How to Change the Sort Order of Your iPad & iPhone Contacts
You can organize your iPad and iPhone contacts in first name/last name order, or go with last name/first name.
The Contacts app sorts your contacts into last name, first name order, and displays contacts in first name, last name order. To organize your iPhone or iPad contacts differently, reverse these settings.
Related: How to Create Contact Groups on iPhone for Sending Group Emails & Messages
We've already shown you how to sync iPhone Contacts to your Mac, and how to share contact information via text message. For more great iPhone tutorials, check out our free Tip of the Day. Now, let's go over how to change the alphabetical sort order of your iPhone Contacts and contact cards.
How to Change the Sort Order of Your Contact Names
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Contacts.
- Tap Sort Order.
- The default option is Last, First. To change the order, tap First, Last.
- Tap Display Order to change how contact names are written on contact cards.
- Tap Last, First to display each person's contact card in last name/first name order.
Note that since Chinese, Japanese, and Korean names have a fixed order, the order of those names won't change.
Jim Karpen
Jim Karpen holds a Ph.D. in literature and writing, and has a love of gizmos. His doctoral dissertation focused on the revolutionary consequences of digital technologies and anticipated some of the developments taking place in the industry today. Jim has been writing about the Internet and technology since 1994 and has been using Apple's visionary products for decades.
Related topics
Related Articles
Rhett Intriago
What Is a Rapid Security Response? Everything You Need to Know
Amy Spitzfaden Both
Leanne Hays
How to Check Your iPhone Battery Level on Your Apple Watch
Olena Kagui
Review: Turn Footage into Memories with Spivo Video Editing
Ashleigh Page
Rachel Needell
