The short answer
Choose one person from iPhone Contacts, check the details you want to keep, and save only after you have looked for an existing Kontextual contact. Importing is a one-time review, not a background address-book sync.
App feature preview
This iPhone import describes a newer mobile build. The version currently on the App Store may differ.
1. Start with a person you need context for
A full address book contains many people you may never need in a relationship notebook. Start with one person you met and expect to reconnect with. Ask what you would want to remember beyond their number: where you met, what you discussed, and whether you agreed on a next step.
If you are organizing professional contacts, decide which List will make this person easy to find. A small, useful List is better than copying everyone over and sorting them later. Our contact organization guide can help you choose a simple structure.
2. Check which details belong in the record
One iPhone contact can have several emails and phone numbers. Choose the one relevant to this relationship. Check the name, company, and role too; address book entries can be years old. A contact photo may help recognition, but it is secondary to a correct name and a reliable way to reach the person.
A fictional example
Your iPhone has Maya Chen’s personal and work email. You met Maya through a project at her company. Select the work address she used with you, check her current role, and leave out an unrelated home number. Add a short note about the project after saving.
Do not treat every field in your phone as permission to use it for work. The useful record is the one you can explain and keep current. If the person gave you a new detail during your conversation, use that rather than an older address book value.
3. Look for an existing contact before saving
A matching name does not prove two records are the same person. An exact email is a stronger clue, but you should still review the existing record before updating it. A matching phone or similar name should prompt a choice, never a silent merge.
If you already have the person in Kontextual, compare the new details with what you saved earlier. Keep their notes, tags, List, and conversation history. Use the contact update guide for a careful field-by-field pass.
Importing in Kontextual
From Contacts, open Import from iPhone and tap Choose from Apple Contacts. Select one person. Kontextual reads only that selection, then lets you choose an email and phone number when several are present. Review the result and tap Import contact to save it. You need a List first; if you have none, create one and return to the import.
If the app finds an existing contact, it gives you an update review or a choice between updating and importing a new record. Check that it is the right person before confirming. If an email belongs to multiple existing contacts, the import avoids choosing one to overwrite; review duplicates separately.
This flow does not bulk import your address book, upload the rest of your contacts, or keep them in sync later. A photo can fail to come across even when the contact details save. For a person you met by exchanging a card, the business card guide covers the same accuracy checks.