Recently, many iOS users have reported encountering the issue of "iPhone lost contacts after an update". In response, we have prepared this guide. In this article, we will introduce the potential reasons behind this problem, offer simple and swift tips for resolving it, and provide alternative methods for recovering iPhone contact data in cases where these tips may not be effective. Read to learn about them.
Lost your contacts after the iOS 17 update? There are several reasons that might result in the issue:
Based on the experiences of many users who have encountered this issue before, when faced with this problem, you can try the following quick tips to see if the issue can be resolved. If the problem persists even after attempting these solutions, then you can proceed to recover your data as outlined in Part 2. and Part 3.
1. Restart your iPhone.
2. Try sending a text.
3. Re-sync contacts to iCloud by tapping on "Settings" > [your name] > "iCloud" > the "Contacts" option.
4. Check your Google account to see if you still have the contacts.
5. Sign out of your Apple ID by tapping "Settings" > [your name] > the "Sign Out" option, then log into the account again.
If you have backups of your contacts on iCloud or iTunes, restoring them will be a straightforward process. Below are the steps to recover your contact data using iCloud and iTunes:
You can recover your lost contact data from iCloud both on your mobile device and your computer. Here are the steps to do so:
Step 1. Navigate to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Step 2. Click on [your name], located in the upper-right corner, and choose "Account Settings".
Step 3. Scroll down to locate the "Advanced" section, and then select "Restore Contacts".
Step 4. You'll be presented with a list of available archives. Locate the archive that includes all your contact entries by date and click "Restore".
Step 1. Erase All Content and Settings
In the "Settings" app, go to "General" > "Transfer or Reset iPhone" > "Erase All Content and Settings".
Please note that this will remove all data on your device, so make sure you have backed up the essential data before proceeding.
Step 2. Set Up Your iPhone Again
When your iPhone restarts, you will see the "Hello" screen. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your device. When you reach the "Apps & Data" screen, select the "Restore from iCloud Backup" option and sign in to your iCloud account with your Apple ID and password.
Step 3. Choose an iCloud Backup
After signing in, your iPhone will display a list of available iCloud backups. Select the backup that may contain the contacts you want to recover.
Your iPhone will then start restoring from the chosen backup. This process may take a while, depending on the size of the backup and your internet connection. Once the restore is complete, your contacts, along with other data from the selected backup, will be available on your iPhone.
If you've lost contacts on your iPhone after an update and have a previous iTunes backup that contains those missing contacts, you can recover them using iTunes.
Here's how to do it.
Step 1. Connect Your iPhone to Your Computer
Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable and open iTunes or Finder on macOS Catalina and later. (iTunes could not connect to this iPhone?)
Step 2. Select Your Device & Choose a Backup
In iTunes or Finder, click on your iPhone icon when it appears on the screen, and you'll see a summary of your device. Under the "Backups" section, click "Restore Backup".(In Finder, you'll find the option to "Restore Backup" directly.) A list of your available iTunes backups will appear. Choose the backup file that contains the contacts you want to recover.
Step 3. Check Your Contacts
Once the restore is complete, your iPhone will reboot. Open the "Contacts" app to check if your lost contacts have been recovered. They should now be available on your device.
Is it possible to recover lost contact data without a backup? - The answer is yes. With the two tools introduced in this section, you can easily achieve contact data recovery without backup. Read on to learn more about these methods.
Coolmuster iPhone Data Recovery is a professional iOS data recovery tool. With this software, you can not only easily recover lost data from iTunes or iCloud backup files but also directly retrieve deleted messages and contacts from your iOS device without a backup. This tool features a user-friendly design and supports the recovery of various files, including contacts, SMS, call logs, and more.
Here are some of the key features of Coolmuster iPhone Data Recovery:
This is how to retrieve the lost contacts using Coolmuster iPhone Data Recovery:
01Once you've successfully downloaded and installed the program on your computer, open it on your desktop. Select the "iOS Recovery" module, and proceed by connecting your iOS device to your computer using a USB cable. The software will promptly identify your device. To enable recognition, please tap the "Trust" option on your mobile device.
02On the interface, choose the specific data types you want to retrieve, then click "Start Scan" to proceed.
03Once the program completes scanning the data types you've selected, you'll be able to preview the detailed files within the interface. To retrieve contacts, select the "Contacts" option from the file list. You'll see a list of all recoverable contacts. Simply check the boxes next to the contacts you want to recover, and then click the "Recover to Computer" option.
Video Tutorial:
Coolmuster iPhone SMS + Contacts Recovery is a professional software designed for recovering lost SMS and contacts even without backup files during an iOS upgrade. With the help of this tool, you can easily export your SMS and contacts in HTML or XML format for convenient viewing.
Here are some of the key features of Coolmuster iPhone SMS + Contacts Recovery:
This is how to retrieve the lost contacts using Coolmuster iPhone SMS + Contacts Recovery:
01Launch the tool on your computer once you have successfully downloaded and installed it.
02Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable, and the program's interface will appear as shown below. Choose your desired data types and click "Start Scan" to proceed.
03Following the scan, you can preview comprehensive details of both deleted and existing files, including contact information such as home address, work title, company, and more. Navigate to a specific category from the left panel and pick individual items from the right side. Once you've made your selections, simply click the "Recover to Computer" button to swiftly retrieve them.
Video Tutorial:
In conclusion, if your contacts are lost after an update, you can try the way we mentioned in Part 1 to fix it first. If it fails, you can try to recover them. The existence of backup files offers a straightforward path to recovery, while those without backups can still rely on effective methods and tools such as Coolmuster iPhone Data Recovery or Coolmuster iPhone SMS + Contacts Recovery to retrieve their essential contact information.
Related Articles:
Quick and Easy Fixes: What to Do When You Find iPhone Contacts Missing
iPhone Deleted Contacts Randomly? Here's What You Need to Know
iCloud Contacts Missing? Here Are the Reasons and What to Do
14 Tricks to Fix iPhone Contacts Missing Names (Comprehensive Guide)
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