Some duplicates really are identical: the same card imported twice, or a sync hiccup that created a copy. Merging is unnecessary; one card simply has to go.
Deleting contacts is the one action that cannot be undone from inside the app, so Compact Contacts only offers it under strict conditions and after a fresh backup.
When Resolve Exact Copies is offered
If any condition fails, the app explains which one. Edit the cards by hand or use Merge Studio instead.
- Every card in the group is in the same writable account.
- Visible fields and group memberships are identical.
- No card is linked to another account or is read-only.
- The match is a strong exact-value match, not a suggestion.
- No card has a photo that cannot be compared.
Resolve step by step
- Make a Contacts archive. In Apple Contacts, choose File › Export › Contacts Archive. The archive must be from the last 24 hours.
- Choose Resolve Exact Copies…. Pick the card to keep. The others are listed as copies to remove.
- Save the affected records. Save a vCard of just the cards involved as an extra recovery file.
- Select the archive and confirm. The confirmation names the kept card, the number of copies, and both backups. It is not a field merge.
Important: On iPad, a fresh full-Contacts vCard export from the last 24 hours takes the place of the .abbu archive. Both files are read back and verified first.
After removal
Search for the person and confirm one card remains with the expected fields. Check another device after the account has synced.
Questions people ask
Why does the app insist on a 24-hour archive?
The app compares the fields it can see. A fresh archive also captures anything it cannot, such as some provider-specific data.
Can I undo a removal?
Not inside the app. Restore from the archive or the affected-record vCard.
Does this work in Sample Contacts?
Yes. The safety checks run, but no real backup is needed because the records are fictional.