Summary: This post shares the best methods to restore deleted contacts from your iPhone series 13, 12, 11, XS, XS Max, XR, X, 8, 7, 6, and 5.
Contents
- Restore from iCloud Backup
- Restore from iTunes Backup
- Recover through the iPhone Data Recovery Tool
- Restore through changing iPhone Settings
Read on to know in detail which amongst them works the best for your situation.
Losing contact names and numbers from the device all of a sudden is not new for iPhone users. Sometimes contact names are missing with only the random numbers visible, or the contact list is altogether empty. Mostly, the incidents occur after updating to a newer version of iOS, a bug in the device, accidental deletion, or else formatting of the iPhone.
You can always restore from iCloud or iTunes backup, but sometimes even those attempts might fail to recover deleted contacts. This can be because of wrong user names, passcodes, or device settings.
In such cases, the best way to restore only the missing contacts is to use iPhone Data Recovery Software by Stellar. Read on to know the four solutions to recover deleted contact on iPhone below.
Method 1: Recover Deleted Contacts from iCloud Backup
If you have synced your iPhone to iCloud backup, restore missing contact names and numbers with this method.
- Go to your iPhone Settings > iCloud > Contacts (iOS 13 & 14 users follow: Settings > User Name > iCloud)
- Toggle OFF and turn ON Contacts again
- It asks what you would like to do with the previously synced iCloud contacts on your iPhone. Select Delete from My iPhone.
You will get back lost contacts on the iPhone. Those accounts are also displayed in your group lists if you have different Cloud accounts like Gmail linked to your device. You can check and uncheck the group to view or hide, respectively.
Method 2: Restore Contacts from iTunes Backup
This works only when you have backed up your iPhone to iTunes.
- Connect your iPhone to the PC
- Launch iTunes
- Select your device from the Device list and pick the most recent backup entry date of your iPhone from the Summary page
- Click Restore Backup
You can get back the lost or deleted contacts from your iTunes backup. But the drawback of this method is that with iTunes, you do not have a choice to restore only the lost contacts on your iPhone selectively. This means that complete data from iTunes will be restored on your device, replacing existing iPhone data.
All current media photos, videos, messages, etc., on your iPhone will also be replaced by the iOS backup files. If you want to restore only contacts from iTunes backup, use a safe third-party iPhone data recovery application.
Method 3: Recover Deleted Contact on iPhone using Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.
The best way to overcome the iTunes drawback and selectively restore only the missing contacts is to use iPhone Contact Recovery Software by Stellar.
This secure & do-it-yourself software recovers lost or accidentally deleted iPhone contacts, call history, etc., regardless of the cause of the loss.
Experience the Free Trial version NOW!
The free demo version of Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone allows you to scan and preview files from iPhone, iCloud, and iTunes backup, and to save them, you need to register the software.
Stellar Data Recovery offers three ways to recover iPhone contacts missing on your device:
- Recovery from iPhone
- Recover from iCloud Backup
- Recover from iTunes Backup
1. Recover from iPhone
There is a possibility that your device has all the contacts, but they are not showing up—select Recovery from iPhone to view the hidden iPhone contacts in this case.
- Connect your iPhone to the computer and launch and launch the software
- On the home screen, choose “Recover from iPhone”, select “Contacts and Call Logs,” and click “Next.”
- It will show you the iOS devices connected to your system. Select your device and click Scan
- After scanning, select Contacts on your left pane; all the contacts will be displayed in the right pane.
- Then, Select All or particular items by clicking on the associated checkbox.
- Click on Save and browse the desired location to save the recovered contacts.
2. Recover from iCloud Backup
Recovery from iCloud Backup allows you to selectively recover deleted contacts from your iPhone rather than restoring everything from photos and videos to messages. Follow the below steps:
- Connect your iPhone to the computer via USB cable
- Launch Stellar Data Recovery from iPhone
- Choose Recover from iCloud Backup, Select Contacts and Call Logs and click Next
- Enter the Apple ID and Password to get the list of available backup files.
- Select the backup file and click Scan
- After scanning, select “Contacts” on your left pane, all the contacts in the selected backup file will be displayed in the right pane.
- Then, Select All or selective items by clicking on the associated checkbox.
- Click on Save and browse the desired location to save the recovered contacts.
3. Recover from iTunes Backup
If your iPhone contacts are synced with iTunes backup, use Recovery from iTunes backup to recover missing iPhone contacts.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer and launch the software
- On the home screen, choose Recover from iTunes, select Contacts and Call Logs, and click Next
- The software analyzes your system and lists all the available iTunes backup files, as shown below. If you cannot find the desired backup file, you can click on Add Backup to manually add the backup file from the system. Now, select the file and click Scan
- After scanning, select “Contacts” on your left pane, all the contacts in the selected backup file will be displayed in the right pane.
