Manage Mac Address Book

The paper address book can go out. The contact details can also be stored on the computer. On a Mac computer, you can do that with the Contacts app. That is actually a digital address book. The advantage of Contacts is that the app works together with other apps, such as the Mail app. In addition, it is possible to exchange data stored in the app with other Apple products. This is called synchronization. This way you always have the contact details at hand. This is useful, for example, for quickly sending an email or message.

The Contacts app comes by default on a Mac. For most users, the app is on the Dock. Then open the app by clicking on the brown booklet icon. Don’t see this icon? Then follow the steps below:

• Open the Finder from the smiley face icon on the dock.
• click on apps (macOS 10.15 Catalina) or Programs (macOS 10.14 Mojave).
• Double click on the program Contacts.

The Contacts app consists of three columns. On the left are groups of contacts. Click on ‘All Contacts’ to view all saved contacts. The names of all contacts will appear in the middle column. Click on a contact. The contact details of this person appear in the right column.

All kinds of data can be stored about contacts. Think of a telephone number, e-mail address, birthday or address. Create a so-called card for a contact person.

• Click on the plus sign in the right column .
• click on New contact.
• Type the first name.
• click on Last name and type the contact’s last name.
• Then fill in the desired categories. Do this by clicking on the light gray text and typing the data.
• Finally, click on the bottom right Ready.

Does a contact have a new phone number or has he/she moved? No problem. Easily update contact details:

• Click a contact in the middle column.
• Click on the bottom right Change.
• Click on the information to be modified.
• Delete old data with the Backspace key on the keyboard.
• Type the new information.
• click on Ready.

You can also remove a contact completely from the app. Do that as follows:

• Right-click a contact in the middle column.
• click on Remove card.
• Click on to confirm Delete.

The Contacts app interacts with other apps on the Mac in two ways. Firstly, it is possible to trigger another program from within the app. For example, to call or FaceTime someone based on their phone number. The options available depend on the data you saved. Click a contact name in the middle column. In the right column are icons with the options. Blue icons indicate available options. Click on such an icon to send a message, for example. The corresponding app opens and addresses the contact.

The second option works exactly the other way around. You can access the data from the Contacts app from another app. For example, if you compose a new email in the Mail app, you can access the contacts. Click on the circle with the plus sign behind ‘On’. Then the contacts from the Contacts app appear on the screen. Click on a contact to add it to the recipients.