Exploring 3 Effective Methods to Restore Contacts on iPhone

Losing important contacts from your iPhone can be a distressing experience. The thought of losing valuable contact information can be overwhelming, whether due to accidental deletion, device damage, or software issues. Fortunately, there are reliable methods available to restore contacts on iPhone.

This article shares three useful methods to get lost contacts back on your iPhone. Whether you have a suitable backup, these methods will help you restore your deleted iPhone contact information.

Restore Contacts on iPhone

Part 1. Retrieve Deleted Contacts on iPhone Without Backup

In case you don't have an iCloud or iTunes backup, or if those backups do not include your contacts, you can still use some third-party data recovery tools to restore your lost contacts. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you retrieve deleted iPhone contacts using Aiseesoft iPhone Data Recovery.

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  • View all existing and lost iPhone/iPad contacts and recover selected ones.
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Step 1:
Restoring deleted contacts on an iPhone without iCloud and iTunes backups can be a bit challenging. Still, you can try using a third-party data recovery tool specifically designed for iOS devices. To initiate the deleted contacts recovery process, you should install the reliable iPhone Data Recovery on your computer first.
Step 2:
Follow the instructions to install and run it. Connect your iPhone once the software is launched. It should detect your iOS device automatically. It enables you to retrieve your deleted iPhone contacts directly from the device or a suitable iTunes/iCloud backup.
Screen
Step 3:
Ensure you choose the Recover from iOS Device mode and click Start Scan. The software will scan your iPhone for deleted contacts. This process may take some time, depending on the amount of data on your device. Besides deleted contacts, it also lets you restore messages, photos, call logs, music, videos, notes, and other files.
Start Scan Deleted Contacts on iPhone
Step 4:
After the scan is complete, preview the recovered contacts and select the ones you want to restore. Click Contacts on the left panel to view existing and lost data. To quickly find the deleted contacts on your iPhone, click Show All and select Show Deleted Only.
Step 5:
Click Restore to Device to get these selected contacts back to your iPhone. Or you can click Recover and select the correct location on your computer to save the recovered contacts.
Retrieve Deleted Contacts on iPhone without Backup

Part 2. How to Restore Your Deleted Contacts on iPhone from iCloud

One of the simplest ways to restore contacts on your iPhone is by utilizing iCloud backup. If you have enabled iCloud backup and regularly backed up your device, this method can be highly effective.

Retrieve Deleted Contacts on iPhone Without Computer

Step 1:
First, make sure that your iPhone has a stable internet connection and that iCloud sync is enabled for contacts. Go to iCloud from the Settings app and make sure the toggle next to Contacts is switched on. If it's already turned on, proceed to the next step.
Enable iPhone Contacts Back Up to iCloud
Step 2:
In the iCloud settings, locate the Contacts option and turn off the toggle switch. Tap Keep on My iPhone and then turn Contacts on again. Choose Merge in the popup to allow your iPhone to sync your contacts with iCloud. It lets you easily retrieve deleted contacts on an iPhone without a computer. Click here to know how to do when iPhone contacts not syncing to iCloud.
Restore Contacts on iPhone from iCloud Merge

Recover iPhone Contacts Using iCloud Data Recovery

If your iPhone contacts were synced with iCloud before they got deleted, you can restore them from the iCloud website easily. Go to its official site on your computer and sign in with your Apple ID.

Click Contacts to display a list of all your contacts. Check if the deleted contacts are present here. If the deleted contacts are present, select them and click the settings button (gear icon) in the lower-left corner. Choose Export vCard to store the contacts on your computer.

If you can’t find your deleted iPhone contacts, go to iCloud Settings from your account profile in the top-right corner. Under the Data Recovery tab, click Restore Contacts.

iCloud Data Recovery Restore Contacts

Choose an iCloud backup to retrieve deleted contacts on your iPhone. Click the Restore button next to it.

Get Contacts Back on iPhone Using iCloud Data Recovery

Part 3. How to Recover Contacts on iPhone from iTunes Backup

If you regularly sync your iPhone data with iTunes, you can restore your contacts using an iTunes backup. This method can help you retrieve lost contacts even if you don't have an active iCloud backup.

