, nope, bug still exists.

Solution: NEVER use the "Add Name" function to create new Contacts.

It works for me, maybe you should use iCloud.

aflinorangeca wrote:

The issue with not being able to delete contacts is subtle and what has changed is you no longer can access that feature by pressing your PHONE icon like we used to. You now have to access your contacts from the CONTACT icon. Why they couldn’t have linked those in the software is a surprise to me. I consider this a software bug that should be updated by Apple in the future.

That is not true for me, this was from the phone app..,

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

The issue with not being able to delete contacts is subtle and what has changed is you no longer can access that feature by pressing your PHONE icon like we used to. You now have to access your contacts from the CONTACT icon. Why they couldn’t have linked those in the software is a surprise to me. I consider this a software bug that should be updated by Apple in the future.

lakefever2 wrote:

I am unable to edit my contacts, too. There is no delete button and I am also stuck on my contact and I must reboot my phone to get out of my contact list. There are a host of other problems with this update.

I don't have those problems, never did

Settings, General, Transfer or reset iphone, Reset, Reset all settings.

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.