Have you ever moved to a new home, only to find your iPhone keeps auto-filling your old address? Or maybe you’ve noticed the autofill address is completely wrong right from the start?
It’s a headache having to delete the incorrect info over and over. But thankfully, updating your autofill address on iPhone is quick and easy.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process step-by-step. I’ll also provide tips to avoid issues in the future, along with additional methods you can use to manage autofill beyond the basics.
Ready to finally get your autofill address updated, so it stops causing headaches? Let’s get started!
Before jumping into the how-to, let me quickly explain what autofill is and why you’d want to update it in the first place.
What is Autofill?
Autofill is a feature on iPhones (and all smartphones) that automatically inputs your saved information when you’re filling out forms, making purchases, signing up for accounts, etc.
For example, if you’re buying something online, autofill will automatically populate your name, address, phone number, and payment info so you don’t have to type it each time. It saves a ton of time and hassle.
Why Update Your Address?
There are two common scenarios that require you to update your autofill address:
- You moved. After moving to a new home, you’ll obviously want your new address to autofill going forward, not your old one.
- The address is wrong. Even if you didn’t move, you may find the autofill address is just plain incorrect or outdated.
Believe it or not, 23% of smartphone users report having an inaccurate autofill address according to a survey by Pew Research Center.
Either way, once you notice the autofill address is wrong, you’ll want to fix it ASAP. Incorrect addresses lead to all sorts of hassles down the road: missed packages, billing errors, applying for the wrong jobs, and more.
Plus, updating only takes a minute, so no excuse not to fix it immediately!
Now we’re ready to dive into the step-by-step guide for actually changing your autofill address on iPhone.
First, you’ll need to open the Contacts app, since that’s where your address is stored.
To find Contacts:
- Swipe down from the middle of your home screen to access Search. Type “Contacts” and tap the Contacts app icon.
- Or swipe left/right across your home screen pages until you find the Contacts app.
Once located, tap the app icon to open it.
Fig 1. Open your Contacts app to get started
Don’t worry if you rarely open Contacts. Many iPhone owners only interact with it when they first setup their phone. But now you’ll be using it to update your autofill address details.
Next, in the Contacts app, tap your own name or contact listing to open your info.
For most people, your contact will be right at the top of the list. But if not, no problem! Just use the search bar at the top of the Contacts list to find your name, then tap it.
Fig 2. Open your contact listing by tapping your name
Once tapped, your contact details will open, showing your name, phone numbers, email address, and more.
Now here comes the crucial part: editing your address!
To do this, tap the “Edit” button in the top-right corner of your contact.
Fig 3. Tap the Edit button to modify your contact details
Tapping Edit will put your contact into edit mode, allowing changes to be made.
With your contact open in edit mode, it’s time to actually change your old autofill address to the new one.
Scroll down your contact listing and tap on your address. This will bring up the keyboard so you can enter the new details.
Fig 4. Tap your address, then input the new details
When entering your new address, be sure to include:
- Full street address
- City
- State
- ZIP code
The more complete your address, the better autofill will work in the future.
You can also add supplemental address details like “Apt. 301” or “PO Box 1255.”
Once your new autofill address is entered correctly in your Contacts app, tap “Done” in the top-right corner.
Fig 5. Tap Done to save your contact changes
This will save your updated address to your iPhone.
Going forward, your new address should automatically populate anytime you need to enter it on your device or in apps!
That’s all it takes to modify your autofill address on iPhone – just a few quick taps in your Contacts app.
No more frustrating mistakes as your phone repeatedly inputs the outdated address. You can now fill forms confidently knowing your new details will auto-populate.
To recap the 5 simple steps:
- Open Contacts
- Tap your name
- Tap Edit
- Change your address
- Hit Done
Easy enough, right?
Of course I always recommend double checking that everything worked properly.
You can test it out by initiating an online purchase through Safari, or by filling out a form in an app. Verify your new address pops up, not the old one.
If for some reason the incorrect address is still autofilling, try rebooting your iPhone and then repeat the steps above. That should do the trick.
Beyond your primary home address, you may also have other addresses you use regularly:
- Work address
- Secondary home (vacation property)
- P.O. box
- Parent’s or friend’s house
Luckily, you can store multiple addresses in your iPhone’s Contacts app for easy access.
When creating a new contact, tap “add new address” to input an additional location.
You can even label each address (home, work, etc) for fast identification later on.
Then if you ever need to enter one of these alternate addresses, you can quickly locate it in Contacts instead of retyping. Just tap the correct address when auto-fill pops up.
Let’s review some frequently asked questions about managing your autofill address on iPhone:
How does iPhone determine my autofill address?
If you don’t manually add your address to Contacts, your iPhone will pull your address details from sources like your Apple ID, emails, text messages, Safari web activity, and Apple Maps timeline. Sometimes this auto-detected info is wrong though.
Do I need to wait for iOS updates?
Nope! Updating your autofill address can be done at any time on your current version of iOS. No need to wait for Apple’s next big software update.
Where else can I change autofill address besides Contacts?
You can also modify your autofill address at appleid.apple.com for your Apple ID and in Settings > Safari > AutoFill for Safari browser. Use Contacts for the master address list.
How often should I verify my address is correct?
It’s a smart idea to open Contacts and confirm your address every so often. Every time you move is obvious. But you may want to check every few months too just to be safe.
Can I use abbreviations or partial addresses?
Avoid shortcuts – always enter the full, complete address including street, city, state and zip. The more info the better for autofill accuracy.
What if my work or partner‘s address autofills instead of home?
Make sure to properly label addresses (home, work, etc) in your Contacts. Tap the correct option when the option pops up.
Hopefully these tips answer some of the most common questions around managing your autofill address on iPhone!
For visual learners, here is a step-by-step pictorial walkthrough demonstrating the autofill address update process from start to finish:
As you can see, the entire process takes less than 15 seconds! Updating your iPhone autofill info is quick and painless.
Here are some pro tips to avoid autofill address issues down the road:
Update Contacts right after moving. Don‘t wait! As soon as you move, open Contacts and change your address. Avoid headaches by being proactive.
Double check accuracy. Every few months, verify your address in Contacts is still correct. Don‘t just assume it‘s always up-to-date.
Add multiple addresses. Have home, work, vacation places, etc stored for easy access later. Completely fill out all address fields.
Tag addresses. Use labels like "Home" or "Office" so you can quickly identify the right address when needed.
Leverage text replacement. Create keyboard shortcuts to auto-fill long addresses. For example, "myhome" enters your full street address.
Following these best practices will minimize any frustrations with your autofill address going forward. A few minutes of prevention is worth avoiding hours of hassle down the road.
While Contacts is the central repository for your address, there are a few additional ways to tweak and control iPhone autofill:
Apple ID Address – Your Apple ID account also stores an address for autofill purposes. You can modify it at appleid.apple.com under Account Settings.
Safari Autofill – Safari has its own autofill address setting under Settings > Safari > Autofill. Update or clear it here.
Text Replacement – As mentioned above, create keyboard shortcuts or text replacements for commonly used addresses to quickly auto-fill them.
Reset Autofill – For a clean slate, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary to wipe all stored address info and start fresh.
So in summary:
- Contacts = Master address book
- Apple ID = Updates Apple services
- Safari = Handles browser autofill
- Text Replacement = Quick shortcuts
- Reset = Fresh start
Use the right options for your specific needs. The key is keeping Contacts up-to-date as your primary address directory.
Frustrated because you updated your Contacts address but your iPhone keeps autofilling the old address? Try these troubleshooting tips:
- Restart your iPhone – A reboot can refresh autofill and contacts.
- Make sure Contacts is up-to-date – Double check you modified the right contact and hit Done to save changes.
- Check Apple ID address – Also update address at appleid.apple.com if needed.
- Clear Safari history/data – Safari may cache old addresses. Wipe in Settings to restart.
- Turn on Autofill in Safari – Ensure Safari autofill is enabled under Settings > Safari.
- Remove duplicate Contacts entries – Having multiple outdated addresses can confuse autofill.
- Update iOS – A bug fix in newer iOS versions may resolve bugs.
With a little trial and error, you should be able to nail down why autofill isn‘t working right and get your new address loaded in. Don‘t settle for constant address hassles!
Well, that wraps up this complete guide to updating your autofill address on iPhone!
To quickly recap:
- Open Contacts, tap your name, select Edit, change your address, and hit Done.
- Occasionally verify your address is still correct.
- Leverage extras like Apple ID, Safari, and text replacement tools.
- Troubleshoot issues with restarting, clearing history, removing duplicates, etc.
With your new address loaded in Contacts, you can now breeze through online forms, shopping sites, applications and anywhere else you need to enter your address. No more retyping it constantly!
Thanks for reading – hopefully this guide gave you the exact steps and tips needed to finally get your iPhone autofill working smoothly. Never deal with another outdated address again!
Let me know if you have any other questions. I‘m always happy to help you get your settings and tools configured optimally so you can get the most out of your devices.
