GUIDE

How to Add a Birthday to a Contact on iPhone

Open the contact in the Contacts app, tap Edit, tap add birthday, choose the date and tap Done. You can leave out the year if you don’t know it. Once saved, the birthday appears in the Birthdays calendar and in birthday apps such as Starrise Contacts, which can remind you at a time you choose.

Updated October 2026

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Add the birthday in Contacts

Open the Contacts app, or the Phone app and tap Contacts.
Choose the person and tap Edit.
Scroll down and tap add birthday.
Pick the day and month, and the year if you know it. Tap Done.

Your own birthday goes on your own card, called My Card, at the top of your contacts.

What happens next

The birthday appears in the Birthdays calendar in the Calendar app, if that calendar is turned on.
You only get an alert if you set one for birthdays in Settings > Apps > Calendar.
The birthday syncs with the contact’s account, such as iCloud or Google.

The easier way with Starrise Contacts

Starrise Contacts reads the birthdays from your contacts and reminds you at the exact time you choose, free. See the birthday reminder app.

All upcoming birthdays and anniversaries in one list.
Gift ideas saved on each contact.
One-tap buttons to call, message or WhatsApp the birthday person.

Tips

Save a birthday the moment someone mentions it.
Leave the year out rather than guessing it, so the age shown is never wrong.

Sources

Steps checked in October 2026 against Apple’s iPhone User Guide.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a birthday without the year?

Yes. When you pick the date, you can leave out the year. The birthday still appears every year.

Why don’t I get a notification for a birthday I added?

Saving a birthday doesn’t set an alert. Set one in Settings > Apps > Calendar under the default alert times for birthdays, or use a birthday app such as Starrise Contacts.

Can I add a birthday from the Messages app?

Tap the person’s name at the top of the conversation to open their contact, then edit it as usual and add the birthday.

GET STARRISE CONTACTS

Try Starrise Contacts for free

Starrise Contacts works on the contacts already on your iPhone, iPad and Mac. No account, nothing to import. Free to download, with an optional Pro subscription.