The basic steps for adding a contact

Adding a contact means storing someone's phone number, email address, or other information in your device so you can find it quickly later. On most phones and computers, you open the Contacts app (or People app on Windows), tap or click a button that says "Add," "New Contact," or a plus sign (+), type in the person's name and phone number or email, and save it. The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac.

The contact stays on your device until you delete it. If you set up cloud backup — which means your contacts save automatically to the internet — they will appear on your other devices too. This is why you might see the same contact list on your phone and your computer without doing anything extra.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open Contacts, tap the plus sign, enter the name and number, and tap Save.
  • On Android, open Contacts, tap the plus sign, fill in the information, and tap Save.
  • On Windows, open the People app, click "New Contact," type the details, and click Save.
  • If you turn on cloud backup (iCloud for iPhone, Google Account for Android), your contacts will sync across all your devices automatically.
  • You can add just a phone number, just an email, or both — the contact will still save.

Adding a contact on iPhone

Open the Contacts app (the icon that looks like a person's head and shoulders). At the bottom of the screen, tap the plus sign (+) in a circle. Tap "New Contact." Type the person's first name in the first field, last name in the second field (if you want), and their phone number in the phone field. You can also add an email address by tapping "Add Email" or add a physical address by tapping "Add Address."

Once you have entered the information, tap the "Save" button in the top right corner. The contact now appears in your Contacts list and you can call or text them by tapping their name. If you have iCloud turned on in your Settings, the contact will also appear on your iPad, Mac, or any other Apple device signed into the same account.

Adding a contact on Android

Open the Contacts app (the icon usually looks like a person's head). Look for a plus sign (+) or a button that says "Create Contact" and tap it. Type the person's name in the name field. Tap the phone field and enter their number. You can add an email by tapping "Add Email" or add a physical address by tapping "Add Address."

Tap "Save" when you are done. The contact now appears in your list. If you have a Google Account set up on your phone, your contacts will automatically save to Google Contacts, which means they will appear on any Android phone or computer where you sign in with the same account.

Adding a contact on Windows

Open the People app (search for "People" in the Windows search box if you cannot find it). Click "New Contact" in the top left. Type the person's name in the Name field. Click "Add Phone Number" and enter their phone number. Click "Add Email" to add an email address if you have one.

Click "Save" when you are finished. The contact appears in your People list. If you are signed into a Microsoft account, your contacts will sync to Outlook.com and appear on other devices where you use the same account.

Adding a contact on Mac

Open the Contacts app (look in the Applications folder or search for it using Spotlight). Click the plus sign (+) at the bottom left of the window. Type the person's first name and last name in the fields that appear. Click the phone icon and select the type of number (Mobile, Home, Work, or Other), then type the number. Click the email icon to add an email address.

The contact saves automatically as you type. If you have iCloud turned on, the contact will appear on your iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices.

What happens when you sync contacts across devices

If you turn on cloud backup, your contacts live in the internet instead of just on one device. This means when you add a contact on your phone, it appears on your computer without you doing anything extra. The same works in reverse — add a contact on your computer and it shows up on your phone.

On iPhone and iPad, turn on iCloud by going to Settings, tapping your name at the top, tapping iCloud, and turning on Contacts. On Android, go to Settings, tap Accounts, select your Google Account, tap Account Sync, and turn on Contacts. On Windows, sign into your Microsoft account in Settings. On Mac, go to System Settings, click your name at the top, click iCloud, and turn on Contacts.

Editing or deleting a contact

To change a contact's information, open Contacts, find the person's name, and tap or click on it. Look for an Edit button (usually a pencil icon) and tap or click it. Change whatever information you need to change and save. To delete a contact, find their name, tap or click Edit, scroll to the bottom, and look for a Delete or Remove button.

If you delete a contact and cloud backup is turned on, it will disappear from all your devices. If you delete it by accident, you may be able to recover it by checking your cloud account's trash or recently deleted folder, but this depends on your device type and how long ago you deleted it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a contact without a phone number?

Yes. You can add just an email address, just a physical address, or just a name. The contact will save and appear in your list. You can add the phone number later by editing the contact.

What if I add the same person twice by accident?

Most phones and computers let you merge duplicate contacts. On iPhone, open Contacts, tap Edit, select both contacts, and tap Merge. On Android, open Contacts, tap the three lines at the top, tap Settings, tap Merge Accounts, and follow the steps. On Windows and Mac, right-click the duplicate and look for a Merge option.

Will my contacts disappear if I get a new phone?

Not if you have cloud backup turned on. When you sign into your new phone with the same account (Apple ID, Google Account, or Microsoft account), your contacts will read automatically. If you did not have cloud backup on your old phone, you will need to add them manually or import them from a backup file.

Can I add a contact from a text message or email?

Yes. When you receive a text or email from someone not in your contacts, most phones and computers show an option to "Add to Contacts" or "Create Contact." Tap or click it and the person's number or email will fill in automatically. You can then add their name and save.

What is the difference between a contact and a favorite?

A contact is stored information about a person. A favorite is a contact you mark as important so it appears at the top of your list or on your home screen for quick access. You can mark any contact as a favorite by tapping a star icon or heart icon next to their name.