GUIDE

How to Sort Contacts on iPhone

Open Settings, tap Apps, then Contacts, and tap Sort Order. Choose First, Last to sort by first name or Last, First to sort by last name. The Contacts app only sorts alphabetically. To sort by last opened, last created, city or age, use a contacts app such as Starrise Contacts.

Updated October 2026

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Change the sort order

Open Settings, tap Apps, then Contacts.
Tap Sort Order.
Choose First, Last or Last, First.

In the same place, Display Order sets whether names are shown first name first or last name first, and Short Name sets how names appear in apps like Messages.

Limits

Only alphabetical sorting, by first or last name.
No way to see the contacts you added last, or the people you look up most.
Contacts with only a company name are sorted by that name.

The easier way with Starrise Contacts

Starrise Contacts lets you sort your contacts in whatever order fits you best: by last created, last opened, first name, last name, city, age and many more. See how to organize contacts.

Last created: everyone you met at the conference last week.
City: who to visit on your next trip.
Display settings for name order, nicknames and phone number formats.

Sources

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

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sort iPhone contacts by last name?

Open Settings > Apps > Contacts, tap Sort Order and choose Last, First.

Can I sort contacts by date added on iPhone?

Not in the Contacts app. Starrise Contacts can sort by last created and last opened, and also by city or age.

Why is a contact sorted in the wrong place?

Check that the first and last names are in the right fields. A full name typed into the first name field is sorted by its first word.

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.