Why iPhone Contacts Say "Maybe" and 10 Tips to Fix It

User Concern

“My iPhone started saying maybe next to contacts that I alread have saved. My mom for instances, instead of saying mom with her picture it is showing her Apple ID name and the little emoji person. It is happening to several of my contacts and I would like to know how to fix it.”

Have you just received a call or text message from one of your contacts, but you see the word "Maybe" next to the contact's name? It may seem strange and out of place.

In this post, we are going to discuss why your iPhone contacts say "Maybe" and share with you 10 useful tips to get rid of Maybe contacts in iOS 18.

Why Does My Contact Say Maybe on iPhone?

The main reason why you might see a "Maybe" next to your contacts is that your iPhone has connected the contact name with a previous message or email from the person trying to contact you now. In this case, it means that your iPhone is very intelligent; it can store data from texts or emails that you receive and link it to another message at a later time.

For example, John might send you an email that says, "Hey, it was nice to meet you the other day". If John sends you a message the following day, the iPhone may assoicate this message with the one from yesterday, so you won't see John's phone number but rather "Maybe: John."

10 Simple Tips to Fix iPhone Contacts Say "Maybe"

Below are some useful tips you can try to stop the iPhone from making the connection and eliminate the "Maybe" next to the contact name:

1. Turn Off Siri Suggestions on Your iPhone

The "Maybe" icon next to the contact name on your iPhone may appear if you have activated Siri suggestions on the lock screen. You can simply disable the feature to stop "Maybe" from appearing next to a contact's name on your iPhone lock screen.

To do that: Go to Settings > Siri & Search and turn off Suggestions on Lock Screen.

2. Add Maybe Contacts to Your Contact List

Simply adding the "Maybe" contact to your iPhone contact list is another way to fix this issue. Follow these simple steps to do it:

• Open the conversation that shows Maybe and tap on the name at the top of the screen.

• Tap the Info icon, which is a circle with an i in the center. Then tap the number at the top of the screen.

• Now select Create New Contact or Add to Existing Contact, depending on your situation, then tap Done.

3. Remove That Contact and Re-Add It

A syncing issue or a minor glitch could be the reason why you are still getting the "Maybe" even after adding the contact. In this instance, you can delete the contact and add it again:

• Open the Phone app and then tap on the Contacts tab. Choose the contact you'd like to delete and then tap on it.
• Now tap on Edit at the upper-right corner and then scroll down to tap Delete Contact.
• Now, re-add the contact to see if the "Maybe" issue has been resolved.

4. Turn Off Find Contacts in Other Apps

Your iPhone is smart and it will look through all of the installed apps to locate your contacts. Turning off "Find Contacts in Other Apps" may help prevent the iPhone from connecting messages or emails to another one in other apps.

To do that: Go to Settings > Contacts > Siri & Search and then turn off Find Contacts in Other Apps.

5. Check The Apps That Have Access to Your Contacts

In the even that you have turned off "Find Contacts in Other Apps," but the contact name on your iPhone still has "Maybe" next to it, you should check the apps that have access to your contacts and then disable the access to get rid of the problem. To do that,

Go to Settings > Privacy > Contacts and you will see all the apps that have access to your contacts. Disable the access one by one to find which one is causing the issue.

6. Verify If Your Contacts Have Changed Their Number

You may also see a "Maybe" next to the contact name if that person has recently changed their phone number and the old number is no longer active. Therefore, it may be a good idea to check with your contacts to verify if they have changed their number and get the new number if they have.

7. Sign In & Sign Out of iCloud

If you have synced your iPhone's contacts with iCloud, it may be a good idea to fix the iPhone contacts say "Maybe" problem by logging out of iCloud and then logging back in.

To do that, Go to Settings > [your name] and tap Sign Out, then wait a few seconds before signing back in to eliminate syncing issues that could be causing the Maybe error.

8. Reset All Settings on Your iPhone

Resetting all settings on your iPhone is another great way to fix this problem. To do that:

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset > Reset All Settings and then confirm the action.
• When the device restarts, the maybe contacts should be gone.

9. Get Rid of Maybe Contacts with Third-party Tool

If even a reset of all settings on the iPhone doesn't fix this problem, it is very likely that iOS glitches could be the main cause. In this case, you need a third-party tool like FoneGeek iOS System Recovery to eliminate these glitches in iOS 18 and get your iPhone working as normal again.

• Fix various iOS issues like iPhone stuck on Apple logo, Recovery/DFU mode, iPhone black/white screen, etc., without causing data loss.
• Downgrade your iPhone from the current iOS system version to an older version without iTunes or jailbreaking.
• Works well with all iOS versions and iPhone models, even the latest iOS 18 and iPhone 16.
• Many famous media sites such as Mobile Mall, GetDroidTips, Inspirationfeed, Techjury, and Pakainfo have recommended FoneGeek software.

To get rid of the maybe contacts using FoneGeek iOS System Recovery, download the program onto your computer and install it, then follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Launch the iOS Repair tool and choose "Standard Mode" to continue.

Step 2: Connect your iPhone to the computer and wait for the program to detect it.

Then confirm your device information and click on "Download" to download the corresponding firmware for your iPhone.

Step 3: When the firmware is downloaded successfully, click on "Fix Now," and the software will begin fixing the device. Keep your iPhone connected to the computer until the process is finished.

When the iPhone restarts after the process, the problem should be permanently resolved, and the device should be working normally.

10. Update Your iPhone iOS Version

I came up against this problem when the iOS version of my iPhone was iOS 17. This issue was thoroughly solved by updating the device to the latest iOS 18. It doesn’t mean that this method is 100% effective, but it’s worth to have a try.

• To check if there is an update available, go to iPhone Settings and click on General > Software Update.
• You can click on Download & Install if there is an update available.

Conclusion

Now you've learned why iPhone contacts say "Maybe" and 10 useful tips to fix the problem. When "Maybe" appears next to your contacts, you can choose one of the solutions above to fix the problem. Whichever solution you choose, we recommend following the steps carefully to implement it. As always you can share your thoughts, comments and questions on this topic as well as other iOS issues in the comments section below.