How to Save Contact Information From an iPhone Email

Edit or create a contact from the Mail app

By
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
  • University of Vienna
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Updated on October 8, 2022

What to Know

  • Tap sender's name or email address > choose Create New Contact > add photo or edit details > Done.
  • To add to an existing contact, tap the name > Add to Existing Contact > select current contact > Update.
  • When the email address is in the email body, select it > Add to Contacts.

This article explains how to save contact information in the iPhone Mail app to the Contacts app. Instructions apply to iPhones with iOS 15, iOS 14, or iOS 13.

How to Save Contact Information From an Email Sender

All you need to save contact information to a new or existing contact in iPhone Mail is an email from the person.

If you don't have an email from this specific person but instead have an email address in a message, skip to the next set of instructions.

  1. Open the Mail app on the iPhone.

  2. In the Mail app Inbox, tap an email from a sender that you want to add to your phone contacts.

  3. Scroll to the top of the message and tap the name or email address, whichever you see, to open a contact screen. (You may have to tap the name twice in some versions of iOS.)

    The Mail app with an email open and the sender name highlighted

  4. Choose Create New Contact to make a new contact using that sender's email address.

  5. Confirm the name, add a photo, and edit or add details. Then tap Done.

    Create New Contact chosen on iPhone Contact screen

  6. To add the email address to a contact you already have, tap Add to Existing Contact after tapping the person's name or email address at the top of an email.

  7. Scroll down and select the person from the contact list that pops up.

  8. Edit any details as necessary and tap Update.

    iPhone contact sheet with Add to Existing Contact highlighted

How to Save Contact Information From an Address in Email Body

Another way to add someone's email address to an existing or new contact on your iPhone is to find their email address in the body of an email. Use this technique if someone else sent you the email address or if the address you want to use is in the email signature.

To do this, open the email message that contains the email address. Hold your finger down on the address link. Select Add to Contacts. In the screen that opens, select Create New Contact or Add to Existing Contact and follow steps 5 through 8 in the previous section.

An iPhone email address selected for Add to Contacts

If you make a mistake and add the email address to the wrong contact, enter the wrong name, or change your mind about making the new contact, make changes through the Contacts app.

The directions are relevant only for your device to transfer an email address from the Mail app into the Contacts app. To send contact information to another phone, learn how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone or iPhone to Android.

FAQ
  • How do I block an email address on my iPhone?

    To block emails in the iPhone Mail app, tap the sender's name > Block this Contact. For more options, go to Settings > Mail > Blocked Sender Options.

  • How do I add a new email contact to my iPhone contacts?

    To add contacts on iPhone, open the Phone app and go to Contacts > Add. Enter your contact's information, including their email address. The contact information will sync with the Mail app.

  • How do I export my contacts from my iPhone?

    To export contacts from your iPhone, use the Export Contact app. Alternatively, turn on contacts in your iCloud settings, then go to iCloud > Contacts > Select all > Export vCard.

  • How do I set up AutoFill for email on my iPhone?

    To set up AutoFill for email on iPhone, go to Settings > AutoFill and toggle on Use contact settings. To change your personal info, go to Contacts > My Card > Edit.

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