diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
index aef8711f3..85e66e893 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
@@ -1285,6 +1285,12 @@ func processReceivedMsg(_ res: ChatResponse) async {
                 m.removeChat(connection.id)
             }
         }
+    case let .contactDeletedByContact(user, contact):
+        if active(user) && contact.directOrUsed {
+            await MainActor.run {
+                m.updateContact(contact)
+            }
+        }
     case let .contactConnected(user, contact, _):
         if active(user) && contact.directOrUsed {
             await MainActor.run {
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatInfoView.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatInfoView.swift
index ec4cb9009..81412bf31 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatInfoView.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatInfoView.swift
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ struct ChatInfoView: View {
 //                        synchronizeConnectionButtonForce()
 //                    }
                 }
-                .disabled(!contact.ready)
+                .disabled(!contact.ready || !contact.active)
 
                 if let contactLink = contact.contactLink {
                     Section {
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ struct ChatInfoView: View {
                     }
                 }
 
-                if contact.ready {
+                if contact.ready && contact.active {
                     Section("Servers") {
                         networkStatusRow()
                             .onTapGesture {
@@ -192,8 +192,7 @@ struct ChatInfoView: View {
                                 alert = .switchAddressAlert
                             }
                             .disabled(
-                                !contact.ready
-                                || connStats.rcvQueuesInfo.contains { $0.rcvSwitchStatus != nil }
+                                connStats.rcvQueuesInfo.contains { $0.rcvSwitchStatus != nil }
                                 || connStats.ratchetSyncSendProhibited
                             )
                             if connStats.rcvQueuesInfo.contains(where: { $0.rcvSwitchStatus != nil }) {
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItemView.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItemView.swift
index a79047ebc..31fe19c39 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItemView.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItemView.swift
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ struct ChatItemContentView<Content: View>: View {
         case let .rcvDecryptionError(msgDecryptError, msgCount): CIRcvDecryptionError(msgDecryptError: msgDecryptError, msgCount: msgCount, chatItem: chatItem)
         case let .rcvGroupInvitation(groupInvitation, memberRole): groupInvitationItemView(groupInvitation, memberRole)
         case let .sndGroupInvitation(groupInvitation, memberRole): groupInvitationItemView(groupInvitation, memberRole)
+        case .rcvDirectEvent: eventItemView()
         case .rcvGroupEvent(.memberConnected): CIEventView(eventText: membersConnectedItemText)
         case .rcvGroupEvent(.memberCreatedContact): CIMemberCreatedContactView(chatItem: chatItem)
         case .rcvGroupEvent: eventItemView()
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatView.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatView.swift
index 81a063dcf..389080efc 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatView.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Chat/ChatView.swift
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ struct ChatView: View {
                     HStack {
                         if contact.allowsFeature(.calls) {
                             callButton(contact, .audio, imageName: "phone")
-                                .disabled(!contact.ready)
+                                .disabled(!contact.ready || !contact.active)
                         }
                         Menu {
                             if contact.allowsFeature(.calls) {
@@ -159,11 +159,11 @@ struct ChatView: View {
                                 } label: {
                                     Label("Video call", systemImage: "video")
                                 }
-                                .disabled(!contact.ready)
+                                .disabled(!contact.ready || !contact.active)
                             }
                             searchButton()
                             toggleNtfsButton(chat)
-                                .disabled(!contact.ready)
+                                .disabled(!contact.ready || !contact.active)
                         } label: {
                             Image(systemName: "ellipsis")
                         }
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ struct ChatView: View {
     @ViewBuilder private func connectingText() -> some View {
         if case let .direct(contact) = chat.chatInfo,
            !contact.ready,
+           contact.active,
            !contact.nextSendGrpInv {
             Text("connecting…")
                 .font(.caption)
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListNavLink.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListNavLink.swift
index e7580530b..f445ae4b5 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListNavLink.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListNavLink.swift
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ struct ChatListNavLink: View {
             }
             Button {
                 AlertManager.shared.showAlert(
-                    contact.ready
+                    contact.ready || !contact.active
                     ? deleteContactAlert(chat.chatInfo)
                     : deletePendingContactAlert(chat, contact)
                 )
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatPreviewView.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatPreviewView.swift
index 3ac8fada7..2eb6d9f6b 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatPreviewView.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatPreviewView.swift
@@ -57,19 +57,26 @@ struct ChatPreviewView: View {
     }
 
