Resolved how to duplicate contacts in Apple Contacts App

[mk313]

Is there a way to duplicate a contact in the Contacts App on Mac or iOS? Every google search I do provides how to find duplicates, not how to create them. I don't see any drop-down in the menu bar that do it, and can't figure out any keyboard shortcuts that do it either.

 

[mailbuoy]

Is there a way to duplicate a contact in the Contacts App on Mac or iOS? Every google search I do provides how to find duplicates, not how to create them. I don't see any drop-down in the menu bar that do it, and can't figure out any keyboard shortcuts that do it either.

On macOS: Select, copy, paste. I noted tonight that the duplicated contact did not retain the photo.

 

[mk313]

On macOS: Select, copy, paste. I noted tonight that the duplicated contact did not retain the photo.

Sweet! Thank you.

 

[NoBoMac]

Though OP's issue seems to be resolved, got me thinking a little about how-to on iOS.

Some time ago, I put together a Shortcut to duplicate a Contact, it sorta worked but Shortcuts Contacts Actions are pretty limited, so would only get a skeleton version of the original.

Was doing some cleanup/maintenance for a Contact Group of mine and got an aha moment. Can simply pass the Contact via a Share Sheet and open it in Contacts and then save.

So...

Put together simple Shortcut below. Toggle on "Show in Share Sheet".

To use:

• Press/hold Contact
• "Share"
• "Select All Fields" at bottom of screen. Done.
• Tap on Shortcut name
• "Always Allow" if prompted
• Save

A bit janky, but gets the job done, no third-party apps.

 

[mk313]

Though OP's issue seems to be resolved, got me thinking a little about how-to on iOS.

Some time ago, I put together a Shortcut to duplicate a Contact, it sorta worked but Shortcuts Contacts Actions are pretty limited, so would only get a skeleton version of the original.

Was doing some cleanup/maintenance for a Contact Group of mine and got an aha moment. Can simply pass the Contact via a Share Sheet and open it in Contacts and then save.

So...

Put together simple Shortcut below. Toggle on "Show in Share Sheet".

To use:

• Press/hold Contact
• "Share"
• "Select All Fields" at bottom of screen. Done.
• Tap on Shortcut name
• "Always Allow" if prompted
• Save

A bit janky, but gets the job done, no third-party apps.

View attachment 2409957

Thank you, that is really helpful. I'll create that shortcut now, so I have it should I ever need it again.

 

[schwine1]

I would like to back-up my Contacts app (version 12.0 on a Mac Mini 2014, OS X Catalina) on an external drive.
Currently, I have tried to do this by making a duplicate of the original Contacts app as it appears on a Mac Mini.

However, I would like to configure the "duplicate" so that it "does not" update changes made on the original Contacts app. Currently, a change made the original Contacts app on a Mac Mini also changes in the duplicated Contacts app located in the external drive.

I would like the "duplicate" to act as a back-up of information where data deleted in the original Mac Mini Contacts app can still be accessed within the "duplicate" stored on an external drive.

If such a configuration is possible, thanks for any tips.

 

[ilovesushi]

You can save a copy of your contacts file by exporting your contacts.

File menu
Export > Contacts Archive
Save As: default name (Contacts - 12-06-2024) you can change the name
Where: default location (Documents) where you can change the location

 

[NoBoMac]

^This. And can select all the Contacts and do a File > Export > Export vCard

Text file that can then be imported into anything that accepts vCards (eg. Google Contacts).