How to Organize Contacts into Lists on iPhone and iPad - MacRumors
Skip to Content

How to Organize Contacts into Lists on iPhone and iPad

by

In iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, the Contacts app on lets you create multiple lists in which to organize your contacts. Keep reading to learn how it works.

ios 16 contacts merge duplicates
The release of iOS 16 introduced many new standout features for iPhones, like Lock Screen widgets and customization, but it also included plenty of other changes that are a little bit more hidden away in Apple's mobile OS. One such feature is the ability to create contact lists in the Contacts app.

Prior to iOS 16, Apple device users had to use the iCloud website or a Mac if they wanted to create contact lists, but now you can do so right on your iPhone and iPad. It's a great way to organize your contacts into groups such as family, friends, and work colleagues, clients, and so on. Not only does it make contacts easier to find, you can also email everyone in a specific list.

The following steps show you how to create lists in iOS 16.

  1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone. You can also access contacts using the Contacts button in the Phone app.
  2. Tap Lists in the top-left corner of the Contacts interface. (If you're on ‌iPad‌, it's the sidebar button.)
  3. Tap Add List in the top-right corner, then select an account if required (‌iCloud‌ is the default).
    contacts

  4. Give your list a name, then tap it.
  5. Tap Add Contacts.
  6. Select the contacts you wish to add, then tap Done.
    contacts

  7. You can now contact all the people in the list via email or Messages. To email them, you can tap the Mail icon in the top-right corner of the list. To group message everyone, tap Lists, then long press the list in question and select Message All from the popover menu.
    contacts

Note that you can edit lists or delete them by swiping leftwards across a list in the main Lists screen to reveal edit and trash buttons.

Popular Stories

apple price hike

Apple Just Increased Prices on MacBooks, iPads, and More

Thursday June 25, 2026 5:44 am PDT by
Apple today dramatically increased device prices across multiple product lines. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. After temporarily taking it down earlier today, Apple's online store is back up with a series of product price increases. The changes are as follows: HomePod mini: $129, up from $99 (+$30) HomePod: $349, up from $299 (+$50) Apple TV: $199, up from...
Apple Up Arrow Fearture

Apple Explains Why It Raised Prices on 14 Products Today

Thursday June 25, 2026 10:42 am PDT by
Apple today raised prices on many of its products, including all Macs and iPads, as well as the Apple TV, HomePod, HomePod mini, and Vision Pro. We shared a list of the price increases, which range from $30 for the HomePod mini to up to $1,300 for the Mac Studio. iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods prices have not changed, at least for now. In a statement shared with MacRumors, Apple said it...
Mac Studio Feature

M5 Ultra Mac Studio Could Launch in 2026 With Up to 768GB of RAM

Thursday June 25, 2026 2:30 pm PDT by
Despite price increases across the Mac line, Apple is still planning to release a new Mac Studio as soon as this year, reports Bloomberg. Apple plans to introduce a new M5 Ultra chip as the final option in the M5 family before it transitions to the M6, M7, M7 Pro, and M7 Max. The M5 Ultra will come in a new version of the Mac Studio, which hasn't been updated since March 2025. The Mac...