Having your contacts deleted from your iPhone can be frustrating. Your phone’s contacts contain valuable information that allows you to stay in touch with important people in your life. Luckily, there are a few different ways to try to retrieve deleted contacts on an iPhone.
Check Recently Deleted Folder
When you delete contacts on an iPhone, they are moved to the Recently Deleted folder. This folder acts as a holding place for deleted contacts for up to 30 days before they are permanently erased. To access it:
- Open the Contacts app
- Tap Groups at the top left
- Scroll down and tap Recently Deleted
If you see your deleted contacts here, you can tap on them individually to restore them back to your contacts. This is the easiest way to retrieve recently deleted contacts as long as you act within 30 days.
Restore from iCloud Backup
If your contacts have been deleted for over 30 days, you won’t find them in the Recently Deleted folder anymore. However, you may still be able to restore them from an iCloud backup containing your contacts data prior to when they were deleted.
To restore contacts from iCloud backup:
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud
- Tap Manage Storage > Backups
- Find the desired backup and tap on it
- Tap Restore and confirm to restore your iPhone data and settings from the backup
This will overwrite your current iPhone data and settings with the state from the selected iCloud backup. If the backup was made before you deleted the contacts, restoring it should bring them back.
Restore from iTunes Backup
If you sync your iPhone with iTunes on a computer, you may also have backups of your device stored locally that you can restore from. To retrieve deleted contacts by restoring an iTunes backup:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes
- Click on your iPhone icon in the top left
- Go to the Summary page and click Restore Backup
- Select the desired backup containing your contacts
- Click Restore to overwrite your current iPhone data and settings
As with an iCloud restore, this process will roll back your iPhone state to when the backup was created. If that state was before you deleted contacts, they will return.
Use Third-Party Software
If you don’t have any viable iCloud or iTunes backups to restore from, your last resort may be to use third-party software designed to recover deleted iPhone data. Some examples of software that can restore contacts include:
- Dr.Fone – PhoneRescue (iOS)
- EaseUS MobiSaver for iOS
- iMyFone iBypasser
These tools scan your iPhone for residual data left behind after deletion. If recoverable contacts data still exists, the apps should be able to restore the deleted contacts back to your device.
Here are the general steps to use this kind of software:
- Download and install the program on your computer
- Connect your iPhone to your computer
- Open the program and scan your device for recoverable data
- Select the deleted contacts you want to recover
- Click a button to restore the contacts back to your iPhone
The scanning process can take some time. There’s also no guarantee with any one tool. But if you really need those contacts back, it’s worth trying a few until hopefully one works.
Prevent Future Deletion Issues
To avoid going through this recovery process again in the future, be sure you are regularly backing up your iPhone. iCloud and iTunes give you options for automatic backups whenever your phone is charging and connected to WiFi. Enable these to have peace of mind.
You can also export your contacts to store a separate backup. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Contacts > Accounts > [Account Name] > Export vCard. Email the .vcf file to yourself so you always have a contacts backup available if needed.
Conclusion
Retrieving deleted iPhone contacts is possible in many cases if you act quickly. Check the Recently Deleted folder, restore an iCloud or iTunes backup from before the deletion, or use data recovery software. Enabling regular backups can help you avoid this situation altogether. With some effort, your missing contacts can likely be found and restored.
| Method | How to Do It | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Recently Deleted Folder | Recover contacts within 30 days of deletion | High if within time limit |
| iCloud Backup | Restore from backup before deletion | High if backup exists |
| iTunes Backup | Restore from local backup | High if backup exists |
| Third-party software | Scan and recover residual data | Variable effectiveness |
In summary, act quickly to recover recently deleted contacts from the Recently Deleted folder. If too much time has passed, restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup, or try your luck with data recovery software. Set up regular backups to avoid this situation in the future.
With some effort, there is a good chance of getting deleted contacts back on your iPhone. Don’t give up hope if they seem to disappear!
What can you do to retrieve deleted contacts on your iPhone?
Here’s a quick rundown of your options:
- Check the “Recently Deleted” folder – Deleted contacts get stored here for up to 30 days before being permanently erased.
- Restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup – If you have backups from before the contacts were deleted, you can restore your iPhone to retrieve them.
- Try third-party recovery software – These tools scan for residual data left behind after deletion and may be able to recover contacts.
- Enable automatic backups – To prevent this issue in the future, turn on automatic backups through iCloud or iTunes.
- Export your contacts periodically – Keep a separate backup like emailing contacts to yourself.
With the right backups and tools, you have a good chance of getting your contacts back. Act quickly if they were recently deleted. Recovery gets harder over time.
When all else fails, you may have to manually put in the effort to recreate the lost contact information if it’s important to you. Always be sure to backup your iPhone regularly to avoid permanent data loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are deleted contacts stored in the Recently Deleted folder?
Deleted contacts are stored in the Recently Deleted folder for up to 30 days before being permanently deleted. If you need to recover deleted contacts, check the folder within this period.
Can I restore contacts after 30 days?
It becomes very difficult to restore deleted contacts after the 30 day period in the Recently Deleted folder. Your only options are to restore a backup from before the deletion or try third-party software to scan and recover any residual data.
What’s the easiest way to backup my contacts?
The easiest way is to enable automatic iCloud backups on your iPhone. Connect to WiFi, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn on the feature. Your contacts will backup each time your iPhone is charging and connected to WiFi.
Does restoring a backup also restore my settings?
Yes, restoring either an iCloud or iTunes backup will overwrite your current iPhone settings and data entirely. It rolls the phone back to the state it was in when the backup was made.
Can I export contacts to store a separate backup?
Yes, you can export your contacts as vCard files and email them to yourself to store a separate backup. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Contacts > Accounts > [Account Name] > Export vCard. The .vcf file contains your contacts.
Tips to Avoid Losing Contacts
- Enable automatic iCloud backups to back up your contacts regularly.
- Sync your iPhone with iTunes and save local iTunes backups periodically.
- Manually export your contacts as vCard files and email them to yourself.
- Check Recently Deleted folder quickly if contacts disappear.
- Don’t keep contacts only saved on your iPhone – always have external backups.
Following these tips will help ensure you always have multiple backup copies of your contacts. Then you can retrieve them if ever accidentally deleted.
Deleted contacts getting you down? Don’t sweat it – here are some tips to get your missing contacts back with minimal effort:
– First, check the Recently Deleted folder on your iPhone. Deleted contacts live here for up to 30 days.
– If they’ve been deleted longer than that, restore your phone from an iCloud or iTunes backup made before the contacts disappeared.
– Third-party apps like Dr.Fone can scan for residual data left behind after deletion to recover contacts.
– Turn on automatic iCloud and iTunes backups to save your contacts regularly as a preventative measure.
– Export your contacts as vCard files and email them to yourself periodically as an extra backup.
Don’t leave contacts recovery to chance. Implement a solid backup strategy and act quickly if you notice contacts missing. A few simple precautions can save you the hassle and stress of trying to rebuild vanished contact info.
Losing contacts stinks, but don’t give up hope! With some effort, you can likely get them back:
– Restore from backup if contacts were deleted recently
– Use data recovery apps to scan for residual deleted data
– Reach out to contacts to request their info again as a last resort
– Prevent future issues with regular iCloud/iTunes backups
– Export contacts as vCards periodically for safe keeping
Just be sure to act quickly if you notice contacts missing. Time is of the essence when recovering deleted data. With diligence and the right tools, your contact list can be rescued from even the worst deletions!
Conclusion
Restoring deleted contacts on your iPhone is possible with a little effort. First, check the Recently Deleted folder within 30 days of deletion. If too much time has passed, restore a backup from before the contacts were deleted. iCloud and iTunes give you backup options to restore from. Third party iOS data recovery software is also worth trying if all else fails.
Moving forward, be sure to implement regular device backups through iCloud or iTunes. You can also export your contacts as vCard files periodically as an extra fail safe. Following these best practices will ensure you always have options to retrieve deleted data and avoid losing important contacts forever.
With some persistence and the right tools, your deleted contacts don’t have to be gone forever.