- Then, Select All or particular items by clicking on the associated checkbox.
- Click on Save and browse the desired location to save the recovered contacts.
Method 4: Restore Contacts through iPhone Settings
Minor changes in the iPhone Settings can also help restore deleted contacts. Try the below Setting changes and check if they work for you:
- Change Contacts’ Groups Settings
- Reset the Network Connections
- Change Default Account in Settings back to iCloud (works for iPhone 8/7/6s)
1: Change Contacts’ Groups Settings
- Go to your Contacts, tap into Groups
- Uncheck All iCloud
- Select All on iPhone
- Click on Done (top right)
- Check if you got back all your contacts
2: Reset the Network Connections
- Under Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings
- Enter your passcode
- Choose Reset Network Settings to continue ignoring the message that this action will delete all your network settings.
This action will clear your current saved networks and Wi-Fi passwords, but you can always re-enter your network passwords later. So give this a try to retrieve lost contacts.
3: Change Default Account in Settings back to iCloud (works for iPhone 13, 12, 11, X, 8, 7, 6)
- Go to your iPhone Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Contacts
- Click Default Account
- Select iCloud instead of On my iPhone
- Check if your phone’s missing contacts recovered
To Wrap-up
Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone intelligently restores your missing or accidentally deleted contacts without causing loss of iPhone’s existing data, unlike iTunes or iCloud Backup recovery methods. Changing the iPhone settings can also help you get back missing contacts. So now no need to worry about the contacts list loss. Instead, try the above methods and recover deleted contacts on your iPhone.
Have you ever used any of the above methods for restoring missing iPhone contacts? Then, do share your experience in the comments below.
About The Author
Sumona is a tech blogger, avid photographer, & technogeek with vast experience in writing about media file recovery tips and tutorials. She has over 10 years of experience in media file recovery/media file repair technology. She is passionate about Photography, Creative Designing, Music, and Exploring lesser-known destinations.
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Thank you a lot! Last month I updated my iPhone to the latest version but I forgot to back up my contacts. In the end, I found that some of my contacts had gone. I was quite sad because there was no backup for me to recover my contacts. Then I searched online and found that the suggestions you give were of great importance. Thank you very much. But I have to say that, I researched the deleted contacts recovery app on the store, and found that Stellar Data Recovery for iphone was recommended by most people. Then I download it and I found that it is much better than other. Here I recommend it for all people with the issue of deleted contacts recovery.
Thanks for reading our blog and sharing your valuable experience with us!
That is excellent put up. In case your iPhone contacts are synced with iTunes backup, use restoration from iTunes backup to get back lacking iPhone contacts. Thank you!!
Glad you found it helpful, Chander! More is on the way!
This is nice post. If your iPhone contacts are synced with iTunes backup, use Recovery from iTunes backup to get back missing iPhone contacts. Thanks!!
Hi Hassan, Thanks for reading our blog and share you valuable feedback with us!
I had this situation a month ago, I accidently deleted some contacts on my iPhone 5s. Now I looking the way to retrieve those contacts. I used your software. It’s work great. Thanks!!
Hi Chris, Thankyou!
Hello Sumona, will this work if I accidentally deleted all of my iPhone contacts when I logged out of my Apple ID in order to login to another Apple ID? I have not synced nor backed up my phone since then.
Hi Natasha, according to your description, I suggest you try our demo version of stellar iPhone Data Recovery to confirm whether this software can find the data you need on your iOS device. Generally, if the demo version can find and preview the data you need, then probably the full version can recover them, also. Feel free to contact support[@]stellarinfo.com if you have further questions. Thanks!
Hi, thanks for the heads-up. I got it corrected now. And yes, the iCloud methods is the easy and safest, But many people still depend on iTunes.
Hello Edward, Thank you!
I had an issue with iPhone 7 message contact are missing and email contacts are still there. This post help me lot. I’m happy to read methods to restore lost contacts from iPhone.
Hi Vincent, Thanks for reading us our blog and fix your issue!
I had an issue my iCloud contacts missing, now I looking the easy way to recover those contact. Thanks to you for providing the easy solutions to restore them!
Hi Jon, Thanks for reading our blog!
I had lost all iPhone 6 contacts due to a car accident, my iPhone 6 was damaged. I logged in my iCloud account but didn’t find any contacts. I purchased your software for recovery. It’s work Great!
Dear Samantha,
Thanks for using our Stellar iPhone Recovery!
Great Post! I follow your methods to recover deleted iPhone 6 contacts from iCloud. Thank you!