Lost contacts on your phone? Here’s how to get them back

As high-tech and advanced as all our modern mobile devices are, there is no way around basic user mistakes. Fortunately, the manufacturers of your mobile devices have such mistakes in mind. That’s why we couldn’t wait to answer Lynn’s question about how to recover a deleted contact on a mobile device.

“I must have ‘THAT’ fingers, because I accidentally deleted the information in my contacts. I entered several other contact phone numbers. But I guess I accidentally deleted these. I would [like] to get this information back. I guess I’m looking for a miracle.” – Lynne P. from Lakewood Ranch, Florida

There are several options or methods to restore your contact data on iPhone or Android, so it’s easy to find a solution that works for you.

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How to get your contacts back

Fortunately, iPhone and Android phone manufacturers have realized that mistakes happen and that contacts can be accidentally deleted. Below are the ways to restore contacts on iPhone or Android phone:

How to restore your contacts on iPhone or Mac

There are two sources for iPhone owners to restore contacts: via iCloud or iTunes Backup. Before attempting to restore your contacts, back up your iPhone so you’re entitled to help if you lose your data.

Restore iCloud contacts:

• Type “iCloud.com” in the search bar of your web browser.

• Please enter e-mail address used to start your iCloud account. This is usually the same email address you use for your Apple ID.
• Enter yours password (unless you use an access key)
• There may be a two-step authentication procedure for verifying your identity. You will be asked allow or disable verification on the secondary device. If so, please select Allow.
• Then enter password on this secondary device.

• After signing in to your iCloud account, select menu iconin the upper right corner.

• Select from the drop-down menu Data recovery
• Choose Restore contacts

• In the next window, you will have options for the restore date. Choose Return next to the date before your contact was deleted.
• You will be asked to confirm by selecting Return again. Once your contacts are restored, you’ll get a notification on iCloud.com and any email address associated with your Apple ID.

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Restore contacts with iTunes:

If you haven’t enabled iCloud to back up your contacts, you may be able to restore your contacts using iTunes.

• Connect yours iPhone to your computer using the power cord provided by Apple.
• If iTunes doesn’t open automatically on your desktop, open it iTunes on your computer.
• In the iTunes application, click on Device button.
• Click Info
• Choose items that you want to sync from this backup to your iPhone (Contacts), then click apply.

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How to restore your contacts on Android

Android users can use two resources to restore contacts: Google Contacts or device settings. Before attempting to restore your contacts, back up your Android so you have the right to help if you lose your data.

Restore contacts using Google Contacts:

WITHthe settings may differ depending on the manufacturer of your Android phone.

• In your web browser, go to contacts.google.com and sign in to your Google account.
• Choose icon in three lines in the upper left corner

• Choose Garbage or container icon
• You should see the contact you deleted.
• if you hover the mouse above the contact you want to restore, you will see an option to select Recover to the right of the contact information. Choose Recover.

Restore contacts using device settings:

WITHthe settings may differ depending on the manufacturer of your Android phone.

• Open on your Android settings
• Touch Google
• Touch Set and return
• Touch Restore contacts
• Touch From the account to select the Google Account you want to restore.
• Touch phone with the contacts you want to copy.
• Choose source want to copy: Turn on or off SIM card or Device storage.
• Touch Return
• You will get “Contacts restored” notification when the process is complete.

Remark: Only contacts that are not yet on your phone will be returned.

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While it’s ideal if you never make a mistake while using your mobile devices, accidents do happen and contacts are accidentally deleted. That’s why iPhone and Android device manufacturers have multiple ways to restore phone contacts. By following these simple steps above, you can quickly remedy this situation. It is best to ensure that your mobile devices are backed up either to the cloud or physically to a computer or hard drive, so that there is a source from which you can restore your contacts. In addition, if something goes wrong during the restoration process, you have the option of recovering your lost data. Accidents happen, but practicing secure data hygiene prevents them from becoming a lost cause or needing a miracle.

Have you ever accidentally deleted a contact on your mobile device? How did you retrieve that contact information? Are your contacts backed up somewhere? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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