     @ViewBuilder private func chatPreviewImageOverlayIcon() -> some View {
-        if case let .group(groupInfo) = chat.chatInfo {
+        switch chat.chatInfo {
+        case let .direct(contact):
+            if !contact.active {
+                inactiveIcon()
+            } else {
+                EmptyView()
+            }
+        case let .group(groupInfo):
             switch (groupInfo.membership.memberStatus) {
-            case .memLeft: groupInactiveIcon()
-            case .memRemoved: groupInactiveIcon()
-            case .memGroupDeleted: groupInactiveIcon()
+            case .memLeft: inactiveIcon()
+            case .memRemoved: inactiveIcon()
+            case .memGroupDeleted: inactiveIcon()
             default: EmptyView()
             }
-        } else {
+        default:
             EmptyView()
         }
     }
 
-    @ViewBuilder private func groupInactiveIcon() -> some View {
+    @ViewBuilder private func inactiveIcon() -> some View {
         Image(systemName: "multiply.circle.fill")
             .foregroundColor(.secondary.opacity(0.65))
             .background(Circle().foregroundColor(Color(uiColor: .systemBackground)))
@@ -80,7 +87,6 @@ struct ChatPreviewView: View {
         switch chat.chatInfo {
         case let .direct(contact):
             previewTitle(contact.verified == true ? verifiedIcon + t : t)
-                .foregroundColor(chat.chatInfo.ready ? .primary : .secondary)
         case let .group(groupInfo):
             let v = previewTitle(t)
             switch (groupInfo.membership.memberStatus) {
@@ -183,7 +189,7 @@ struct ChatPreviewView: View {
                 if !contact.ready {
                     if contact.nextSendGrpInv {
                         chatPreviewInfoText("send direct message")
-                    } else {
+                    } else if contact.active {
                         chatPreviewInfoText("connecting…")
                     }
                 }
@@ -228,16 +234,20 @@ struct ChatPreviewView: View {
     @ViewBuilder private func chatStatusImage() -> some View {
         switch chat.chatInfo {
         case let .direct(contact):
-            switch (chatModel.contactNetworkStatus(contact)) {
-            case .connected: incognitoIcon(chat.chatInfo.incognito)
-            case .error:
-                Image(systemName: "exclamationmark.circle")
-                    .resizable()
-                    .scaledToFit()
-                    .frame(width: 17, height: 17)
-                    .foregroundColor(.secondary)
-            default:
-                ProgressView()
+            if contact.active {
+                switch (chatModel.contactNetworkStatus(contact)) {
+                case .connected: incognitoIcon(chat.chatInfo.incognito)
+                case .error:
+                    Image(systemName: "exclamationmark.circle")
+                        .resizable()
+                        .scaledToFit()
+                        .frame(width: 17, height: 17)
+                        .foregroundColor(.secondary)
+                default:
+                    ProgressView()
+                }
+            } else {
+                incognitoIcon(chat.chatInfo.incognito)
             }
         default:
             incognitoIcon(chat.chatInfo.incognito)
diff --git a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift
index b0834f571..951f726be 100644
--- a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift
@@ -462,6 +462,7 @@ public enum ChatResponse: Decodable, Error {
     case contactAlreadyExists(user: UserRef, contact: Contact)
     case contactRequestAlreadyAccepted(user: UserRef, contact: Contact)
     case contactDeleted(user: UserRef, contact: Contact)
+    case contactDeletedByContact(user: UserRef, contact: Contact)
     case chatCleared(user: UserRef, chatInfo: ChatInfo)
     case userProfileNoChange(user: User)
     case userProfileUpdated(user: User, fromProfile: Profile, toProfile: Profile, updateSummary: UserProfileUpdateSummary)
@@ -599,6 +600,7 @@ public enum ChatResponse: Decodable, Error {
             case .contactAlreadyExists: return "contactAlreadyExists"
             case .contactRequestAlreadyAccepted: return "contactRequestAlreadyAccepted"
             case .contactDeleted: return "contactDeleted"
+            case .contactDeletedByContact: return "contactDeletedByContact"
             case .chatCleared: return "chatCleared"
             case .userProfileNoChange: return "userProfileNoChange"
             case .userProfileUpdated: return "userProfileUpdated"
@@ -735,6 +737,7 @@ public enum ChatResponse: Decodable, Error {
             case let .contactAlreadyExists(u, contact): return withUser(u, String(describing: contact))
             case let .contactRequestAlreadyAccepted(u, contact): return withUser(u, String(describing: contact))
             case let .contactDeleted(u, contact): return withUser(u, String(describing: contact))
+            case let .contactDeletedByContact(u, contact): return withUser(u, String(describing: contact))
             case let .chatCleared(u, chatInfo): return withUser(u, String(describing: chatInfo))
             case .userProfileNoChange: return noDetails
             case let .userProfileUpdated(u, _, toProfile, _): return withUser(u, String(describing: toProfile))
@@ -1420,6 +1423,7 @@ public enum ChatErrorType: Decodable {
     case invalidConnReq
     case invalidChatMessage(connection: Connection, message: String)
     case contactNotReady(contact: Contact)
+    case contactNotActive(contact: Contact)
     case contactDisabled(contact: Contact)
     case connectionDisabled(connection: Connection)
     case groupUserRole(groupInfo: GroupInfo, requiredRole: GroupMemberRole)
diff --git a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
index c0ec04857..f9996d840 100644
--- a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
@@ -1373,6 +1373,7 @@ public struct Contact: Identifiable, Decodable, NamedChat {
     public var activeConn: Connection
     public var viaGroup: Int64?
     public var contactUsed: Bool
+    public var contactStatus: ContactStatus
     public var chatSettings: ChatSettings
     public var userPreferences: Preferences
     public var mergedPreferences: ContactUserPreferences
@@ -1384,8 +1385,9 @@ public struct Contact: Identifiable, Decodable, NamedChat {
     public var id: ChatId { get { "@\(contactId)" } }
     public var apiId: Int64 { get { contactId } }
     public var ready: Bool { get { activeConn.connStatus == .ready } }
+    public var active: Bool { get { contactStatus == .active } }
     public var sendMsgEnabled: Bool { get {
-        (ready && !(activeConn.connectionStats?.ratchetSyncSendProhibited ?? false))
+        (ready && active && !(activeConn.connectionStats?.ratchetSyncSendProhibited ?? false))
         || nextSendGrpInv
     } }
     public var nextSendGrpInv: Bool { get { contactGroupMemberId != nil && !contactGrpInvSent } }
@@ -1430,6 +1432,7 @@ public struct Contact: Identifiable, Decodable, NamedChat {
         profile: LocalProfile.sampleData,
         activeConn: Connection.sampleData,
         contactUsed: true,
+        contactStatus: .active,
         chatSettings: ChatSettings.defaults,
         userPreferences: Preferences.sampleData,
         mergedPreferences: ContactUserPreferences.sampleData,
@@ -1439,6 +1442,11 @@ public struct Contact: Identifiable, Decodable, NamedChat {
     )
 }
 
