iOS 16 Lets You Easily Fix Duplicate Contacts

[MacRumors]

If your Contacts app is riddled with duplicates that you haven't been able to fix, iOS 16 has a solution. The update includes a dedicated feature for merging duplicate contacts, solving problems with multiple contacts once and for all.

In the iOS 16 Contacts app, if you have more than one contact card for the same person, the app will automatically detect the duplicate and let you know that duplicates were found.

The "Duplicates Found" interface is at the top of the app, and if you tap it, the Contacts app is able to merge all of the duplicate contact cards into one.

Prior to now, there was no built-in way to quickly manage duplicate contacts in the iOS Contacts app, so the new iOS 16 feature should be a relief for those dealing with Contacts issues. This feature did previously exist on the Mac, but it was not available on iOS devices.

Article Link: iOS 16 Lets You Easily Fix Duplicate Contacts

 

[jav6454]

Helps if people have organization issues with their contacts.

 

[No5tromo]

Feels like they're finally focusing on needed refinements with iOS 16, let's hope it won't turn out to be another bug fest.

 

[robertpetry]

This is awesome. I have a bunch of duplicates because of previous intentions with LinkedIn, Facebook, multiple Outlook databases, 2 different personal email contact lists, etc.

 

[sahni130]

I hope I don't regret my words later but all these little improvements might just make it the best iOS release in recent memory.

 

[Sasparilla]

I hope I don't regret my words later but all these little improvements might just make it the best iOS release in recent memory.

There will certainly be bugs, always are, but you're right all these little usability improvements look really nice - both on iOS and MacOS I am looking forward to upgrading (although I generally wait a bit before doing so).

 

[Oscar_440]

Anyone could explain why iPhone 7plus (A10 chip) won’t be upgraded to iOS16 while iPad 5gen (A9) will to iPadOS 16?
They have limit even more devices in macOS Ventura…

 

[Andres Cantu]

Anyone could explain why iPhone 7plus (A10 chip) won’t be upgraded to iOS16 while iPad 5gen (A9) will to iPadOS 16?
They have limit even more devices in macOS Ventura…

I suspect it’s because of the headline feature (new Lock Screen) probably needing the neural processor from the A11 and newer chips (to get that blurred background right). Since the iPads didn’t get this feature, they got away with it. That, and there are probably lots of A9/A10 iPads being used in schools.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Now we just need the ability to select multiple contacts at once (like selecting multiple text messages) to quickly delete multiple contacts at once.

 

[_Spinn_]

Very nice! I wish there was a better way to manage contacts with Focus modes.

 

[Wilson1313]

Can you move contacts between accounts yet?? Been waiting forever for the ability to switch contacts between accounts from within the edit menu of the specific card.

 

[thadoggfather]

it is curious how I have accumulated 1-2 duplicated contacts for almost every contact on average in my phone list at some point in time. iCloud bug?

 

[polyphenol]

Can we expect to be able to tackle this issue from macOS and iPadOS as well as IOS?

These things are often so much easier to do when relaxed in front of a decent size screen - however well they have implemented it on IOS.

And it seems entirely reasonable that we, the users, can do it from any of the three we choose.

 

[rjohnstone]

Only works if duplicates are found in your iCloud list. If you have duplicates across multiple lists (non-iCloud), it fails.
I have contacts that were imported from Gmail as well as iCloud so I now have 171 duplicates.
But the merge function fails due to the duplicates coming from different sources.

 

[jav6454]

it is curious how I have accumulated 1-2 duplicated contacts for almost every contact on average in my phone list at some point in time. iCloud bug?

More likely a naming issue on your end. I have contacts that date all the way back to my original iPhone and they haven't been duplicated.

 

[scrogers]

Sounds like a great feature, but would REALLY like the ability to move/shift contacts between accounts. I've run into issues with my users who have their Exchange contacts on their phone, and then have accidentally started adding NEW personal contacts to their Exchange account rather than their iCloud. They often have no idea and can go on for years. This can turn into a mess if the person leaves the institution "losing" all their contacts. It is possible to fix this on a Mac within Address Book and both accounts configured, but cannot be done locally on the iPhone (where the issues originated).

 

[ilikewhey]

wow this is longg overdue, i have like 5 duplicates for every contact i have.

 

[cableguy84]

Will there be a similar tool for detecting duplicate photos in the photo app

 

[turbineseaplane]

Slowly but surely we are working on features from the early 2000’s

 

[Reeneman]

It’s all very useful stuff, but why has this taken so long? On Android these kind of features are there for years! And I mean years!!

 

[7thson]

If your Contacts app is riddled with duplicates that you haven't been able to fix, iOS 16 has a solution. The update includes a dedicated feature for merging duplicate contacts, solving problems with multiple contacts once and for all.

In the iOS 16 Contacts app, if you have more than one contact card for the same person, the app will automatically detect the duplicate and let you know that duplicates were found.

The "Duplicates Found" interface is at the top of the app, and if you tap it, the Contacts app is able to merge all of the duplicate contact cards into one.

Prior to now, there was no built-in way to quickly manage duplicate contacts in the iOS Contacts app, so the new iOS 16 feature should be a relief for those dealing with Contacts issues. This feature did previously exist on the Mac, but it was not available on iOS devices.

Article Link: iOS 16 Lets You Easily Fix Duplicate Contacts

Literally was dealing with this issue about 6 months ago. I was astounded to learn the only way to correct was to do it manually, for about 100 duplicates, or use my Mac, which I had basically stopped using. The Mac path was less work and worked but was not an obvious solution. So I feel like I can justifiably say FINALLY!

 

[mjs916]

If your Contacts app is riddled with duplicates that you haven't been able to fix, iOS 16 has a solution. The update includes a dedicated feature for merging duplicate contacts, solving problems with multiple contacts once and for all.

In the iOS 16 Contacts app, if you have more than one contact card for the same person, the app will automatically detect the duplicate and let you know that duplicates were found.

The "Duplicates Found" interface is at the top of the app, and if you tap it, the Contacts app is able to merge all of the duplicate contact cards into one.

Prior to now, there was no built-in way to quickly manage duplicate contacts in the iOS Contacts app, so the new iOS 16 feature should be a relief for those dealing with Contacts issues. This feature did previously exist on the Mac, but it was not available on iOS devices.

Article Link: iOS 16 Lets You Easily Fix Duplicate Contacts

Yay, no more uploading contacts lists to Google Contacts just to merge the duplicates that eventually crop up.

I notice the duplicates but only when I’m using a contact so by the time I’m done I forget about the duplicate and don’t take time to fix it.

 

[spitcoff]

I have 32 duplicates clicked merge and the process wheel has been spinning for 20 min now

 

[turbineseaplane]

I have 32 duplicates clicked merge and the process wheel has been spinning for 20 min now

Waiting for the gremlins down in neural engineering to wake up?

 

[dk001]

IPad Pro 11 G2

Just tried this … Not working for me.
I get the status spinning wheel and it just sits there. Left for as long as 10 minutes ….
Here is what it looks like: