OS X Mountain Lion

Getting to know Contacts

As you already know, the Contacts app is different on each device, but there are many similarities when it comes to basic tools and features. Use the interactive below to learn how to perform several common tasks in the iPad version.

Add New

Tap + to create a new contact. You can add all kinds of information, including the person's name, phone number, and email address—even a customized ringtone.

Send Message

Tap Send Message to interact with the contact—either by phone, email, or the Messages app, depending on your device.

Add to Favorites

Tap Add to Favorites to add the person's contact information to your "favorites."

This will make it easier to find and communicate with them in certain apps (for example, FaceTime, or the calling area on the iPhone).

Share Contact

Tap Share Contact to forward the contact's information via email or text message.

FaceTime

Tap FaceTime to start a video chat, then choose the phone number or email you want to use.

Contact Card

The contact card is where you'll be able to view and edit each contact's information.

If the card contains a lot of information, you may need to scroll up and down to view it (and access the communication options at the bottom).

Contacts

To view one of your contacts, tap their name. Their contact card will open on the right, where you can perform several different tasks.

Search

Use the search feature to search for contacts by first or last name.

Jump to Letter

Tap a letter to quickly jump to a new location in your contacts list.

Edit

Tap Edit to edit the contact's information. This is also where you can delete the contact if you want to remove them from your list.

Insider tips

Once you know your way around the app, consider these tips for getting the most out of Contacts.

Using Contacts in other apps

To select a contact when using another app, tap the button. Then select the person's name from the list. Alternatively, you can start typing any information from that person's contact card (for example, name, email address, or phone number), and your device will pull up that contact automatically.

This technique works in Mail, Messages, and any other app that allows you to use your Contacts list.

Selecting a contact

Adding to Contacts

To add someone to Contacts from inside another app, simply tap that person's name or contact information. You'll be able to add the person as a new contact or add his or her information to an existing contact. The latter is useful if the person has more than one email address or phone number.

Adding to contacts

Contacts for Mac

Need to add several new contacts at once? It might be easier to do it on your computer if you have a Mac. Many people prefer their Macs for tasks that require a lot of typing simply because there's access to a full-sized keyboard.

Contacts for Mac