How to manage recent contacts on your BlackBerry

By Adam Zeis on 9 May 2012 02:00 pm

For quite a while now RIM has had a recent contacts option (Messages > Options > Messages Displays and Actions > Show Recent Contacts When Composing Email) available for email. When enabled, this option lets you choose recent contacts when sending emails, much like Gmail and other email clients. It's a pretty sweet feature if you don't like to have a crazy contact list but email certain people often. Sometimes it's a hassle if you have contacts pop up which you no longer want to see or just want to keep things a bit cleaner.

Fortunately there is a built-in option to do a bit of housekeeping. Simply head to your Messages app, then press the Menu key and choose Options > Recent Contact Management. From here you can add people to contacts, remove items from your recent contacts list or clear the list out entirely. If you use the recent contacts option, this can be a good way to further tweak things to your liking. *While it's been available since OS 6, this feature may not be available in all OS versions.*

Topics: Email BlackBerry 101 How To Help Recent Contacts Help, How-To & Tips BlackBerry 101

Adam Zeis 3116 (articles) 2800 (forum posts)

22 comments

QuIcKsIlV3r May 9, 2012 at 2:05 pm

Awesome, never knew about this before. Thanks for the tip

pmccartney May 9, 2012 at 2:08 pm

Torch 9800 with OS 6.0.0.723...Not seeing it on my device.

diegonei May 9, 2012 at 3:18 pm

OS7.1 only.

jeremyn May 9, 2012 at 2:30 pm

The option to manage recent contacts must be an OS 7 thing as I don't see it on my VZW 9650 with 6.0.0.719.

siha May 9, 2012 at 2:52 pm

I think its only a 7.1 thing, running 7.0 on a 9900, option not there

Frostnacht May 9, 2012 at 2:52 pm

Me neither... :/ Bold 9780 with 6.0.0.723

curvezzz May 9, 2012 at 2:57 pm

9810/7.0.0.583 not seeing that either.

s2by10 May 9, 2012 at 3:06 pm

Also not seeing it. AT&T 9900 7.0.0.576

RichardE101 May 9, 2012 at 3:20 pm

I dont see anything on my Verizon Bold 9930 with the latest 7.1 OS.

bull_thumper May 9, 2012 at 4:47 pm

Ditto

MissoulaMarinerFan May 9, 2012 at 3:21 pm

Well, I can't see it, but If I go to Messages > Options > Message Display and Actions, there is a check box called "Show Recent Contacts When Composing Email" I wonder if that needs to be selected for awhile before the option to "Manage" the recent contacts appear?

bull_thumper May 9, 2012 at 4:49 pm

I just checked the "Show Recent Contacts when Composing Email" and mine has been checked all along even thought, just as the above poster, I'm on 7.1 with Verizon and don't have the menu option.

Heavens1 May 9, 2012 at 7:43 pm

My 9700 is on OS 6.0.0.723 and has had 'Show Recent Contacts when Composing Email' ticked for too long to remember, but I don't have that option as described in the article.

Wonder if it's only a BES thing?

kadzie Aug 17, 2012 at 3:12 am

how can i tick this option too?

houseane May 9, 2012 at 6:28 pm

9900 with 7.1 and I don't see it.