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Adding & managing contacts

Contacts represent the people you care about. Ember allows you to log their detailed profile cards, configure custom fields, connect relationships, and organize them into circles.

Manage photos, build drawn avatars, or import from your phone to keep your directory growing.

Add a person

  1. On the People tab, tap the + button at the bottom-right, then choose Add Person in the Add a person sheet (the sheet also offers Pick one from contacts, Add from contacts, and Add from QR code).
  2. Type the contact's name in the Name * field (this is the only required field).
  3. Optionally, add a Nickname, choose their Relationship to me, enter a Birthday, or write initial Notes.
  4. Tap Save to create the contact.
9:41
Add PersonSave
Name *
Mai Anh
Full name
e.g. Minh Nguyen (optional)
Nickname
Mai
Relationship to me
Close friend
Gender
MaleFemaleOther
Birthday
Birthday (YYYY-MM-DD)
Full dateYear only
1992-06-02
Auto-computed:
Western Zodiac: Gemini
Contact Info
Phone
+84 90 123 4567
Weather Address
Hanoi
More info
Instagram
@maianh
Company
Ember Studio
+ Add field
Circles
✦ ❤️ Inner Circle👨‍👩‍👧 FamilyPersonal💼 WorkInterests🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Friends
Tags & Personality
Tags (comma-separated)
VIP, Mentor
Personality tags (comma-separated)
Warm, Organized
Notes
Habits, allergies, family, anything worth remembering…
Type the contact's name in the Name field (this is the only required field).

Free users can add up to 20 contacts. Upgrade to Pro for 2,000 contacts, or Ultra for 10,000 contacts.

View a contact details page

  1. Open the People tab.
  2. Tap any contact in the list to open their personal card, showing all active blocks (e.g. quick actions, circles, notes, birthday, reminders).
9:41
Emily
Emily
Wife · Female
Inner Circle
Interactions
Notes
Transactions
Photo
Weather
28°
Sunny
Hanoi
14:30
Birthday & Zodiac
Birthday
1992-06-02 · 34 years old
♊
Western Zodiac
Gemini
Contact Info
Phone
+84 90 123 4567
Tags
VIPMentor
Personality
WarmOrganizedPhotography
Notes
Loves matcha and indie films
Interactions (3)Transactions (2)Notes (1)Photos (4)
Quick call about the weekendtoday
Loves matcha and indie films
Coffee catch-up downtown3 days ago
Loves matcha, allergic to peanuts
Noteslast week
Loves matcha, allergic to peanuts
Message2 weeks ago
Asked about moving to the new house in Da Nang.
Call3 weeks ago
Called to congratulate on the new coffee shop, promised to visit Da Nang.
Meeting2 months ago
High school reunion dinner, talked late into the night.
Note3 months ago
First daughter named Su, about to start primary school.
Email5 months ago
Sent photos from our university trip to Fansipan.
View a contact details page

Edit contact details & personality tags

  1. On the contact details page, tap Edit in the top right.
  2. Modify fields such as Full name, Gender, Phone, or Weather Address.
  3. Add traits to Personality tags (comma-separated) (e.g., analytical, caring, direct).
  4. Tap Save to store the updates.
9:41
Edit
Name *
Mai Anh
Full name
Mai Anh Nguyen
Nickname
Mai
Relationship to me
Close friend
Gender
MaleFemaleOther
Birthday
Full dateYear only
Birthday (YYYY-MM-DD)
1992-06-02
Auto-computed:
Western Zodiac: Gemini
Contact Info
Phone
+84 90 123 4567
More info
Instagram
@maianh
Company
Ember Studio
Circles
Inner CircleFamilyWorkFriends
Tags & Personality
Tags (comma-separated)
VIP, Mentor
Personality tags (comma-separated)
Warm, Organized
Notes
Loves matcha and indie films
Modify fields such as Full name, Gender, Phone, or Weather Address.

Search & filter contacts

  1. In the People tab, tap the search bar containing Search by name, nickname, notes, phone, social….
  2. Type your query to search across names, nicknames, custom fields, and notes.
  3. Tap filter chips (e.g., Circle or Tag) under the search bar to refine results.
9:41
All people (12)
Search by name, nickname, notes, phone, social…
Emily
Emily
Wife · today
Inner Circle
Ethan
Ethan
Son · yesterday
Family
Robert
Robert
Father · 5 days ago
Family
Susan
Susan
Mother · 2 weeks ago
Family
David
David
Co-founder · last week
Work
Mark
Mark
Friend · 3 weeks ago
Friends
Sophia
Sophia
Friend · never met
Friends
T
Thomas
Former boss · 2 months ago
Work
J
Jack
Friend · yesterday
Friends
S
Sarah
Colleague · 5 days ago
Work
G
George
Uncle · last month
Family
J
Jessica
Colleague · 3 weeks ago
In the People tab, tap the search bar containing Search by name, nickname, notes, phone, social….

Create a customized Avatar

  1. On the contact form, tap Edit avatar.
  2. Under Face, Hair, and Clothing, customize options like skin tone, hair color, head shape, and clothes.
  3. Tap Randomize for a random look, or Reset to auto to clear.
  4. Tap Save to apply the drawn avatar.
9:41
Preview
FaceHairClothing
Skin tone
Head shape
Beard
Eyebrows
Eyes
Mouth
Create a customized Avatar

Drawn avatars are free. Uploading a custom photo from your library or taking a photo is a Pro feature.

