Hi there! I'm John, and I've been a tech enthusiast for over a decade now. I've always been fascinated by the ever-evolving world of smartphones and gadgets, especially Apple products. Over the years, I've helped countless friends and family members navigate their iPhones and troubleshoot issues. I'm happy to share my knowledge and help you unmerge your iPhone contacts!

Let's address the elephant in the room: **you can't technically "unmerge" contacts on an iPhone**. Here's why:

* iPhone's Merging Mechanism: When you tell your iPhone to merge contacts (usually during the setup process or when linking contacts from different sources), it doesn't simply stack the information together. Instead, it intelligently combines the data, treating matching names as a single entity. This means it overwrites duplicate entries with the most recent or complete information available.

* No "Unmerge" Button: Unlike some other actions on your iPhone, there's no magical "unmerge" button to undo a contact merge. Once the data is combined, your iPhone treats it as one unified contact.

So, What Can You Do?

While you can't reverse the merging process itself, here's how you can regain control over your contacts:


1. Check iCloud Contacts:

* Purpose: If you enabled iCloud contact syncing, there's a chance your pre-merged contacts might still be available online.
* How To:
1. Go to `Settings` on your iPhone.
2. Tap on your Apple ID at the top (where your name and picture might be).
3. Select `iCloud`.
4. Make sure `Contacts` is toggled off. You'll get a prompt asking if you want to keep the contacts on your phone – choose `Keep on My iPhone`.
5. Now, on your computer, go to `www.icloud.com` and sign in with your Apple ID.
6. Open `Contacts`.
7. If you see your contacts as they were before the merge, you can export them as a vCard file (`.vcf`) and then import them back to your iPhone (more on that later).


2. Restore from a Backup (If You Have One):

* Purpose: This is your best bet if you regularly back up your iPhone. Restoring from a backup made *before* the contact merge will bring back your contacts to their previous state.
* Caution: This will overwrite your current iPhone data with the data from the backup. Make sure the backup you choose is from before the contacts were merged.
* How To: You can restore your iPhone from a backup using either iCloud or Finder/iTunes on your computer. The exact steps depend on your iOS version and backup method. You can find detailed instructions on Apple's support website.


3. Manual Editing:

* Purpose: If the above options aren't feasible, you'll need to roll up your sleeves and manually edit your contacts.
* How To:
1. Open the `Contacts` app on your iPhone.
2. Go through the merged contacts.
3. Tap `Edit` for each contact you need to fix.
4. If you need to separate information, you'll have to re-enter some details manually to create a new contact entry.


4. Third-Party Apps (Proceed with Caution):

* Purpose: Some third-party apps claim to help manage and even unmerge contacts.
* Caution: Be very careful! Always research an app thoroughly before granting it access to your sensitive contact information. Read reviews, check for a reputable developer, and understand the app's permissions before installing.

Important Tips:

* Regular Backups: This situation highlights the importance of regular iPhone backups. Get into the habit of backing up regularly (either to iCloud or your computer) to protect your data.
* Check Merge Settings: If you're setting up a new iPhone or linking contact sources, pay close attention to the merge options presented during the process.

I hope this helps clear things up! Remember, while "unmerging" isn't directly possible, you can regain control of your contacts with a bit of effort. Good luck!

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Here is how to unmerge contacts on an iPhone 6 �COpen the Contacts app. ... Select the merged contact.Tap the Edit button at the top-right corner of the screen.Scroll down and tap the red circle to the left of the contact that you want to unmerge.Tap the Unlink button.More items...read more >>