How to Remove a Contact From Favorites on iPhone (iOS 17 and Later)

To remove a contact from Favorites on iPhone with the current Unified Phone layout, open Phone, tap Calls, tap Edit > Edit Favorites, tap the Remove button on the favorite, and tap Done. In iOS 17, or in the Classic layout, open Phone > Favorites, swipe left on the entry, and tap Delete. Either way, the person stays in Contacts.

Not sure which layout you have? If your Phone app has a Favorites tab at the bottom, use the iOS 17 steps. If it shows Calls with no Favorites tab, use the Unified steps.

Remove a Favorite in iOS 17

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the Favorites star at the bottom.
3. Find the entry you want to remove. Check its name and call or communication label.
4. Swipe left across that row to reveal Delete.
5. Tap Delete.

The row disappears from Favorites. The person’s details are still in Contacts if you want to check. You don’t need to edit or delete their contact card to remove a favorite.

Apple’s iOS 17 Phone guide also describes the Edit control for deleting or rearranging favorites. If swiping is awkward, tap Edit in Favorites, use the minus control beside the row, confirm Delete, and tap Done when finished.

Remove a Favorite in the Unified Phone Layout

In the Unified layout, favorites appear within Calls. Apple documents this route in its current instructions for adding and removing favorites:

1. Open Phone and tap Calls.
2. Tap Edit, then Edit Favorites.
3. Tap the Remove button at the upper-left corner of the favorite you want to remove.
4. Tap Done, shown as a checkmark, to finish.

Make sure the favorite is gone. Tapping a name outside edit mode can start a call or message, so tap Edit Favorites before choosing Remove.

If You Cannot Find the Favorites Tab

On iOS 26, the Unified layout combines favorites, recent calls, and voicemail in Calls. The Classic layout gives Favorites its own tab. Follow the matching instructions instead of looking for a tab that your layout does not use.

To switch layouts, open Phone > Calls in Unified, or Phone > Recents in Classic. Tap the Filter button, then select Classic or Unified. Apple shows this control in its Phone layout instructions for iOS 26.

In the newer Classic layout, open Favorites and swipe the person’s name all the way left to remove that entry. Switching layouts is optional; the Unified route removes a favorite directly.

Add a Favorite Back or Choose a Different Number

In iOS 17, open the person’s contact card, scroll down, and tap Add to Favorites, as described in Apple’s iOS 17 Contacts instructions. You can also start with the plus button in Phone’s Favorites tab.

In the newer Classic layout, use the plus button in Favorites. In Unified, use Calls > Edit > Edit Favorites and the plus button; when there are no favorites yet, choose Add Favorite instead. Select the person, communication method, and preferred number, then finish with Done.

For example, if a favorite calls a person’s work number and you want their mobile number instead, remove that favorite and add the desired number. The two phone numbers can remain on the contact card. For changes to the card itself, see how to edit a contact on iPhone.

Why the Same Name May Still Appear

Removing one favorite removes that entry. Another favorite for the same person can remain, such as a different number or communication method. Review each remaining row rather than deleting the contact card to clear the list.

A name appearing in Contacts or recent calls does not mean the removal failed; those are different lists. This change also does not block the person. They can still contact you, and you can still open their contact card when needed.

Reorder Favorites in the Older Phone Layout

In the older Favorites-tab layout on iOS 17 and earlier, open Phone > Favorites > Edit. Touch and hold the three-line reorder handle next to the entry, drag it where you want, let go and tap Done. Check the new order without tapping a name, since a normal tap can start a call or message. This only changes the Favorites list, not the contact card or recent calls. The add and remove steps above explain choosing the right person, call type and number. Newer Unified layouts show favorites in Calls and use different editing controls, so you may not see the three-line handle.