diff --git a/components/contacts/__tests__/contacts-app.test.tsx b/components/contacts/__tests__/contacts-app.test.tsx
index 830519bfd..a69a0e1d4 100644
--- a/components/contacts/__tests__/contacts-app.test.tsx
+++ b/components/contacts/__tests__/contacts-app.test.tsx
@@ -131,6 +131,21 @@ describe('ContactsApp', () => {
     expect(useContactStore.getState().selectedContactId).toBe('c-bob');
   });
 
+  it('adds the open contact to the selection on Ctrl+click, as Files does', () => {
+    renderContacts();
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Alice Smith'));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Bob Jones'), { ctrlKey: true });
+    expect([...useContactStore.getState().selectedContactIds].sort()).toEqual(['c-alice', 'c-bob']);
+  });
+
+  it('selects from the open contact on Shift+click', () => {
+    const carol: ContactCard = { ...bob, id: 'c-carol', name: { full: 'Carol King' }, emails: { e0: { address: 'carol@example.com' } } };
+    renderContacts([alice, bob, carol]);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Bob Jones'));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Carol King'), { shiftKey: true });
+    expect([...useContactStore.getState().selectedContactIds].sort()).toEqual(['c-bob', 'c-carol']);
+  });
+
   it('leaves an untouched contact form without asking', () => {
     renderContacts();
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Alice Smith'));
diff --git a/components/contacts/contact-list.tsx b/components/contacts/contact-list.tsx
index 6833b8d1e..6f2304f2c 100644
--- a/components/contacts/contact-list.tsx
+++ b/components/contacts/contact-list.tsx
@@ -720,11 +720,17 @@ export function ContactList({
                 density={density}
                 selectedContactIds={selectedContactIds}
                 onClick={(e) => {
+                  // The open contact counts as selected, as a clicked file does
+                  // in Files: Ctrl/⌘+click and Shift+click build on it.
+                  const startFromOpen = !hasSelection && !!selectedContactId
+                    && selectedContactId !== contact.id && sortedIds.includes(selectedContactId);
                   if (e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey) {
                     e.preventDefault();
+                    if (startFromOpen) onToggleSelection(selectedContactId);
                     onToggleSelection(contact.id);
                   } else if (e.shiftKey) {
                     e.preventDefault();
+                    if (startFromOpen) onToggleSelection(selectedContactId);
                     onSelectRangeContacts(contact.id, sortedIds);
                   } else {
                     if (hasSelection) onClearSelection();