If you do not want an app access to all your contacts, you can decide for yourself which contacts you will share with the app. For example, those who call you most often and send messages.
More and more applications want access to your contact list. Of course that is handy for some apps, think of WhatsApp. But for some applications that is superfluous. For that reason you can tighten the privacy settings and limit access to your contacts for applications on your iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Limit access to contacts for apps
If you do not want an app access to all your contacts, you can decide for yourself which contacts you share or fully limit access.
- Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad
- Navigate to ‘Privacy and Security’
- Tap ‘Contacts’
- Select an app in the list
- Determine access to your contacts
You have the option to fully deny access with the option ‘No. ‘ Choose ‘Full access‘To ensure that the application may use all contacts. With the help of ‘Limited access‘You can choose which contacts the app can use and which not. With the button ‘Change selected contacts‘You can edit them afterwards.
On a Mac you can manage this data via  ▸ System settings ▸ Privacy and Security ▸ Contact details.
Apps ask for access
When you install a new app, the application will first request access to your contacts for this. If you do not give an app access, it cannot view and use your contact list. This way you not only protect your privacy, but also those of your contacts.