Step 1:
Connect your iPhone to the computer, enter iTunes, and select your device when it appears in iTunes. Go to the Summary section and choose Restore Backup.
Step 2:
Select the most recent backup that includes your deleted iPhone contacts and click Restore. Wait for the restore process, and ensure you do not disconnect your iPhone during this process.
Restore Contacts on iPhone from iTunes Backup

If your Mac runs macOS Catalina or a later system, you can choose to recover iPhone contacts through Finder. Connect your device and open Finder. When your iPhone appears on the left sidebar under the Locations section. Go to the General tab and click Restore Backup. Then select the latest backup and click OK to start the contacts restoring process.

Restore Deleted iPhone Contacts on Mac Using Finder

Please note that the success of the iPhone contacts recovery process may vary depending on various factors, such as the time elapsed since the contacts were deleted and the extent of data overwriting on your iPhone. It's always recommended to regularly back up your iPhone to avoid data loss.

Part 4. Several Tips to Retrieve Deleted Contacts from iPhone Memory

As soon as you realize that you have accidentally deleted some important contacts, stop using your iPhone. Continued usage of the iOS device might overwrite the deleted data, making it difficult or even impossible to recover. Switch it to Airplane mode or turn it off until you are ready to proceed with the recovery process.

Before attempting any form of recovery, it is crucial to create a backup of your iPhone to prevent any data loss during the retrieval process. Connect your iPhone to a computer and use iTunes or Finder to make a local backup or iCloud to back up your device remotely. The backup will serve as a safety net before we begin retrieving the deleted contacts.

To avoid losing your iPhone contacts in the future, you should often back up your iPhone using iCloud, Finder, or iTunes. Additionally, you can utilize cloud-based contact management services like Google Contacts or Microsoft Outlook to synchronize and store your contacts safely. These precautions will ensure that you always have a backup of your contacts, protecting you from accidental deletion or data loss.

Finally, you should free download the recommended Aiseesoft iPhone Data Recovery on your computer. Having an iOS data recovery tool can be extremely useful in several situations. With it, you can easily recover deleted or lost files you thought were gone forever. Having a data recovery tool lets you restore your device to its previous state and get rid of various system glitches.

Part 5. FAQs of How to Restore Deleted Contacts on iPhone

Why can't I restore my contacts on my iPhone?

There are several reasons why recovering deleted contacts on an iPhone may be challenging. When contacts are deleted, the space on the iPhone's storage becomes available for new data to overwrite. It becomes difficult to recover if the deleted contacts have been overwritten by new data or filled with other files.
If too much time has passed since the deletion of the contacts, the chances of recovering them may decrease. As time passes, the chances of data overwriting increase, making the recovery process more difficult.
If you do not have a recent backup of your iPhone that includes the deleted contacts, it can be challenging to restore them. Backups can be created using iTunes or iCloud, which can help restore deleted contacts.
While there are third-party software and tools available for recovering deleted contacts from iPhones, their effectiveness varies. Some tools may claim to recover deleted contacts, but their success rates can be inconsistent.

Where are my contacts on my iPhone?

The Contacts app is usually on the home screen of an iPhone. An icon with the silhouette of a person represents it. You can tap its icon to access your contacts. Also, you can open the Phone app and tap Contacts on the bottom screen to check them.

Are contacts permanently deleted on iPhone?

When you delete some contacts on your iPhone, they are removed from your device. iOS does not offer a recently deleted folder to store these contacts. However, it's worth mentioning that if you have iCloud or any other backup service enabled, your contacts may still be recoverable from your backup. Also, you can use an Aiseesoft iPhone contacts recovery to get them back on your device.

How do you copy your iPhone contacts to a computer?

To copy iPhone contacts to a computer, you have a few options depending on your preferences and available resources. You can use iTunes or Finder to back up your iPhone contacts to your computer. Also, you can back up your iPhone contacts to iCloud and then access them on a computer by visiting the iCloud website. Moreover, some iOS transfer tools like Aiseesoft FoneTrans can help you copy contacts from an iPhone or iPad to your computer with ease.

Conclusion

Losing important contacts can be a nerve-wracking experience, but with the right methods and tools, you can successfully restore deleted contacts on your iPhone. This post has explored three methods, including iCloud and iTunes backups and third-party software. Remember to stop using your iPhone immediately after deletion, create a backup, explore iCloud and iTunes options, and consider employing third-party recovery software if necessary.

With the assistance of these proven solutions, you can retrieve deleted iPhone contacts and ensure your contacts are safe and secure. You should regularly back up your iPhone to avoid such concerns in the future and be proactive in protecting your valuable contact information.

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