How to Change the Default Contacts Account on iPhone 14

If you save contacts to more than one account—like iCloud, Gmail, or Outlook—you might want to choose a default account so new contacts always go to the right place. Here’s how to change the default account for contacts on your iPhone 14.


Set a New Default Contacts Account

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap Contacts.
  3. Tap Default Account.
  4. Choose the account you want to use (e.g., iCloud, Gmail, Outlook, etc.).

Any new contacts you add going forward will automatically be saved to this account.

Note: If you only have one contacts account set up, you won’t see the “Default Account” option.


Add a New Contacts Account (Gmail, Outlook, etc.)

If you don’t see your preferred account listed, here’s how to add it:

  1. Go to Settings > Contacts > Accounts.
  2. Tap Add Account.
  3. Choose your provider (Google, Yahoo, Outlook, AOL, or tap Other for LDAP or CardDAV).
  4. Enter your login credentials and follow the setup prompts.
  5. Make sure Contacts is toggled ON during setup.

Once added, return to Contacts > Default Account and select it.


Why Use a Default Contacts Account?

Using a specific account helps keep your contacts organized, especially if:

  • You want to separate work and personal contacts
  • You use a company-managed Exchange or LDAP server
  • You prefer to manage your contacts via Google Contacts or another platform

Choosing a default also avoids confusion when syncing contacts across devices.

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