What contact groups do and why you might use them
A contact group on iPhone is a folder that holds multiple contacts together so you can message, email, or call them all at once without typing each name separately. When you create a group called "Book Club" or "Work Team," you can then send one message to everyone in that group instead of opening each contact individually.
Groups are useful if you regularly reach out to the same set of people — a sports team, a family branch, a project team at work, or friends who always split dinner bills together. Once the group exists, you can add or remove people from it without touching your individual contact cards.
On iPhone, groups live in the Contacts app and sync across your devices if you use iCloud. If you use Gmail or another email service that supports contact groups, those groups may also appear in your iPhone Contacts app, depending on how you set up your account.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone contact groups are created in the Contacts app by tapping "Groups" at the top left, then the plus sign, then naming the group.
- After you create a group, you add people to it by opening the group, tapping "Add Contact," and selecting names from your contact list.
- Groups sync to other devices through iCloud, so a group you create on your iPhone appears on your iPad and Mac if they use the same Apple ID.
- You can send a message or email to an entire group at once by opening the group and tapping the message or mail icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Removing someone from a group does not delete their contact card — it only takes them out of that specific folder.
How to create a new group in the Contacts app
Open the Contacts app on your iPhone. At the top left of the screen, you will see the word "Groups" with a back arrow next to it. Tap "Groups" to see a list of any groups you have already made.
In the top right corner, tap the plus sign (+). A text field will appear asking you to name the group. Type the name you want — "Family," "Running Club," "Neighbors," or anything else that makes sense to you. Tap "Save" when you are done. The group now exists, but it is empty.
Adding contacts to a group you just created
After you save the group name, you will see a screen that says "Add Contact" in the middle. Tap that button. Your full contact list will appear. Scroll through and tap each person you want to add to the group. A checkmark will appear next to their name when they are selected.
You can add as many people as you want. When you are finished selecting, tap "Save" in the top right. Those contacts are now part of the group. You can go back to the group at any time to add more people or remove people by swiping left on a name and tapping "Remove."
Sending a message or email to the whole group at once
Open the group by going to Contacts, tapping Groups, and selecting the group name. At the bottom of the screen, you will see icons for messaging and email. Tap the message icon (speech bubble) to send a text to everyone in the group, or tap the mail icon (envelope) to send an email to everyone at once.
When you tap message, a new message window opens with all the group members listed in the "To" field. Type your message and send it. Each person receives the message individually — they do not see the other recipients unless you use a group chat feature in Messages instead.
If you tap the mail icon, your email app opens with all the group members' email addresses in the "To" field. This works the same way: you write the email once and it goes to everyone in the group.
How groups sync across your devices
If you use iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, any contact group you create on one device will appear on the others automatically. This happens because iCloud stores your contacts in the cloud and syncs them across all devices signed in with the same Apple ID.
If you do not use iCloud, groups you create on your iPhone stay only on that iPhone. They will not appear on your iPad or Mac. You can turn on iCloud syncing in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, then toggle Contacts on. After that, your groups will sync.
Groups from email accounts and other sources
If you have a Gmail account or another email service set up on your iPhone, contact groups you created in that service may show up in your iPhone Contacts app. Gmail calls them "labels," but they function like groups. You can see them and add people to them from your iPhone, and changes sync back to your email account.
Groups created in Gmail or Outlook will appear in your iPhone Contacts app only if you have that email account added to your iPhone. If you remove the email account from your phone, those groups disappear from Contacts, though they remain in your email account itself.
Removing a group or editing group members
To remove someone from a group, open the group, swipe left on their name, and tap "Remove." The contact stays in your Contacts app — only the group membership is removed.
To delete an entire group, go to the Groups list, swipe left on the group name, and tap "Delete." All the contacts in that group remain in your Contacts app. Deleting a group does not delete the people in it.
To rename a group, go to the Groups list, tap "Edit" in the top left, then tap the group name. A text field will appear where you can change the name. Tap "Done" when finished.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a group text or group chat with a contact group?
Not directly from the group itself. Instead, open Messages, tap the compose button, and manually add each person you want in the chat. Alternatively, open the group in Contacts and tap the message icon, which will create individual messages to each group member rather than a true group chat.
What happens if I delete a contact who is in a group?
When you delete a contact, that person is automatically removed from any groups they were in. The group itself remains, and you can add other people to it. Deleting a contact is permanent and cannot be undone.
Can I share a contact group with someone else?
iPhone does not have a built-in way to share a group with another person. You would need to tell them the names of the people in the group and have them create their own group. Some email services like Gmail allow you to share contact labels, but this must be done through the email service, not through iPhone Contacts.
Do contact groups work with Siri?
Siri can send messages or make calls to individual contacts, but it does not recognize contact groups by name. You cannot say "Hey Siri, message my running club" and have it work. You have to open the group manually or use the message icon in the group itself.
Will my contact groups appear on my Mac?
Yes, if you use iCloud and have the same Apple ID on both devices. Open Contacts on your Mac and you will see the same groups you created on your iPhone. Changes you make on either device sync to the other.