Removing Repeated iPhone Contacts Swiftly
Migrating Apple contacts from one device to another can sometimes lead to duplicates. Fortunately, there are simple ways to remove these duplicates using your iPhone, Mac, or even your web browser.
Eliminate duplicates on your iPhone
iOS has become more advanced and now enables you to view and combine duplicate contacts on your iPhone with ease. To do this, open the Contacts app and scroll to the top of the list. If there are duplicate contacts on your phone, you'll see a card that says "Duplicate Found" below your name. Tap "View Duplicates" and then choose "Merge All" to rectify duplicate contacts on your iPhone.
Eliminate duplicates using the Contacts app on your Mac
If you own a Mac, you can remove duplicate iCloud address book entries by using the built-in Contacts app. For this to work, check that your iCloud contacts are syncing with your Mac. Navigate to "System Preferences > Apple ID." Under "Apps on This Mac Using iCloud," ensure that "Contacts" is checked.
Credit: Pranay Parab
Once you've done that, open the Contacts app on your Mac. You can locate it with the shortcut Command+Space Bar, which launches Spotlight search (or try these alternatives). In the search bar, enter "Contacts" and open the app. Here, you'll find all of your contact list's duplicate entries. To discover duplicates easily, select "Card > Look for Duplicates" from the menu bar at the top.
The "Look for Duplicates" option in the Contacts app on the Mac.Credit: Pranay ParabThe Contacts app will show you the number of duplicates found a few seconds later. There's a checkbox in this pop-up that asks whether you want to merge other contacts that have the same name but different details—for instance, two entries for John Doe, one with his phone number and the other with his email address. You can tick this box if you desire, but it's optional.
When you're set, click "Merge," and the Contacts app will handle the rest.
Merging duplicate contacts in the address book using the Contacts app on your Mac.Credit: Pranay Parab## Manually select and delete duplicates on iCloud.com
The “Look for Duplicates” option in the Contacts app for Mac.Credit: Pranay Parab
Alternatively, you can use iCloud.com to manually pick and eliminate duplicate contacts. However, keep in mind that this method is not compatible with mobile devices such as your iPhone. You'll need to access iCloud contacts through a laptop or desktop.
Head to iCloud.com in any browser and sign in. Once logged in, click "Contacts" to view your address book online. This will display all your contacts. Scroll down and look for any duplicate contacts. Hold Command on Mac or Control on Windows and click each duplicate contact until you've chosen them all.
Manually selecting duplicate contacts on iCloud.com.Credit: Pranay ParabNext, press "Delete" on the keyboard. You'll see a confirmation pop-up that asks if you want to delete those contacts. Confirm the deletion by selecting "Delete."
Use Gmail to delete duplicate iCloud contacts
Merge duplicate entries in the address book using the Contacts app on Mac.Credit: Pranay Parab
If you're using a browser and wish to avoid manually selecting and deleting contacts one by one, you can quickly transfer iCloud contacts to Gmail and eliminate duplicates using Google's automated tools. Be aware that this method may pose a risk of losing all your contacts if not handled carefully.
First, open iCloud contacts in any browser. Once you've opened iCloud contacts, click the three dots icon at the top and select "Select All Contacts." With all contacts selected on iCloud.com, click the gear icon again and choose "Export vCard." This will export a .vcf file containing all your contacts, which you can save anywhere on your computer.
Credit: Pranay ParabNext, log in to Gmail. It's best to use a new Gmail account with no previously saved contacts, to prevent any mix-ups. Once you're signed in, click the "Import" button in the left pane and then select "Select file" in the pop-up. Locate the .vcf file you exported from iCloud, select it, and click "Import."
Gmail will spend a few seconds importing all your contacts. Once it's done, all the imported contacts will be sorted into a label on the left side of the screen. This label usually reads: "Imported on DATE." With all contacts imported, select "Merge & fix" in the left pane, which is underneath the "Frequently contacted" button.
Manually selecting duplicate contacts on iCloud.com.Credit: Pranay Parab
Using Google Contacts to eliminate duplicate entries.Credit: Pranay ParabA pop-up window will now show you the number of duplicates found. There's a checkbox in this window that asks if you want to merge similar contacts with different information—like two entries for John Doe, one with his phone number and the other with his email address. You can check this box if you prefer, but it's optional.
When you're satisfied, click "Merge," and Google Contacts will handle the rest.
To summarize
When moving your Apple contacts from one device to another, you might wind up with duplicates. But you have multiple methods to delete these duplicates, including using your iPhone, your Mac, or even iCloud.com and Gmail.
Credit: Pranay Parab
Regardless of the approach you choose, you can easily eliminate the duplicate contacts, keep your address book organized, and save time and headaches.
This tool can help you find and eliminate duplicate contacts on your Google Contacts. If you don't see any suggestions, try refreshing the page. Once you see all your duplicate contacts, click "Merge all." Afterwards, check the Contacts button in the sidebar to ensure everything has been merged correctly.
After merging the contacts, you may want to export them back to your computer. Choose the first contact in the list, click the dropdown arrow next to the text that says "1 selected," and choose "All" to select all contacts. Then, click the three dots icon below the search bar, select "Export," and choose "vCard" under "Export as." Save this file in a secure location on your computer.
If you want to transfer these merged contacts to iCloud, go to iCloud Contacts in any browser. Select all your contacts by clicking the three dots icon at the top and choosing "Select All Contacts." To remove all your contacts from iCloud, click the three dots icon again and choose "Delete Contacts." Then, click the "Plus" icon in the top-right corner and select "Import Contact." Import the contacts file you just exported from Google Contacts to fix any duplicate contacts on iCloud.
Credit: Pranay Parab
Read also:
To prevent clutter in your iPhone contacts, consider using the built-in feature to delete duplicate contacts. This can be done by opening the Contacts app, scrolling to the top, and selecting the "Duplicate Found" card if available. Tap "View Duplicates" and then choose "Merge All" to combine your contacts. (delete duplicate contacts iPhone)
In the world of technology, finding efficient methods to handle common issues is essential. Whether it's managing contacts or different tech-related tasks, there's often a tech solution. (tech)
