iPhone Text Messages Show Number, not Person’s Name

Issue: my text messages show the phone number, not the person’s name

A client complained that their text messages only displayed the person’s phone number. Even though the contact was saved in their phone, it would not display the contact’s name in the text message. It only showed the phone number. We resolved this by taking the following steps:

1. Click “Settings” –> “Contacts” –> Short Name
2. Toggle the green button next to “Short Name” to the OFF position
3. Toggle the green button next to “Short Name” back to the ON position
4. Double click the HOME button
5. Find the messages app in the list of open apps and scroll up to close
6. Click HOME and re-open your text messages

This did the trick for the client. The text messages displayed the contacts name as expected.

Additional Resources

• 15 Annoying iPhone 7 Problems and How To Fix Them
• Common iPhone Problems and How To Fix Them