Add a photo galleryPro feature

  1. On the contact details page, tap the Photos quick action.
  2. Tap the + button in the gallery to upload photos of moments together.
  3. Swipe horizontally to browse through the gallery.
9:41
Emily
Emily
Wife · Female
Inner Circle
Interactions
Notes
Transactions
Photo
Weather
28°
Sunny
Hanoi
14:30
Birthday & Zodiac
Birthday
1992-06-02 · 34 years old
♊
Western Zodiac
Gemini
Contact Info
Phone
+84 90 123 4567
Tags
VIPMentor
Personality
WarmOrganizedPhotography
Notes
Loves matcha and indie films
Interactions (3)Transactions (2)Notes (1)Photos (4)
Quick call about the weekendtoday
Loves matcha and indie films
Coffee catch-up downtown3 days ago
Loves matcha, allergic to peanuts
Noteslast week
Loves matcha, allergic to peanuts
Message2 weeks ago
Asked about moving to the new house in Da Nang.
Call3 weeks ago
Called to congratulate on the new coffee shop, promised to visit Da Nang.
Meeting2 months ago
High school reunion dinner, talked late into the night.
Note3 months ago
First daughter named Su, about to start primary school.
Email5 months ago
Sent photos from our university trip to Fansipan.
On the contact details page, tap the Photos quick action.

Relationships and suggested relationships

  1. Ember analyzes birthdates and family structures to auto-suggest connections.
  2. To link contacts manually, scroll to the Relationships section and tap Add relationship.
  3. Select the linked contact and define the relationship type (e.g., spouse, partner, parent, child, sibling). Ember will automatically link them bidirectionally.
9:41
Emily
Emily
Wife · Female
Inner Circle
Contact Info
Phone
+84 90 123 4567
Relationships
R
Robert
Father
S
Susan
Mother
Notes

Loves matcha and indie films

To link contacts manually, scroll to the Relationships section and tap Add relationship.
9:41
Add relationship
Choose relationship
Select the linked contact and define the relationship type (e.g., spouse, partner, parent, child, sibling). Ember will automatically link them bidirectionally.
9:41
Add relationship
Choose person
Search name...
R
Robert
Parent
S
Susan
Relationships
E
Ethan
Birthday
D
David
Robert and David already have a relationship. Remove it first to set a different one.
Select the linked contact and define the relationship type (e.g., spouse, partner, parent, child, sibling). Ember will automatically link them bidirectionally.
9:41
E
Emily
Relationship saved
Suggested relationships
Based on the relationships you just added.
R
Robert
Parent – childE
Ethan
Because Susan is Emily's spouse, and Emily is a parent of Ethan.
R
Robert
SpousesS
Susan
Because Robert and Susan are both parents of Ethan.
Relationships and suggested relationships

Custom fields (More info)

  1. Edit a contact and scroll to the More info section.
  2. Tap + Add field.
  3. Select from predefined categories (Social media: Zalo, Instagram, TikTok; Personal: Favorite food, Hobbies; Work: Job title, Company).
  4. Enter the details and tap Save.
9:41
Manage fieldsReorder, hide, rename or remove your fields
Contact
Phone
Email
Zalo
Social media
Instagram
TikTok
Work
Company
Job title
Tap + Add field.

Import contacts from your phone

  1. On the People tab, tap the + button at the bottom-right, then choose Add from contacts in the Add a person sheet.
  2. If prompted, allow Contacts access needed in your device OS settings.
  3. Select contacts to import, or tap Select all / Deselect all.
  4. Tap Import 2 to add them to your Ember database.
9:41
Import from contacts
Emily+84 90 123 4567Already in Ember
Robert+84 90 234 5678Already in Ember
James Carter+84 91 222 3333
Olivia Bennett+84 98 444 5555
William Hayes+84 97 666 7777
Ava Mitchell+84 96 888 9999
Noah Parker+84 95 000 1111
Mia Reed+84 93 111 2222
Select contacts to import, or tap Select all / Deselect all.

Delete a contact

  1. Open the contact's page and tap the trash icon in the top-right corner.
  2. A confirmation prompt will appear: Delete Emily? All interactions and reminders will be deleted. This cannot be undone.
  3. Tap Delete to confirm.
9:41
Emily
Emily
Wife · Female
Inner Circle
Interactions
Notes
Transactions
Photo
Weather
28°
Sunny
Hanoi
14:30
Birthday & Zodiac
Birthday
1992-06-02 · 34 years old
♊
Western Zodiac
Gemini
Contact Info
Phone
+84 90 123 4567
Tags
VIPMentor
Personality
WarmOrganizedPhotography
Notes
Loves matcha and indie films
Interactions (3)Transactions (2)Notes (1)Photos (4)
Quick call about the weekendtoday
Loves matcha and indie films
Coffee catch-up downtown3 days ago
Loves matcha, allergic to peanuts
Noteslast week
Loves matcha, allergic to peanuts
Message2 weeks ago
Asked about moving to the new house in Da Nang.
Call3 weeks ago
Called to congratulate on the new coffee shop, promised to visit Da Nang.
Meeting2 months ago
High school reunion dinner, talked late into the night.
Note3 months ago
First daughter named Su, about to start primary school.
Email5 months ago
Sent photos from our university trip to Fansipan.
Open the contact's page and tap the trash icon in the top-right corner.

On this page

How many contacts can I store on the Free plan?

You can store up to 20 contacts on the Free plan. Upgrade to Pro for 2,000, or Ultra for 10,000 contacts.

Will importing contacts delete my phone contacts?

No. Ember only copies contacts from your phone directory into the app. Your phone contacts remain completely safe and untouched.