How to Permanently Remove WhatsApp Contacts (2025 Guide)

Is it time to do a little spring cleaning on your WhatsApp contacts list? We’re here to help. When you delete a contact from WhatsApp, they won't be notified that you have deleted them, but they'll still be able to message you and see your information. Luckily, the process for deleting contacts is pretty simple for both Android and iOS users. In this article, we’ll show you how to remove people (including blocked numbers) from your WhatsApp contacts using your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Let's get started!

Quick Guide to Deleting WhatsApp Contacts

To delete a contact from WhatsApp, you must delete them from your phone's contact list or block them.
Android: Select a contact in WhatsApp. Tap ⋮ → Edit → ⋮ → Delete contact to erase them from your contacts list.
iOS: Open a new chat and tap a contact. Tap the contact's name → Edit → Delete contact.

Section 1 of 7:

Removing WhatsApp Contacts (Android)

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Open WhatsApp and select the Chats tab. The app’s icon looks like a white phone with a green background. If you aren't logged in, enter your phone number to do so. In the app, you’ll see the Chats tab at the screen's bottom-left corner next to Updates.
- WhatsApp is available for Android in the Google Play Store.
- To delete a contact from WhatsApp, you must delete them from your phone's address book, too. If you don't want to delete them entirely, you can block them instead.^{[1]
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It’s a square, green button with a white dialogue icon and a green plus sign inside. You’ll find it at the bottom-right corner of the WhatsApp screen.

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You can search for a specific contact using the black magnifying glass icon at the top-right corner of the screen or scroll up and down to navigate your contacts list.^{[2]
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This will be at the top of the chat window. When you select their name, the contact’s info will open.
You’ll see the three dots at the top-right corner of the screen.
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Tap ⋮ → Delete. Once again, you’ll see the three-dot icon at the top-right corner of the screen. After selecting it, a single option (Delete contact) will appear in a drop-down menu. Select Delete contact to finalize the process and remove the contact from your WhatsApp.^{[3]
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- If you need to delete a blocked WhatsApp contact:
  - Access your Settings and tap Privacy → Contacts → Blocked contacts.
  - Then, tap the profile image of the contact you want to delete.
  - Tap ⋮ → Edit → ⋮ → Delete.
You'll need to reload your contacts for the new settings to take effect. To do so, tap the Select contact button → ⋮ → Refresh.

Section 2 of 7:

Removing WhatsApp Contacts (iPhone & iPad)

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Open WhatsApp and tap the Chats tab. The app looks like a white phone with a green background. Once inside the app, you’ll see Chats at the bottom of the screen, between Communities and Settings.^{[4]
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- If WhatsApp opens to a conversation, tap the "Back" button in the top-left corner of the screen.
- WhatsApp is available for iOS in the App Store. Be sure to set up WhatsApp if you haven't done so already.
- To delete a contact from WhatsApp, you must delete them from your phone's address book. If you don't want to delete them entirely, you can block them instead.^{[5]
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You can search for a specific contact using the search bar at the top of the screen or scroll up and down to navigate your contacts list. When you find the contact, tap on that chat to open it up.^{[6]
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You’ll see their name at the top of the chat window. Tapping the name will bring you to a contact info page with their number and a list of different options to explore.^{[7]
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You can find this at the top-right corner of the screen.^{[8]
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Select Delete contact. You’ll see this option in red text on the Edit contact page that opens. Choosing this will delete the contact but not your chat history with them in WhatsApp.^{[9]
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- If you want to delete the chat, navigate to the Chats tab. Swipe left on the chat, and then tap More → Delete Chat → Delete Chat.
- To delete a blocked contact, access your WhatsApp Settings and navigate to Privacy → Blocked → The contact’s name → Edit → Delete contact.

Section 3 of 7:

Deleting Blocked Contacts on WhatsApp

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Deleting blocked contacts for Android Are you ready to delete some old, blocked contacts from WhatsApp? No problem. In WhatsApp, tap on the Settings tab. Then, complete the following steps:^{[10]
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- Tap Privacy → Contacts → Blocked contacts.
- Select the profile photo of the contact you want to delete.
- Tap ⋮ → Edit → ⋮ → Delete.
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Deleting blocked contacts for iPhone and iPad The process for deleting blocked contacts is just as simple for iOS users. In WhatsApp, select the Settings tab (on the bottom-right side of the screen). Then, do the following:
- Tap Privacy → Blocked.
- Select the contact’s name you want to delete.
- Tap Edit → Delete Contact.

