Hide specific iPhone contacts without deleting them by using nicknames, disabling Siri and Search suggestions, or storing their details in a locked note. This can be achieved with an iPhone running iOS 15 or later.
Before proceeding, it is essential to understand that deleting a contact removes it permanently from your address book; ensure you have saved its information elsewhere to avoid losing it forever.
There are three easy methods to conceal contacts on your iPhone. The first method involves using nicknames. To do this, open the Contacts app and select the contact you want to hide. Tap Edit in the top-right corner, scroll down, and tap ‘add field’ near the bottom. Choose Nickname from the list and enter a nickname, such as initials or a different name, and tap Done. Then, open the Settings app, tap Contacts, then Short Name, and toggle on Prefer Nicknames. Note that iOS 15 may not show nicknames on call screens; update your iPhone if needed.
The second method is to turn off suggestions. Open the Settings app, tap Contacts, and then Siri & Search. Toggle off Learn from this App, Show App in Search, Show Contact Suggestions, Show on Home Screen, and Suggest App to prevent your iPhone from suggesting the contact.
The third method involves saving contacts in a locked note. Open the Notes app and create a new note. Switch to the Contacts app, open the desired contact, long-press the phone number, and tap Copy. Return to the note, long-press a blank area, and tap Paste. Label the number with the contact’s name. Tap the menu in the top-right corner of the note and select Lock. If prompted, tap Use iPhone Passcode to set up the lock. Tap the padlock icon to lock the note; it can be opened later with Face ID or your passcode. Finally, return to the Contacts app, open the contact, tap Edit, and then Delete Contact. Be cautious, as this action cannot be undone.
After hiding a contact, you can also hide its recent interactions by deleting related messages and call logs. It is recommended to review your contact list periodically to ensure only the desired entries remain visible. You can also organize hidden contacts into groups for easier management.
If you ever need to restore a hidden contact, simply unlock the note or change the Short Name setting back to show real names. Keeping a backup of your contacts in iCloud can prevent accidental loss. For more information, you can refer to Apple Support.
