4 Fixes for iMessage Not Showing Contact Names on iPhone

Quick Tips

• Open Settings > Profile name > Name, Phone Numbers, Email > Check the phone number linked with Apple ID.
• Open Settings > Profile name > iCloud > Show All > Enable sync for Contacts.
• Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Basic Fixes

• Enable iMessage again: This will reload all the preferences for iMessages including your chats.
• Check your internet speed: Check whether you are connected to 5G or a 5GHz Wi-Fi network on your iPhone.
• Add country code: If you have any international contacts on your list, check if their respective country codes have been added to their numbers.
• Force quit and relaunch Messages app: This will give the app a fresh start on your iPhone.
• Update iOS to update Messages app: Open Settings > General > Software Update and then install it if one is available.

Fix 1: Check if the Number Is Linked With the Apple ID of Your Contact

First, you’ll need to check if your contact has linked the phone number with their Apple ID. This is the biggest pre-requisite to using iMessage on iPhone. While you can simply ask the contact, but here’s how you can check that on your iPhone.

Open Settings > Profile name > Name, Phone Numbers, Email > Check the phone number linked with Apple ID.

Fix 2: Enable Contact Sync on iCloud

If you still face the issue, check whether your contacts have been synced to your iCloud account.

Open Settings > Profile name > iCloud > Show All > Enable sync for Contacts.

Fix 3: Log out and Log into iCloud Again

You can try logging in to your iCloud account again. This will reload all your app preferences associated with iCloud on your iPhone.

Open Settings > Sign Out > Sign in again to iCloud.

Fix 4: Reset Network Settings

This is an advanced solution that will reset all your network-related settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Cellular connections to their default values. If iMessage is still not showing your contact names, we suggest following this solution and seeing if the problem is solved. You can read our post about the steps to reset network settings on your iPhone.