Section 4 of 7:

How do I stop unwanted contacts from reappearing in WhatsApp?

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Delete unwanted contacts from your phone contacts, too. If a contact you delete from WhatsApp stays in your phone’s contacts app, it isn’t really deleted (since WhatsApp uses your phone’s contacts). So, as mentioned above, delete unwanted contacts from your phone and WhatsApp to remove them fully and permanently. If you don’t want to delete a contact from your phone, block it instead.^{[11]
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- Alternatively, open the app to disable saving any contacts to WhatsApp. Tap Settings → Privacy → Contacts, then toggle the switch for WhatsApp contacts off.

Section 5 of 7:

Adding/Editing WhatsApp Contacts (Android)

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Add a contact by starting a new chat. There are actually three different ways to add a new contact on WhatsApp—and we’ll cover them all, starting with adding contacts by creating a new chat. To do this:^{[12]
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- Select the Chats tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the + (New chat) button near the bottom of the screen.
- Tap New contact and enter their information.
- Select Save.
- You can also tap the Sync contact to phone option to add the new contact to your phone’s address book.
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Add a contact to WhatsApp through an existing chat. If you have an existing chat with someone who isn’t in your WhatsApp contacts, you can add them through that chat. Follow the instructions below:^{[13]
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- Select the Chats tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the chat with the person you want to add (it’ll show their phone number rather than a name).
- Tap ⋮ → Add to contacts → Create new contact.
- Type in their details, then tap Save.
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Add a new contact through a group you’re both part of. Finally, if you’re in a group chat with someone who isn’t in your WhatsApp contacts, you can add them through the group. Follow the instructions below:
- Open the group chat you’re both in.
- Find one of the person’s messages and tap their profile photo.
- Tap Add to Contacts, then enter their contact details.
- Tap Save.
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Edit contacts through their “Contact info” page. You can edit WhatsApp contacts anytime you want! Find the contact you want to edit (through the search bar at the top of the screen) and select it. Then, do the following:
- Tap ⋮ → View contact → ⋮ → Edit.
- Change whatever information you want, then tap Save when you’re finished.

Section 6 of 7:

Adding/Editing WhatsApp Contacts (iPhone/iPad)

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Add new contacts by starting a chat. You can always add a new contact by starting a chat with them in WhatsApp (as long as you have their phone number, too). To add the contact:
- Select the Chats tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the + button at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Tap New contact and enter any relevant contact details.
- Tap Done. Optionally, you can also select Sync contact to phone to add them to your phone’s address book.
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Add contacts to WhatsApp through existing chats. When you have an existing chat with someone, you can use it to add them to your contacts. Just do the following:^{[14]
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- Select the Chats tab, then tap on the chat with your contact (it’ll show their phone number).
- Tap the phone number, then select Add to contacts → Create New.
- When you’ve finished adding their information, tap Done.
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Add new contacts from group chats. Is there someone in a WhatsApp group you want to add to your contacts? No problem! Just complete the following steps:^{[15]
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- Open the group and tap on the contact’s profile photo (next to one of their messages).
- Tap Create New Contact.
- Type in their contact details, then select Done.
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Edit contacts through the “Contact info” page. If you need to edit a contact’s info for any reason, you just need to pull up their contact page in WhatsApp and make the edits. To do that:
- Search the contact’s name in the WhatsApp search bar.
- Select the contact, then tap on their name.
- Tap Edit and make your desired changes.
- Tap Done to finalize the changes.

Section 7 of 7:

FAQ

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Can I delete WhatsApp contacts from a computer? No, you must use the iPhone, iPad, or Android mobile app to delete WhatsApp contacts.
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Why is a contact still visible in WhatsApp after I deleted it from my phone? You may need to refresh your WhatsApp contacts list. If refreshing doesn’t work, make sure no other apps on your phone save contact information; if so, WhatsApp may be connected and syncing contact information from them (so you’ll need to delete the contact on those apps, too).
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Can I share WhatsApp contacts in chats? Yes! Simply open up the chat you want and follow the instructions below based on the mobile device you’re using:
- Android: Tap the paper clip button → Contact. Choose the contact you want to share, then tap the arrow followed by the round, green send button.
- iOS: Tap the + button → Contact. Choose the contact you want to share, then tap Next → Send.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I remove the number from Whattsapp after deleting it, but it is still displayed?

Community Answer

You'll have to delete the contact number from your phone. It is possible that the contact may reappear in your WhatsApp if you have synchronized your WhatsApp with another device. In which case, delete the contact from your synchronized device, too.

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