How to Add or Remove Favorites on iPhone

To remove a contact from Favorites on an iPhone running iOS 17, open Phone > Favorites, swipe left on the entry, and tap Delete. This removes the quick-access entry, while the person remains in Contacts.

If your Phone app shows Calls instead of a separate Favorites tab, use the Unified-layout steps below. This guide covers the older Favorites screen and the Unified and Classic layouts documented by Apple for iOS 26 and its current guide.

You need access to the unlocked iPhone and an existing favorite. Check the entry before removing it, especially when a person has several numbers. This procedure is for the Phone app, rather than Favorites in Photos, Safari, or another app.

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 should disappear from Favorites. To confirm that the person’s details remain, open Contacts and find their card. Removing the favorite does not require editing or deleting that card.

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.

You can still watch our original iOS 17 video on removing a contact from Favorites. Its older Favorites screen differs from the newer Unified layout.

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.

Check that the intended favorite is gone. Tapping the person’s name outside the editing controls can start the favorite’s communication action, so enter 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.

Remove a Favorite in the Older iOS 7 Layout

In the historical iOS 7 Phone layout, open Phone > Favorites > Edit, tap the red minus circle beside the intended entry, then tap Delete to confirm its removal. Finish editing and check that the entry is gone. The person remains in Contacts; this action does not delete their contact card or block their number. The add-back steps above let you select the person and correct number again. Current Unified layouts use their separate Calls and Edit Favorites controls above.

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.

Add an iPhone Favorite: Contacts, Websites and App Shortcuts

For a Phone contact, use Apple’s Favorites instructions. In the Classic layout, open Phone > Favorites and tap the plus button. In Unified, open Phone > Calls > Edit > Add Favorite; if favorites already exist, use Edit Favorites and its plus button. Choose the contact, communication method and intended number, then finish with Done when offered. Review the saved entry’s label before tapping it, since tapping can immediately start its call or message action. Use the removal steps above to undo it without deleting the contact.

For a website, use the separate Safari bookmark and Favorites guide; Phone Favorites does not save websites. iOS also has no universal Add to Favorites command for every app’s Home Screen icon. App-specific saved items, Home Screen organization, and Phone contact favorites are different features. Use the intended app’s own controls rather than expecting a long press on any app icon to create a favorite.

Reorder Favorites in the Older Phone Layout

In the older Favorites-tab layout used on iOS 17 and earlier, open Phone > Favorites > Edit. Touch and hold the three-line reorder handle beside the intended entry, drag it to the desired position, release and tap Done. Check the saved order without tapping a name, since a normal tap can start a call or message. This changes the Favorites list, not the contact card or recent-call history. The add and remove instructions above explain choosing the correct person, communication method and number. Newer Unified layouts show favorites within Calls; use their actual editing controls rather than expecting the older three-line handle on every version.