How to Recover Lost Contacts on Your Phone

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Contact RecoverySmartphoneData ManagementAndroidiPhoneMobile AppsBackupSecurityUser InterfaceTroubleshooting

Discovering that you've lost your contacts can be upsetting, but there are several ways you can get them back. Depending on the type of phone you have, the methods will vary, but the process is generally straightforward. This guide will walk you through various techniques for recovering lost contacts on both Android and iPhone devices.

Understanding the cause

Before delving into recovery methods, it's useful to understand why your contacts might be lost. Common reasons include:

• Accidental deletion
• Software update or crash
• Factory reset
• Replacing the device or SIM card
• Sync issues with your Google or iCloud account

Recovery methods for Android device

Check Google Account Sync

Most Android devices sync your contacts with your Google account. Here's how to check and recover them:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Scroll down and select Accounts.
3. Tap your Google account.
4. Make sure the Contacts toggle is enabled.
5. Go to Google Contacts on a web browser: contacts.google.com.
6. Check if your missing contacts are listed there.

Use the Google Contacts Restore Feature

If your contacts are synced with Google but have been recently deleted, you can retrieve them using the Restore feature:

1. Go to contacts.google.com on your web browser.
2. Click the Settings icon (gear) in the top right.
3. Select Undo changes.
4. Select the time period (maximum 30 days) when you lost the contacts.
5. Confirm the restore.
6. Open the Contacts app on your phone and refresh the contact list to see if your contacts have been restored.

Check the device's trash or recycle bin

Some devices have a trash or recycle bin for contacts, where deleted contacts are temporarily stored:

1. Open the Contacts app on your Android device.
2. Tap the Menu (three horizontal lines or dots) icon.
3. Find and select the Trash or Recycle Bin option.
4. Check if your lost contacts are there and restore them.

Use third-party apps

There are many third-party apps available on the Google Play Store that can help recover lost contacts. Some of the popular options are as follows:

• dr.fone - Data Recovery
• EaseUS MobiSaver
• DiskDigger

Download these apps and follow the on-screen instructions to recover your lost contacts. Note that some of these apps may require root access on your device.

Recovery methods for iPhone devices

Check iCloud Account

iPhones often sync contacts to an iCloud account. To retrieve them, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap your Apple ID at the top of the Settings menu.
3. Select iCloud.
4. Make sure the Contacts toggle is enabled.
5. Go to www.icloud.com on your computer and log in with your Apple ID.
6. Click Contacts to see if the missing contacts are listed there.

Use iCloud Backup to Restore Contacts

If your contacts were backed up to iCloud, you can restore them as follows:

1. Go to www.icloud.com on your computer and log in.
2. Click on Settings.
3. Scroll down to the Advanced section and select Restore Contacts.
4. Select the backup that probably contains your lost contacts and click Restore.
5. Wait for the process to complete and check your iPhone Contacts app.

Use iTunes Backup to Restore Contacts

If you backed up your iPhone using iTunes, you can restore your contacts from the backup:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes on your computer.
3. Select your iPhone when it appears in iTunes.
4. Click Restore Backup.
5. Select the backup that you think contains your lost contacts.
6. Click on Restore and wait for the process to complete.
7. Check your Contacts app to see if the missing contacts have been restored.

Check the 'Recently Deleted' Folder

The Photos app on iPhone sometimes temporarily saves deleted contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap Groups in the upper-left corner.
3. Check if there are any 'Recently Deleted' groups listed.
4. If found then tap on it and restore contacts.

Use a third-party recovery tool

Just like Android, you can use third-party tools for iPhone contact recovery:

• dr.fone - Data Recovery
• iMobie PhoneRescue
• Tenorshare Ultdata

Download and follow the procedures provided by these tools to retrieve your lost contacts.

Preventing future loss of connectivity

Losing contacts is inconvenient, but there are things you can do to prevent it from happening again:

Back up your contacts regularly

• On Android, be sure to sync your contacts with your Google account regularly.
• On iPhone, back up frequently to iCloud or iTunes.

Export contacts to a file

Both Android and iPhone let you export contacts to a file, which you can store safely:

For Android:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap the Menu (three horizontal lines or dots) icon.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select Export and save the file to your device or cloud storage.

For iPhone:

1. Go to iCloud.com and log in.
2. Click on Contacts.
3. Select all contacts and click on the gear icon at the bottom left.
4. Select Export vCard and save the file.

Use contact management apps

The following applications are designed to manage and back up your contacts:

• Backup of my contacts
• Contacts Backup & Restore
• MCBackup

These tools can simplify the process of keeping your contacts safe.

Conclusion

Recovering lost contacts on your phone is not a complicated process. By understanding the different methods available—whether by syncing accounts, using backup features, or using third-party tools—you can effectively recover your important contact information. Regularly backing up your contacts and taking preventive measures will help you avoid such problems in the future. Always make sure your contacts are stored securely in multiple locations to minimize the risk of loss.

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