How do I delete recently imported contacts?

If you have recently imported a list of contacts into your address book or contact manager, you may want to delete some of those imported contacts. Here are some tips on how to easily delete recently imported contacts.

Find the Imported Contacts

The first step is to identify the contacts that were part of the recent import. Here are a few ways to do that:

• Look for a created or modified date on the contacts that matches the date you did the import.
• See if the imported contacts are grouped together alphabetically or otherwise.
• Use a search or filter tool if available to only view imported contacts.

Knowing which contacts were imported will make it easier to select and delete them.

Select the Contacts to Delete

Once you’ve identified the imported contacts, the next step is to select them for deletion. The way to do this depends on the contact management tool you are using, but here are some common ways:

• Check the box next to each imported contact you want to delete to select it.
• Click on the first imported contact, hold shift, and click the last imported contact to select the whole range.
• Use the “select all” feature to choose all contacts, then uncheck native contacts you want to keep.

Refer to your contact manager’s help documentation if you need guidance on selecting multiple contacts.

Delete the Selected Contacts

Once you’ve selected the imported contacts you want to remove, deleting them is simple:

1. Look for a “delete” or “remove” button and click it.
2. Confirm you want to permanently delete the selected contacts when prompted.
3. The selected contacts should be deleted from your address book.

Some contact managers will send the deleted contacts to a trash folder, in which case you need to empty the trash folder to permanently erase them. Consult your program’s help documentation for specific deletion instructions.

Important Deletion Considerations

Here are some important things to keep in mind when deleting imported contacts:

• Deleted contacts cannot be recovered, so be sure to back up your address book first.
• Think about any links, notes, or activities connected to the contacts before deleting.
• You may want to export a backup of the imported list before deleting for future reference.
• Double check which contacts you are deleting before confirming the deletion.

Taking these precautions will help avoid accidentally deleting important contact information.

Alternative Options to Full Deletion

If you want to keep some of the imported data but not have all those contacts in your main address book, some alternative options include:

• Archive – Many programs let you archive contacts instead of fully deleting.
• Export – Export just the imported contacts to a separate file.
• Unsubscribe – If the contacts are a mailing list, unsubscribe instead of deleting.
• Groups – Use groups or labels to separate imported contacts from native ones.

Think about what data you want to keep and what should be removed to decide the best management strategy.

Conclusion

Deleting recently imported contacts takes just a few steps, but doing it properly ensures you remove the right contacts and maintain the rest of your address book. First identify the imported contacts, select the ones you want to remove, delete them, then consider alternative options like archiving or exporting if you want to keep any of the data. Be sure to back up your address book first and carefully confirm the right contacts are selected before deleting. With the right preparation, you can cleanly remove imported contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I delete contacts I imported from my iPhone?

On an iPhone, tap Settings > Contacts > Imported > [name of import file]. Tap Delete Contacts to select and delete the imported contacts.

Is there a way to delete imported contacts in bulk?

Yes, most contact management tools and address books allow you to select multiple imported contacts at once using checkboxes, then delete all selected contacts together in bulk.

What happens to contact info from LinkedIn or Facebook if I delete imported contacts?

Deleting imported contacts only affects the contacts saved locally in your address book. The original LinkedIn, Facebook, or other web service contact information remains intact and unchanged.

Can I recover a deleted contact?

Unfortunately, once you permanently delete contacts from your address book, they cannot be recovered. This is why it’s important to back up your contacts before deleting.

Summary of Key Points

• Identify which contacts were imported by date, grouping, or filtering tools.
• Select the imported contacts you want to delete using checkboxes or shift+click.
• Delete the contacts after confirming the selection is correct.
• Consider exporting or archiving instead of fully deleting.
• Always back up your address book before deleting contacts.

References

These references provide more information about deleting imported contacts:

• Delete imported contacts in Outlook
• Delete imported contacts on Mac
• Delete contacts imported to Google Contacts

Example Data Table

Here is an example data table showing number of contacts imported and deleted by source: