How to Share a Contact Card on iPhone (5 Methods, 2026)

George El-Hage LinkedIn

Founder, Wave Connect | 150,000+ professionals served since 2020

I share contact cards dozens of times a week through Wave and Apple's built-in tools. This guide covers every method I use on iOS 17 and iOS 18 - from NameDrop to AirDrop to digital business cards.

With the latest iOS updates, sharing contact information on your iPhone has become more intuitive and engaging than ever. Whether you're connecting with new friends or business partners, this guide covers everything you need to know about how to share a contact card on your iPhone.

What is an iPhone Contact Card?

A contact card on your iPhone is a digital version of a business card, containing your contact details. You can use the built-in contact card from Apple or create a more detailed digital business card using Wave.

Method 1: Sharing Contact Cards Automatically with NameDrop

If you and the recipient both have iPhones, you can use NameDrop to automatically share your contact card.

Requirements for using NameDrop:

• System: iOS 17.1 or later (iOS 18 supported) and watchOS 10.1 or later.
• Devices: iPhone X and later, and iPhone SE 2nd generation.
• iPhones without Dynamic Island may need to enable Name & Photo Sharing in Contacts App > My Card > Contact Photo & Poster.

Steps for sharing automatically via NameDrop:

1. Hold the top of your iPhone near the top of the recipient's iPhone.
2. Wait for a glow and vibration, indicating a connection.
3. Contact Posters (NameDrop) will appear on both iPhone displays.
4. Tap the arrow icon to choose the information you want to share, such as your phone number or email address.
5. Select whether to Share your card and receive theirs, or Receive Only.
6. Tap Done to finish and edit contact information if needed.

NameDrop allows you to share your own contact card. If you want to share someone else's contact information, you'll need to use another method.

Method 2: Sharing Contact Cards Manually

Here are several manual methods for sharing contact cards on your iPhone:

2.1: Using the Contacts App

1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone.
2. Find the contact you want to share and tap Share Contact.
3. Choose the contact information to share and tap Done.
4. Select a sharing method like Messages, Mail, Telegram, WhatsApp, or AirDrop.

The recipient will receive the contact information in a .vcf format, which they can save as a new contact.

2.2: Using AutoFill in Messages

1. Open the Messages app and compose a message.
2. Double-tap the text field and select AutoFill > Contact.
3. Choose the contact card you want to share and select the information to include.

The information will be copied to the text field, but it won't send the entire contact card as a .vcf file.

2.3: Sharing Multiple Contact Cards in a Group List

1. Go to Contacts App > Add List > Enter the List Name.
2. Tap the Add contacts button (+ button) to add contacts.
3. Return to the main Lists page.
4. Tap and hold the new List and select Export.
5. Choose the contact card information to include and tap Done.
6. Select a platform to share the list.

The recipient will receive a .vcf file containing multiple contact cards.

Method 3: Sharing Contact Cards via AirDrop

AirDrop is my go-to when I want to send a full contact card (not just a phone number) to someone standing nearby. Unlike NameDrop, AirDrop works even if the other person doesn't have their contact card set up.

1. Open the Contacts app and find the contact you want to share.
2. Tap Share Contact at the bottom of the card.
3. Select which fields to include (phone, email, address) and tap Done.
4. Choose AirDrop from the sharing options.
5. Select the recipient's device from the AirDrop list.
6. The recipient taps Accept, and the contact saves automatically as a .vcf file.

Privacy Tips When Sharing Contact Cards on iPhone

Before you share your contact card, take a minute to control what information goes with it. I've seen too many people accidentally share their home address at networking events.

• Review your "My Card" regularly. Go to Contacts > My Card and remove anything you don't want shared publicly (home address, personal email, birthday).
• Use the field selector. When sharing via Contacts app or NameDrop, iOS lets you choose exactly which fields to include. Deselect anything private.
• Create a "networking" contact card. Set up a second contact card with only your professional details - work email, office number, LinkedIn. Share this one at events.
• Turn off NameDrop when not needed. Go to Settings > General > AirDrop and toggle off "Bringing Devices Together" if you don't want accidental shares in crowded spaces.
• Consider a digital business card for professional networking. Tools like Wave let you control exactly what information is visible, track who viewed your card, and update details without re-sharing.

Choosing Between the Built-In Contact Card and a Digital Business Card App

• Use the built-in contact card to share basic details with other iPhone users.
• Consider a digital business card app for more customization, branding, analytics, and sharing options, especially if you network often or need to share with non-iPhone users.

Your iPhone's built-in contact card works fine for basic sharing with other iPhone users. But if you're networking regularly, a digital business card app like Wave might be better.

Wave lets you add branding, videos, and social links, and it provides analytics. It also makes sharing easy, even with non-iPhone users. If you're serious about networking or capturing leads at events, Wave is probably the way to go.

Which Method Should You Use?

Here's my quick decision framework after years of sharing contacts on iPhone:

• Meeting someone new face-to-face? Use NameDrop - it's the fastest and most impressive.
• Sending a contact to a friend? Use AirDrop if they're nearby, or Messages/Mail if they're remote.
• Sharing multiple contacts? Use the Group List export method to send them all at once.
• Networking regularly or at events? Use a digital business card - it works with iPhone and Android, includes analytics, and you never have to worry about sharing too much personal info.