How to Set Contact Restrictions on an iPhone

Download Article

Co-authored by Aydin Yildiz

Last Updated: November 29, 2022

Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to restrict iPhone apps from accessing and using contact information stored on your phone.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Enabling Restrictions

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-1.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1
Open your iPhone’s Settings. The icon looks like a set of grey cogs located on one the home screens.
- If Settings isn’t present on a home screen, its icon may be located in the Utilities folder on one the home screens.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-2.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

It is located in the third group of menu options.

Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-3.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

It is located in the sixth section of menu options.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-4.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e6\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e6\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-5.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8f\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8f\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-6.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Restricting Contact Access

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-7.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1
Open your iPhone’s Settings. The icon looks like a set of grey cogs located on one the home screens.
- If Settings isn’t present on a home screen, its icon may be located in the Utilities folder on one the home screens.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9b\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9b\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-8.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

It is located in the third group of menu options.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-9.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

It is located in the sixth section of menu options.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-10.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/38\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/38\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-11.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

It is located in the fourth group of menu options.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5e\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5e\/Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-12.jpg\/aid8386239-v4-728px-Set-Contact-Restrictions-on-an-iPhone-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

6
Tap Don’t Allow Changes . This will prevent all applications from accessing and using your contacts list. All contact information such as names, emails, phone numbers, and addresses will be protected.
- You can restrict access to specific apps listed below the Don’t Allow Changes . Tap the green toggle button next to a specific app to restrict access. Allow Changes must be selected for app-specific restrictions to be made. Only apps that have requested access to contact information will be listed.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Disabling general restrictions will deactivate any contact restrictions you setup.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Log in

How to Set Contact Restrictions on an iPhone

Steps

Enabling Restrictions

Restricting Contact Access

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

About This Article

Is this article up to date?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories