To remove a contact from Favorites on iPhone 13, open the Phone app, tap Favorites, tap Edit, tap the red minus button next to the contact, then tap Delete. Tap Done when you’re finished. You can also just swipe left on a favorite and tap Delete. The contact stays in your Contacts. Only the shortcut is removed.
These steps work on any iPhone running a recent version of iOS, not just the iPhone 13. Below you’ll also find how to remove favorites from the contact card, reorder them, and fix favorites that keep coming back.
How to remove a favorite on iPhone 13
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap Favorites at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Edit in the top-right corner. It changes to Done.
- Tap the red minus button next to the contact you want to remove.
- Tap Delete, then tap Done.
Faster way: swipe to delete
In the Favorites list, swipe left on the contact and tap Delete. You don’t need to tap Edit first.
How to remove a favorite from the contact card
If a contact has several numbers or ways to reach them saved as favorites, you might want to check the card.
- Open the contact in the Contacts app, or in Phone > Contacts.
- Look for Add to Favorites. If the contact is already a favorite, some iOS versions show Remove from Favorites on the card instead.
- Tap Remove from Favorites if you see it. Otherwise, remove the favorite from the Favorites list using the steps above.
A contact can appear more than once in Favorites, for example once for their mobile number and once for FaceTime. Remove each entry you don’t want.
Does removing a favorite delete the contact?
No. Removing a favorite only takes it off the Favorites list and the Favorites widget. The contact, their numbers, and your call history stay the same. To delete the contact entirely, open it in Contacts, tap Edit, scroll down, and tap Delete Contact.
How to reorder or add favorites
- Reorder: Tap Edit in Favorites, then drag the three-line handle next to a contact up or down.
- Add: Tap the + button in the top-left corner of Favorites, choose a contact, and pick Message, Call, Video, or Mail and the number to use.
Favorites also affect Do Not Disturb and Focus. If you allow calls from Favorites in a Focus, removing someone means their calls may be silenced. Check Settings > Focus > your Focus > People if calls start going to voicemail.
Why does a favorite keep coming back?
- iCloud sync: Favorites can sync across your devices with iCloud. If another iPhone or iPad signed in to your Apple Account still has the favorite, it may come back. Remove it on every device.
- Duplicate contacts: If a contact is saved in both iCloud and another account, like Gmail or Exchange, you might be removing only one entry. Check Settings > Apps > Contacts > Accounts (on iOS 17 and earlier, Settings > Contacts > Accounts).
- A glitch: Restart your iPhone and try again. Keeping iOS updated can also fix sync problems.
Frequently asked questions
Will the person know I removed them from Favorites?
No. There’s no notification. Favorites are private to your iPhone.
Can I remove all favorites at once?
No. You have to remove them one at a time.
Where are Favorites on iPhone?
Open the Phone app and tap the star icon labeled Favorites at the bottom. In some newer iOS versions with the unified Phone layout, favorites appear at the top of the Calls screen instead.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.