[Solved] How to Fix Lost Contacts on iPhone with Recovery Tips

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Losing your iPhone contacts can be frustrating. If you unfortunately find yourself in this situation, don't worry – this guide will show you some methods to fix the problem.

It would be a disaster if your device is missing contacts. And if you were lucky enough to create a backup, you can restore iPhone from backup with iTunes or iCloud to get back the lost contacts. But how to fix the “Missing Contacts on iPhone” issue when you have no backup at all?

To fix this issue, you have two options: figure out the cause and solve it, or use a third-party recovery tool to directly restore lost iPhone contacts. Whichever method you prefer, this guide will help.

Why are some of my contacts missing from my iPhone?

Before we begin, it's wise to know all the factors that could lead to the “Contacts missing from iPhone” issue so that you can prevent losing contacts in the future.

Software upgrade.

Sometimes, a new iOS not only fixes bugs but also brings some on its own. That's why you might encounter various iOS issues like iPhone freezing after update, getting stuck during the verification process, or missing files, and so on. To avoid these issues, it's recommended to back up your iPhone, check your iPhone compatibility, ensure enough storage, and a stable power supply, and so forth.

2. Jailbreak your iPhone.

Jailbreaking your iPhone through a third-party app can also lead to data loss. To prevent this, back up your iPhone, update it to the latest iOS version, make sure it's fully charged, and have about 2 GB of free space on your iPhone before you begin.

3) Hardware problems.

This is by far the most common source of data loss, which typically occurs when someone interrupts a phone while it is charging or removes the battery during a critical firmware update. So a reliable power supply is essential during the upgrade process.

4. The viral cause.

There are now numerous viruses and malware designed for iOS that can attack your device and cause data loss. To avoid them, it's best to stay away from illegal websites.

5. Deletions

“Man-splaining” is just a simple case of human error: you mean to press one key and hit another instead.

How to Fix the Issue of Missing Contacts on iPhone

Don't worry; your contacts haven't vanished. They're just not showing up as they should. Try these workarounds to quickly fix the 'missing contacts on iPhone' issue.

Solution 1: Restart your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone can be very helpful, and most users find it useful. If the missing contact is bothering you, start with restarting your iPhone.

Solution 2: Turn off and on iCloud Contacts

One of the simplest ways to fix missing contact names is to toggle Contacts on and off in iCloud. Here's how.

Step 1: Go to Settings > iCloud, and turn off the Contacts switch.

Step 2: You'll be asked whether you want to keep or delete your existing contacts. Choose “Delete from My iPhone” (this doesn't remove them from iCloud).

Step 3: Go to "Contacts". Your iCloud contacts should now have reappeared on your device. Check to see if the contact name has been restored. If not, try the next solution to recover lost contacts.

Enable and Disable Contacts in iCloud

Solution 3: Change your contact settings

1. Open the "Contacts" app. Tap "Groups" at the top of your Contacts page. Deselect "All iCloud" and select "My iPhone."

Step 2: Check if your contacts have been restored. If not, try our third option.

Solution 4: Close and reopen your personal account

Step 1: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security.

Step 2: Choose each account (like Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, and so on) that you want to sync your contacts with your device.

Step 3. Open each account, turn off the Contacts switch, wait 10-20 seconds, and then turn it back on. Do this for all connected accounts, and then check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 5: Try Forcing a Contact Resync

On your iOS device, open a contact, edit it (by adding, say, a fax or home phone number, even if it's fake), and save it.

Step 2: Power down your device using the slider, or go to Settings > General > Reset > Power Off, then turn it back on.

Solution 6: Recover Lost Contacts with MobiSaver Tool

If none of the above methods work for you, your last option is to restore your contacts from an iTunes or iCloud backup. Make sure that the backup contains the contacts you need, however, because restoring from a backup will erase your iPhone's current data.

In order to help you fix the problem of lost contacts on iPhone without deleting any existing data, we recommend you use a professional iPhone Data Recovery tool – iMobie PhoneRescue to recover contacts from iTunes/iCloud backup. Even if there is no available backup, you still have a chance to recover files without backup. Now you can start to follow the guide below to begin your iPhone contact recovery work.

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your computer

Launch the MobiSaver tool, choose “Recover from iOS Device” on the left, and then click “Start”.

Recover Contacts from iPhone - 1

Step 2: Scan your iPhone to find the lost contact

The MobiSaver tool will scan your iPhone 13/12/11/X/XR/XS/8/7/6/5/4 automatically and locate your lost contacts.

Recover Contacts from iPhone - 2

Step 3: Preview and recover the contacts

Check the “Contacts” box on the left, then select the contacts you want to restore. When you're done, click “Restore to Computer” or “Restore to Device” to decide where you want to save your contact list.

Restore Contacts from iPhone - 3

Notice:

    • If you lost your contacts, messages, or other data after updating to iOS 10, stop using your iOS device right away. • The MobiSaver tool requires a serial number for activation, which you may need to purchase.

Bottom line

We are glad to share with you our experience on how to fix the "Contacts disappeared from iPhone" issue. From this page, you can see many reasons that might lead to data loss on your iPhone. Whatever the reason is, you can use the tricks provided in this guide to resolve it.