First, let's think about why your contacts might have gone missing. Sometimes, you cyprus email data might have accidentally deleted them. It happens to many people! Also, when your iPhone software updates, sometimes things can go wrong. Your contacts might disappear after a software update. Another reason could be problems with syncing your contacts with iCloud or other accounts. For example, if your iCloud settings are not right, your contacts might not be stored properly. Therefore, understanding these reasons can help you figure out the best way to get them back.
Where Do Deleted Contacts Go?
When you delete a contact from your iPhone, it does not always disappear forever right away. Sometimes, it stays in a temporary place for a little while. Think of it like a recycle bin on your computer. However, iPhones do not have a specific recycle bin for contacts. But, if you are using iCloud to store your contacts, there is a chance they are still there. Furthermore, if you have backed up your iPhone recently, your contacts might be safe in that backup. So, the first step is to check these places.
First of all, let's check your iCloud account. If you had iCloud Contacts turned on, your contacts were likely stored in the cloud. To see if they are there, you can go to the iCloud website on a computer. Sign in with your Apple ID. Then, look for the "Contacts" section. If you see your missing contacts there, you can usually get them back to your iPhone. Moreover, check if you have other accounts like Gmail or Outlook connected to your iPhone. Sometimes, your contacts might be synced with these accounts instead of iCloud. So, check the contacts in those accounts too.
Checking iCloud on the Web
To check your iCloud contacts on a computer, first, open a web browser like Safari, Chrome, or Firefox. After that, go to the website iCloud.com. Next, you will see a place to sign in. Enter your Apple ID and password. This is the same Apple ID you use on your iPhone. Once you are signed in, you will see different apps and sections. Look for "Contacts" and click on it. Now, you should see a list of all the contacts that are currently synced with your iCloud account. Carefully check if your missing contacts are in this list. If they are, that is great news! You can then make sure your iPhone is set up to sync with iCloud Contacts to get them back on your phone.
Furthermore, if you accidentally deleted contacts from iCloud.com, there is still hope. iCloud often keeps a version of your contacts that you can restore. On the iCloud website, go to "Account Settings." Look for an option like "Restore Contacts" under the "Advanced" section. You might see a list of archives of your contacts from different dates and times. You can choose one of these archives to restore. However, remember that restoring from an archive will replace your current iCloud contacts with the ones from the archive. So, make sure to check the date of the archive before restoring. Additionally, after restoring, it might take some time for the contacts to reappear on your iPhone. Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi during this process.
Restoring from an iCloud Backup
Besides checking your iCloud contacts directly, you can also restore your entire iPhone from an iCloud backup. If you made a backup of your iPhone before you lost your contacts, this backup might contain them. To do this, you will need to erase all content and settings on your iPhone. Then, during the setup process, you can choose to restore from an iCloud backup.
First, go to the "Settings" app on your iPhone. Next, tap on your name at the top. Then, go to "iCloud" and then "iCloud Backup." Here, you can see if you have any recent backups. If you find a backup that was made before you deleted your contacts, you can use it. To start the restore process, go back to the main "Settings" menu. Then, go to "General" and scroll down to "Transfer or Reset iPhone." Tap on "Erase All Content and Settings." Your iPhone will restart and guide you through the setup process. When you reach the "Apps & Data" screen, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup." Sign in with your Apple ID and choose the backup you want to restore. Wait for the restore process to finish. After it is done, check if your deleted contacts are back on your iPhone. However, remember that restoring from a backup will also bring back everything else that was on your phone at that time. Anything you added after that backup will be lost.
Checking Other Synced Accounts
Apart from iCloud, your iPhone can also sync contacts with other accounts like Google (Gmail), Microsoft Exchange, or Yahoo. If you think your contacts might be stored in one of these accounts, you should check them.
To check these accounts, go to "Settings" on your iPhone. Then, scroll down and tap on "Mail." Next, tap on "Accounts." Here, you will see a list of all the email and other accounts connected to your iPhone. Tap on each account and see if the "Contacts" option is turned on. If it is, your contacts might be synced with that account. To view the contacts from a specific account, open the "Contacts" app. Then, tap on "Lists" at the top left. You should see a list of all your contact sources, including iCloud and any other connected accounts. Select the account you want to check. Look through the contacts listed there to see if your missing contacts are present. If you find them, you can ensure that syncing is turned on for that account so they reappear in your main contacts list. Furthermore, sometimes you might need to refresh the contacts list or restart your iPhone for the contacts to show up after turning on sync.
Using a Computer Backup (iTunes or Finder)
If you regularly connect your iPhone to a computer and back it up using iTunes (on older macOS versions or Windows) or Finder (on newer macOS versions), your deleted contacts might be in one of these backups. Restoring from a computer backup will also restore your entire iPhone to the state it was in when the backup was made.
First, connect your iPhone to the computer you usually use for backups. If you are using a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Finder. If you are using an older macOS version or a Windows PC, open iTunes. In Finder, your iPhone should appear in the sidebar under "Locations." Click on it. In iTunes, your iPhone icon will appear at the top left. Click on it. You will see a summary page of your iPhone. Look for the "Restore Backup" option. Before you click it, make sure you choose the correct backup. Ideally, pick a backup that was made before you deleted your contacts. However, remember that restoring from a computer backup will erase all the current data on your iPhone and replace it with the data from the backup. So, any new photos, messages, or other data you added after that backup will be lost. After you select the backup and click "Restore," wait for the process to finish. Once done, check if your deleted contacts have been restored to your iPhone.