Suppose you’ve just got a new iPhone and restored the contact list from your backup. But if you go to the Contacts app, you’ll get a shock for sure! As the iPhone Contacts app arranges the number on a last name basis, you may have trouble finding details, which is quite normal.
So, now the question is how to sort contacts by first name on iPhone? Is it a complicated process, or can it be done in a breath? Don’t worry; you’ll get all your answers here.
Let’s get started, shall we?
How to Sort Contacts by First Name on iPhone -Step by Step
We’re always in a hurry when we’re about to call someone. If the number is in the call history menu, it will be easier to get. But getting a number from the contacts list is always a bit time-consuming; thus, if the contact names are messy, you’ll be doomed.
And that’s why it’s important to know how to alphabetize contacts on iPhone.
So, now we’re about to give you instructions on how to do that step by step. The procedure is super simple so that anyone can arrange the display order without hassle.
Step One – Go to the Settings App
To sort contacts alphabetically, you have to open Settings on your iPhone. You can search this app on your phone using the spotlight feature for quicker access.
Step Two – Tap the Contacts option
Once you enter the settings app, look for the Contact option. You’ll have to scroll down a bit, find it and tap on it.
Step Three – Fix the order
If you enter into the Contact tab, you’ll see some choices available for you. Among them, click on the Sort Order option.
Two choices will appear on the screen; Last, First, and First, Last. You need to pick the First, Last option to sort your contacts correctly.
When you’re done with the procedure, go back to the contact list and check if everything is in the right order or not. Well, that’s all you need to do to fix the alphabetical order on the contacts list.
If you are seeing a light flash whenever you get a text message, then you might want to read our guide on how to turn off the flash notification on iPhone 11.
How to Sort Contacts by First Names on MacBook
If your Mac’s contact list has the wrong display order, you can fix that too. And for doing that, you can follow the procedure given below.
Step One – Open the Contacts App
When your Mac’s contacts are showing the list on last names basis, it’s just the default option. And to change the sort order, open the contacts on your MacBook. You’ll find this option on the menu bar.
Step Two – Access the General Tab
Once the menu bar opens up, you’ll see multiple options on the home screen. From there, choose Preferences, and after tapping on this option, the General tab will appear.
Final Step – Tap Sort Order
In the General tab, you will see the sort order option. Now, tap sort order, and it will give you choices for first or last name. From there, pick the first name option, and you’re done with the procedure.
How to Sort and Display Contacts on Your iPad
Just like your iPhone and MacBook, your iPad’s default option is to show you the contacts with last names. But don’t worry, you’ll get to choose between first or last name sort order in this device too. So, let’s see how to do that.
Step One – Open the Mail App
To access the contact list on your iPad, you have to open the mail app. After getting into it, scroll down, and you’ll see the sort order option. Now, tap on it to see all your choices for fixing this issue.
Step Two – Arrange Your Contacts List
When you tap display order, you’ll see First, Last, or Last, First. If you want to see your contacts by the first name, choose First, Last; otherwise, you can pick the other option to sort contacts by last names.
How to Change the Appearance of Shortened Names in Contacts in iPhone
Sometimes you’ll see shortened names on the screen, and iPhone does that for fitting several names on the screen simultaneously. This name shortening feature only cuts down the first name, and it’s one of the default options on your iOS device.
Well, this feature is a convenient one, there’s no doubt about that. But it can create annoyance too! So, if you want to stop this from happening, you can do that by tapping some settings. Let’s take a look at the procedure.
Step One – Go to the Contact List
Firstly, go to the Settings option and find the Contacts, Mail, Calendar tab. From there, tap contacts to open up the list and see the existing numbers.
Step Two – Turn Off the Feature
After entering the contact tab, scroll down and access the Short Name feature. When you see that, tap on it.
On the Short Name section, look at the top right corner, and you’ll see the toggle-off icon. Now click on that to turn off the feature. And that’s all you need to do!
However, if you don’t want to turn off this option and want to see the shortened last names instead of the first names, you can sort contacts according to that. Here’s how you do that.
- Tap contacts and choose Other Options
- Once you access this tab, you’ll see many options: First Name and Last Initial, First Initial and Last Name, First Name Only, or Last Name Only.
- Pick one choice according to your preference, and you’ll see your contacts list the way you desire.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Even after following all the steps, my contact list is not in the right order; what can I do to fix it?
Sometimes after completing the procedure, your contact list may not be in the right order. In that case, you can try doing the same process several times. Try rebooting your iPhone or other Apple devices if it doesn’t work. This trick may fix this problem, and then you can make phone calls without any tissue.
- Can I transfer my contact list from my iPhone to a flash drive?
No, your iPhone doesn’t allow you to transfer the contacts to any flash drive. However, you can save the contacts on your pc and take them in a flash drive from there.
- How do I share contacts from my iPhone?
To share your contact details, go to the list; pick the one you want to share and tap on it. After clicking, you’ll see the Share Contact option and choose the sharing method such as email or WhatsApp. Well, that’s everything you need to do!
- How do I delete a contact from my iPhone?
If you want to delete a contact, go to the contact’s card, and after scrolling down, you’ll see the Delete option, click on it, and the detail will be erased.
The Bottom Line
If you wanted to learn how to sort contacts by first name on iPhone, hopefully, you’ve got your answers. It doesn’t really matter if you want to sort orders by first name or last; the procedures are super easy so that anyone can do that without any hassle.
Just follow our instructions, and you’ll be done with the contact management in seconds.
Matthew Burleigh has been a freelance writer since the early 2000s. You can find his writing all over the Web, where his content has collectively been read millions of times.
Matthew received his Master’s degree in Computer Science, then spent over a decade as an IT consultant for small businesses before focusing on writing and website creation.
The topics he covers for MasterYourTech.com include iPhones, Microsoft Office, and Google Apps.
You can read his full bio here.