To send a contact from your iPhone 14, open Contacts, select the person, tap Share Contact, review the fields being shared, and choose Messages. Check the recipient before sending. This sends a contact card rather than moving or deleting the contact from your phone.
Step by Step Tutorial: Sharing a Contact Via Text Message on the iPhone 14
Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we’ll be accomplishing. By the end of this process, you will have successfully sent a contact’s information from your iPhone 14 to someone else via text message.
Step 1: Open the Contacts App
Open the Contacts app on your iPhone 14.
The Contacts app is your gateway to all the phone numbers and emails you’ve saved. It’s where you’ll begin the process of sharing a contact.
Step 2: Select the Contact to Share
Choose the contact whose information you want to share.
Once you’re in the Contacts app, scroll or search for the specific person whose details you need to send. Tap on their name to open their contact card.
Step 3: Tap on Share Contact
Scroll down and tap Share Contact. Review the field selection and deselect details the recipient does not need, then continue to the sharing options. Labels and placement can vary with your iOS version.
On the contact card, you’ll find various options, including the ability to share. It’s usually located towards the bottom of the screen, so you might have to scroll a bit.
Step 4: Choose Messages as the Sharing Option
From the sharing options, select Messages.
After tapping “Share Contact,” your iPhone will display several methods for sharing. These can include Mail, AirDrop, or Messages. For this task, choose Messages.
Step 5: Enter the Recipient’s Information and Send
Enter the recipient’s phone number or name, then tap the send button.
Select the intended recipient and check their actual number or address, especially when several people have similar names. Review the card and any accompanying text, then tap Send. If Messages reports a delivery failure, resolve it or use another supported sharing method.
Once delivery succeeds, the recipient can open the card and use their app’s option to create or update a contact. This is a shared copy; later edits to your own contact do not automatically update their saved copy.
Tips for Sharing a Contact Via Text Message on the iPhone 14
- Ensure the contact’s information is up to date before sharing.
- If you have multiple numbers or emails for a contact, double-check you’re sharing the correct one.
- Review the fields offered for sharing; do not assume every note or every saved detail is included. Share only information you have permission to pass along.
- Consider sending a follow-up text to the recipient to confirm they’ve received the contact info.
- If only a phone number is needed, copy that number into a message instead of sending the entire contact card.
You don’t have to leave a conversation to send someone’s details. In iOS 17 and later:
- Open the conversation in Messages.
- Touch and hold the text field, then tap AutoFill.
- Tap Contact, choose the person, and pick the details to insert.
- Tap Send.
This inserts the details as text rather than a contact card, which is useful when the other person doesn’t have an iPhone.
- Open Contacts, tap My Card at the top, then tap Share Contact.
- To swap details with someone nearby who also has an iPhone, bring the tops of the two phones close together. NameDrop lets you each choose whether to share.
If the contact card doesn’t send
- The message turns green and fails: the card needs iMessage, RCS or MMS. Check Settings > Apps > Messages and make sure MMS Messaging is on, or send the details as plain text.
- The other person sees an attachment they can’t open: some Android messaging apps don’t import contact cards. Use the AutoFill method above to send the details as text.
- There’s no Share Contact option: the contact may come from a work account that blocks sharing. Copy the number instead by touching and holding it on the card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share a contact with someone who doesn’t have an iPhone?
Many Android phones and other devices can open contact cards, but delivery and importing depend on the messaging service, carrier, and receiving app. Plain SMS cannot carry a contact-card attachment. If the card fails, send the name and phone number as ordinary text or use email.
Will the recipient be able to see all the information I have saved for that contact?
The recipient receives the fields included in the shared card. Review the field selection before sending; you do not need to delete those details from your own contact just to exclude them from a share.
What if the “Share Contact” option isn’t showing up?
Open the person’s full card in Contacts and scroll down. If the card belongs to a managed directory, sharing may be restricted. You can also consult Apple’s contact-sharing instructions for your iOS version.
Can I share a contact via text message even if I’m not connected to the internet?
Do not assume a cellular signal alone is enough. iMessage uses Wi-Fi or cellular data; RCS also requires a supported data connection and service, and MMS attachments depend on carrier support and configuration. Plain SMS can send a typed name and number but not the contact-card attachment.
Is it safe to share contacts via text message?
While it’s generally safe, it’s always wise to make sure you trust the person you’re sharing with and to avoid sending sensitive information through text messages.
Related: How to create a group text on iPhone.
Related: create a new contact on iPhone.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.