What "Favorites" means on your iPhone

Favorites on an iPhone is a list of people you contact most often — usually phone numbers and email addresses. When you add someone to Favorites, their name appears at the top of your Phone app so you can call or text them without scrolling through your full contact list. You can also add favorite contacts to your home screen as quick-access buttons.

The Favorites list lives in the Phone app, separate from your main Contacts. You decide who goes there. Most people add family members, close friends, or colleagues they call regularly. Think of it as your personal speed dial — the people you reach for first.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Phone app, tap the Favorites tab at the bottom, then tap the plus sign to add a contact from your list.
  • You can add the same person multiple times if you want both their phone number and email address in Favorites.
  • Removing someone from Favorites does not delete them from your Contacts — it only hides them from the quick-access list.
  • You can also add a contact directly to your home screen as a single-tap button by opening their contact card and tapping "Add to Home Screen."

Adding someone to Favorites in the Phone app

Open the Phone app on your home screen — it is the green icon with a white phone symbol. At the bottom of the screen, you will see five tabs. Tap the Favorites tab, which looks like a star.

Tap the plus sign in the upper left corner. A list of your contacts appears. Scroll to find the person you want to add, then tap their name. If that contact has multiple phone numbers or email addresses, you will see each one listed. Tap the specific number or address you want to add to Favorites.

That contact now appears in your Favorites list. The next time you open the Phone app and tap Favorites, their name will be at the top, ready to tap and call or message. You will see them before anyone else in that tab.

Adding multiple contact methods for the same person

If you want both someone's phone number and their email address in Favorites, you add them twice. Open Favorites, tap the plus sign, find the contact, and tap their phone number. Then repeat the process and tap their email address instead.

Their name will appear twice in your Favorites list — once for the phone number and once for the email. When you tap the phone entry, it opens the call screen. When you tap the email entry, it opens a message window. This is useful for people you both call and email regularly.

Reordering your Favorites list

Your Favorites list does not have to stay in the order you added people. Tap Edit in the upper right corner of the Favorites tab. Three horizontal lines appear next to each name — these are drag handles.

Press and hold the three lines next to a name, then drag it up or down to a new position. Release your finger to drop it in place. Tap Done when you are finished rearranging. The person at the top of the list is the one you will see first every time you open Favorites.

Removing someone from Favorites

Tap Edit in the upper right corner of the Favorites tab. A red minus sign appears next to each name. Tap the minus sign next to the person you want to remove.

A red Remove button appears on the right. Tap it to confirm. The person is now gone from your Favorites list, but they remain in your full Contacts — you have only hidden them from the quick-access list. You can add them back anytime by following the steps above.

Adding a contact to your home screen as a quick button

If you want even faster access, you can place a single contact directly on your home screen. Open the Phone app, tap Contacts at the bottom, and find the person you want. Tap their name to open their contact card.

Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen. A preview appears showing how the button will look. Tap Add in the upper right. The contact now appears as an icon on your home screen. Tap it once to call that person when ready, or press and hold it to see options for calling, texting, or video calling. This is faster than opening the Phone app first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does adding someone to Favorites send them a notification?

No. Adding or removing someone from your Favorites list is private — they will not know you have done it. It only changes what you see in your Phone app.

Can I add a business or group to Favorites?

Yes. Any contact in your phone can be added to Favorites, whether it is a person, business, or group message thread. Follow the same steps: open Favorites, tap the plus sign, and select the contact you want.

What is the difference between Favorites and Contacts?

Contacts is your full address book of every person and business you have saved. Favorites is a smaller list you create from Contacts for the people you call or message most. Everyone in Favorites is also in Contacts, but not everyone in Contacts has to be in Favorites.

If I delete a contact, does it disappear from Favorites too?

Yes. If you delete someone from your Contacts, they are automatically removed from Favorites as well. Removing them from Favorites alone does not delete the contact.