If the Contacts icon is missing from your iPhone’s Home Screen, you can bring it back from the App Library: swipe left past your last Home Screen page, search for Contacts, touch and hold the icon, and tap Add to Home Screen. The Contacts app is still on your iPhone even when its icon isn’t visible; you can also open your contacts from the Phone app’s Contacts tab.
To put a specific person on your Home Screen, add the Contacts widget or create a one-tap Shortcut to call or text them.
Quick Answer
Swipe to the App Library, search Contacts, touch and hold it, and choose Add to Home Screen.
Method 1: Add the Contacts App From the App Library
- On the Home Screen, swipe left until you reach the App Library.
- Tap the search field at the top and type Contacts.
- Touch and hold the Contacts icon in the results.
- Tap Add to Home Screen. If you only see Share App and Delete App, the icon is already on a Home Screen page; search for it with Spotlight to see where.
You can also drag the icon straight from the App Library onto a Home Screen page. On an iPhone 7 or other model running iOS 13 or earlier, there’s no App Library: check folders such as Extras or Utilities, or search with Spotlight (swipe down on the Home Screen).
Method 2: Add a Contacts Widget for One Person
- Touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen until the icons jiggle.
- Tap Edit (or + on older iOS), then Add Widget.
- Search for Contacts and choose a widget size.
- Tap Add Widget, then tap the widget and pick a contact.
- Tap Done. Tapping the widget opens that person’s contact card with call and message buttons.
Method 3: Make a One-Tap Call or Text Icon
- Open the Shortcuts app and tap +.
- Tap Add Action, search for Call (or Send Message), and choose the contact.
- Tap the shortcut’s name to rename it and pick an icon.
- Tap the Share button and choose Add to Home Screen.
This works like the web shortcuts in our guide to adding a link button to the iPhone Home Screen.
Which Option Fits?
| Option | What it does | Taps to call |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts app icon | Opens your full contacts list | 3 or more |
| Contacts widget | Shows one to six people with photos | 2 |
| Shortcut icon | Calls or texts one person | 1 |
Troubleshooting
- Contacts doesn’t appear in App Library search: It may have been deleted. Download Contacts again from the App Store (it’s free and made by Apple).
- Your contacts are empty: Go to Settings > Apps > Contacts > Accounts (older iOS: Settings > Contacts) and make sure iCloud or your email account has Contacts turned on.
- New apps don’t appear on the Home Screen: Go to Settings > Home Screen & App Library and choose Add to Home Screen for newly downloaded apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Contacts app on every iPhone?
Yes. It’s built in, and you can also reach contacts from the Phone app.
Can I put the Contacts icon in the Dock?
Yes. Drag it into the Dock at the bottom; you may need to move another icon out first.
Summary
- Restore the icon from the App Library with Add to Home Screen.
- Use the Contacts widget for favorite people.
- Use Shortcuts for one-tap calling.
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.