+public enum ContactStatus: String, Decodable {
+    case active = "active"
+    case deleted = "deleted"
+}
+
 public struct ContactRef: Decodable, Equatable {
     var contactId: Int64
     public var agentConnId: String
@@ -2091,6 +2099,7 @@ public struct ChatItem: Identifiable, Decodable {
         case .rcvDecryptionError: return showNtfDir
         case .rcvGroupInvitation: return showNtfDir
         case .sndGroupInvitation: return showNtfDir
+        case .rcvDirectEvent: return false
         case .rcvGroupEvent(rcvGroupEvent: let rcvGroupEvent):
             switch rcvGroupEvent {
             case .groupUpdated: return false
@@ -2513,6 +2522,7 @@ public enum CIContent: Decodable, ItemContent {
     case rcvDecryptionError(msgDecryptError: MsgDecryptError, msgCount: UInt32)
     case rcvGroupInvitation(groupInvitation: CIGroupInvitation, memberRole: GroupMemberRole)
     case sndGroupInvitation(groupInvitation: CIGroupInvitation, memberRole: GroupMemberRole)
+    case rcvDirectEvent(rcvDirectEvent: RcvDirectEvent)
     case rcvGroupEvent(rcvGroupEvent: RcvGroupEvent)
     case sndGroupEvent(sndGroupEvent: SndGroupEvent)
     case rcvConnEvent(rcvConnEvent: RcvConnEvent)
@@ -2542,6 +2552,7 @@ public enum CIContent: Decodable, ItemContent {
             case let .rcvDecryptionError(msgDecryptError, _): return msgDecryptError.text
             case let .rcvGroupInvitation(groupInvitation, _): return groupInvitation.text
             case let .sndGroupInvitation(groupInvitation, _): return groupInvitation.text
+            case let .rcvDirectEvent(rcvDirectEvent): return rcvDirectEvent.text
             case let .rcvGroupEvent(rcvGroupEvent): return rcvGroupEvent.text
             case let .sndGroupEvent(sndGroupEvent): return sndGroupEvent.text
             case let .rcvConnEvent(rcvConnEvent): return rcvConnEvent.text
@@ -3195,6 +3206,16 @@ public enum CIGroupInvitationStatus: String, Decodable {
     case expired
 }
 
+public enum RcvDirectEvent: Decodable {
+    case contactDeleted
+
+    var text: String {
+        switch self {
+        case .contactDeleted: return NSLocalizedString("deleted contact", comment: "rcv direct event chat item")
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 public enum RcvGroupEvent: Decodable {
     case memberAdded(groupMemberId: Int64, profile: Profile)
     case memberConnected