How to Find Deleted Contacts on iPhone
We know the iPhone's recently deleted album for the Photos app keeps deleted photos for 30 days. However, there is no such feature available for the Contacts app. It means, if you delete a contact, it will be gone forever.
Don't worry, our guide on how to find deleted contacts on iPhone can help you out. This article shares 5 different ways to find deleted contacts on iPhone, along with some other tips and tricks.
5 Ways to View Deleted Contacts on iPhone
Here are the 5 different ways you can try to find a deleted contact iPhone. Each of these methods works for certain users. For example, if you synced your contacts with iCloud, then method 1 will work. Below are all the details that you need to know on how to view deleted contacts on your iPhone.
1Restore from iCloud Backup on Your iPhone
The first method that you may try is using iCloud backup and it will work for users who previously had synced their contacts with iCloud drive. So, if you meet this key requirement then you may try the following steps to view deleted contacts on your iPhone.
On iPhone
Step 1. Open your browser to go to iCloud.com and log in with your account.
Step 2. Tap the menu button and choose "Data Recovery," then choose "Restore Contacts."
Step 3. Choose one of the archive of contacts you want to restore, then tap "restore" again to restore it.
Step 4. After that, you can check the Contacts app to see if the deleted contact has been restored.
On Computer
On a desktop browser, you have two options for viewing your deleted contacts. One is to check the contacts directly on iCloud, and the other is to restore from a contacts backup, following similar steps as you would on an iPhone. Here's how:
Step 1. Open a browser on your computer, go to iCloud.com, and log in with your account.
Step 2. Scroll down to "Contacts".
Step 3. Enter the contact's name to see if it remains in the list.
Step 4. If you want to restore the entire list, you can click the menu from the top right and choose "Data Recovery."
Step 5. Choose 'Data Recovery' and select the archive data you want to restore.
2Restore from Google One Backup
There is a large group of users who sync their contacts with their Google accounts to save them in cloud storage. If you are one of those, then this method will be a perfect choice for you.
Note: Though your contacts are synced on Google One, you should resort to Google Contacts if you want to view or restore the backup details.
Step 1. Make sure your contact backup, including contacts you deleted by mistake, is synced to Google One. Later, open the Google Contacts app on your iPhone and log in with your Google account.
Step 2. Tap "Contacts" and select "Backups."
Step 3. Choose Google Backup and tap "Open Backup."
Step 4. Check the contact list and choose the person you want to see or restore.
3Restore from Finder on a Mac
If you back up your iPhone using your Mac and Finder, you can get back any contacts you've deleted. Here are the steps to do that:
Step 1. Launch Finder on your Mac and connect your iPhone to it.
Step 2. Look for your iPhone in the sidebar, under "Locations."
Step 3. Click on your iPhone, and then choose the "General" tab at the top of the window.
Step 4. Find "Backups" and click on "Restore Backup..."
Step 5. You'll see a list of backups. Pick the one from before you deleted your contacts.
Note: If you saved the contact after creating this backup, then restoring the backup will not help.
4Restore from iTunes on a Windows PC
Some users frequently create local iTunes backups for their iPhones to keep their data safe. If you are also one of them, then this method will be perfect for you since even if you deleted a contact recently, it will be available in the data backup. So, all you need to do how to find deleted contacts on your iPhone is to restore your iTunes backup with these steps:
Step 1. Make sure you are using the latest version of iTunes on your computer. Then connect your iPhone to the computer.
Step 2. You may see a prompt on your iPhone asking you to trust the computer. Agree and enter your passcode if required.
Step 3. Click on the iPhone icon in the iTunes window's upper-left corner.
Step 4. In the Summary panel, look for the "Backups" section, and then click on "Restore Backup."
Step 5. Choose the backup that contains the contacts you want to restore.
Step 6. Once your iPhone restarts and syncs with your computer, you can check your Contacts app to see if the contacts have been restored.
Note: Like the Finder, restoring from a backup will overwrite your current iPhone data with the backup's contents. Be sure the backup includes the contacts you need. For safety, use an old iPhone when trying this.
5Using Third-Party Data Recovery Software
If none of the above methods is feasible for you then your last resort will be using third-party software. When choosing third-party software, you must be very careful since these have varying fees, and the method is different for each one. For this article, we will pick MobiSaver to restore contacts on iPhone with the following steps:
Step 1. Launch MobiSaver on your PC and connect the iPhone, then choose Recovery mode.
Step 2. Scan the iPhone to find any available data.
Step 3. In the preview menu, select Contacts and any other required option then click "Recover."
Step 4. After the tool finishes its process, check to see if your deleted contact has been restored to your iPhone.
Note: Third-party data recovery tools can't always recover everything. Research and backup your data before use to minimize risks.
More Techniques for Finding Deleted Contacts
The previous methods on how to find deleted contacts on iPhone have their prerequisites. If you do not meet those requirements, then you cannot use those methods. That's why we have some tricks to find a deleted contact iPhone, as discussed below:
1Check your old iPhone
Sometimes, outdated devices can hold data that was lost on newer devices. When you've updated your iPhone to its newest version, you might take a look at your old device and check its contacts list. There is a possibility that the contact is still saved on that iPhone, and you can save it again on your new device.
2Ask your friends
Get in contact with any common friends or relations on whom you can depend for the information you need. They may share their contact details through different ways, say by sending text, email, or contact card straight from the phone. This approach is dependent on your friends and social circle to draw back the lost details.
3Check contact info on your social media app (such as WhatsApp)
Many social media platforms are currently in use, e.g. WhatsApp syncs contact information automatically. If you have been previously in touch with this person, their details are likely to still be available through the app's chat history or contact list, even though you have deleted them from your phone's contact list.
Tips to Prevent Losing iPhone Contacts in the Future
If you want to prevent losing your iPhone contacts in the future, you may follow the tips below:
- Regularly backup your iPhone data with iTunes backup.
- Use iCloud device syncing to copy your contacts across all devices.
- Sync your contacts with other cloud storage mediums like Google.
- Avoid deleting contacts hastily; double-check before deleting.
With these tips implemented, you will rarely lose any contact, even if you delete it.
Conclusion
We have compiled 5 ways to find deleted contacts on iPhone, including iCloud, Google One, Mac backup, iTunes backup, and third-party software. Even if none of these works for you, you may try some other techniques and tips to find the desired contact like checking your old phone or checking social media apps. With all these methods, it becomes easy to find a deleted contact iPhone.
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