The fastest way to change your iPhone favorites

You can add, remove, and rearrange favorites on your iPhone in the Favorites tab of the Phone app. Open Phone, tap the Favorites tab at the bottom, then tap the edit button (a circle with three lines) in the top right corner. From there, tap the red minus sign next to any contact to remove it, or drag the three horizontal lines next to a contact to move it up or down the list. Tap Done when you're finished.

The same process works for Safari bookmarks, Mail VIP contacts, and other apps that use favorites. Each app stores favorites separately, so removing someone from your Phone favorites won't affect your Mail or Messages apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Phone app, go to Favorites, and tap the edit button (three horizontal lines) in the top right to start making changes.
  • Tap the red minus sign next to any contact to remove them from your Favorites list.
  • Drag the three horizontal lines on the right side of a contact's name to reorder your list.
  • You can add a new favorite by tapping the plus sign at the top of the Favorites tab, then selecting a contact.
  • Changes save automatically once you tap Done — you don't need to confirm or save separately.

Adding a new contact to your Favorites

To add someone to your Favorites, open the Phone app and tap the Favorites tab. Tap the plus sign in the top left corner. A list of your contacts will appear. Scroll through or search for the person you want to add, then tap their name. If the contact has multiple phone numbers, you'll see each one listed — tap the specific number you want to use as the favorite.

You can add the same contact multiple times with different phone numbers. For example, you could add your mom's cell phone as one favorite and her work number as another. Each entry appears separately in your Favorites list.

Removing contacts from your Favorites list

To remove a favorite, open the Phone app and tap Favorites. Tap the edit button (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Find the contact you want to remove and tap the red minus sign on the left side of their name. The contact will disappear from the list when ready. Tap Done to finish.

Removing someone from Favorites doesn't delete them from your Contacts app — they stay in your phone's full contact list. You can add them back to Favorites anytime by tapping the plus sign and selecting their name again.

Reordering your Favorites list

Your Favorites list doesn't have to stay in the order it was created. To change the order, open the Phone app, tap Favorites, then tap the edit button. You'll see three horizontal lines on the right side of each contact's name. Press and hold those lines, then drag the contact up or down to where you want it. Release your finger to drop it in place.

You can reorder as many contacts as you want in one editing session. The list updates as you drag, so you'll see the new positions right away. Tap Done when you're satisfied with the new order.

Managing favorites in other iPhone apps

Safari bookmarks work differently from Phone favorites. To add a Safari bookmark to your Favorites, open Safari, navigate to the website, tap the share button (a square with an arrow), then tap Add Bookmark. Choose "Favorites" from the location dropdown. To remove or reorder Safari favorites, open Safari, tap the Bookmarks icon (a book), tap Favorites, then tap Edit in the top right.

Mail has a separate VIP list for important contacts. To add someone to VIP, open an email from them, tap their name at the top, then tap Add to VIP. To remove a VIP contact, go to Settings > Mail > VIP, swipe left on the contact, and tap Delete. Messages doesn't have a built-in favorites feature, but you can pin conversations to the top of your chat list by pressing and holding a conversation, then tapping Pin.

What to do if your Favorites tab isn't showing

If you don't see the Favorites tab in your Phone app, it may have been hidden. Open the Phone app and look at the bottom tabs. If you see a More icon (three dots), tap it. You should see a list of available tabs including Favorites. Tap the minus sign next to Favorites to unhide it, or tap the plus sign next to it if it's already visible but missing from your main view.

On some older iPhone models or iOS versions, the Favorites tab might be called Recents. The process for adding and removing contacts is the same — just look for the edit button and follow the same steps.

Common mistakes when managing favorites

The most common mistake is tapping the contact's name instead of the red minus sign when you want to remove them. Tapping the name opens their contact card instead of deleting them from Favorites. Always look for the red minus sign on the left side during edit mode.

Another mistake is forgetting to tap Done after making changes. Your edits won't save if you close the app or switch tabs without tapping Done first. You'll see Done in the top right corner — tap it to confirm all your changes at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add the same person to Favorites more than once?

Yes. If a contact has multiple phone numbers, you can add each number as a separate favorite. Open Phone, tap Favorites, tap the plus sign, select the contact, then choose which phone number to add. This is useful for people you call at different numbers — like a work line and a personal line.

Will removing someone from Favorites delete them from my contacts?

No. Removing a favorite only takes them off your Favorites list in the Phone app. They stay in your full Contacts app and you can add them back to Favorites anytime. Deleting a contact is a separate action that you have to do in the Contacts app itself.

Why can't I see the edit button in my Favorites tab?

The edit button appears only when you're in the Favorites tab. Make sure you've tapped the Favorites tab at the bottom of the Phone app first. If you still don't see it, try closing the Phone app completely and opening it again. On some devices, you may need to swipe left on a favorite to see delete and reorder options.

Can I organize Favorites into groups or folders?

The Phone app's Favorites list doesn't support folders or groups. You can only arrange contacts in a single list by dragging them up and down. If you need more organization, consider using contact groups in your Contacts app, though these don't appear in the Phone Favorites tab.

Do my Favorites sync across all my Apple devices?

Yes, if you use iCloud. Your Phone Favorites sync to other iPhones, iPads, and Macs signed into the same Apple ID. Safari Favorites also sync across devices. If your Favorites aren't syncing, check Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure Contacts and Safari are toggled on.