Stop iPhone apps from accessing all your contacts in iOS 18

iOS 18 brings subtle yet significant privacy enhancements, including finer-grained control over app access to your contacts. While you could previously only grant or deny access, iOS 18 lets you selectively share specific contact details with individual apps. This is similar to the photo and video access controls introduced in iOS 17. This article explains how to utilize these improved contact permission settings.

New Contact Access Controls Explained

Many apps request contact access for various reasons—finding mutual connections on social media or facilitating transactions, for instance. However, unrestricted access poses privacy risks. iOS 18 offers a compromise: you can now grant limited access, allowing apps to see only specific contacts, instead of your entire address book. Apple emphasizes user control, enabling you to connect selectively without compromising overall privacy. We recommend granting full access only to trusted apps with a genuine need for complete contact information.

These settings are configurable upon initial app request or anytime afterward. Importantly, adding new contacts doesn't automatically update app permissions; manual adjustments are required within each app's settings.

Configuring Contact Permissions in iOS 18

When an app requests contact access, you'll see a dialog box with "Don't Allow" and "Continue" options. Selecting "Continue" presents the new granular control: "Select Contacts" lets you choose specific individuals, while "Full Access" grants unrestricted access. Your choices, including full access, are modifiable at any time.

To manage permissions later:

1. Open your iPhone's Settings.
2. Navigate to Privacy & Security, then Contacts.
3. You'll see a list of apps with their respective access levels.
4. Tap an app to change its access to "None," "Limited Access," or "Full Access." You can also modify the selected contacts from this screen.

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