This is for you if… names or numbers have disappeared from your phone and you are worried your contacts have been deleted.
I was helping someone in Baldock whose contacts looked empty after a phone update. They had not vanished; the phone had simply stopped showing one of the accounts that stored them.
Why contacts go missing
Contacts may be hidden by account filters, syncing may be paused, the wrong account may be selected, or a phone transfer may not have brought everything across.
What to check first
- Search for a missing contact by name and number.
- Check which accounts are showing in Contacts.
- Make sure iCloud, Google or Outlook contact sync is switched on.
- Check the contacts on the account website if you can.
- Restart the phone and wait for syncing.
Do not rush to reset the phone
A factory reset is rarely the first answer. It can make recovery harder if you have not checked backups and accounts first.
If contacts are on an old phone
Keep the old phone charged and connected to Wi-Fi. It may still have the missing contacts and can help you transfer them properly.
Need help?
For ongoing help and peace of mind across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, see my membership. For a one-off contact problem, you can book a visit.