Contact only appears in iPhone search

Question

Contact only appears in iPhone search

When I add a contact to my iPhone from an app such as Yellowpages or other business search app, the contact only can be found using the iphone search function. It does not appear in my iPhone address book nor does it sync via MobileMe.

iPhone 3G, iPhone OS 3.0

Posted on Aug 3, 2009 8:43 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Mr Alexander

Level 1

50 points

Sep 20, 2009 5:07 PM in response to DaraMunnis

This is another 10.6, or an iPhone 3.0+, or maybe iTunes upgrade gotcha. Not sure which, since I have done all three upgrades since I last added a contact. A new contact was not syncing, so I started checking the forums for clues.

When I looked in iTunes, sync contacts was no longer selected, one of them unselected the sync contacts checkbox in iTunes. Quite a few other preferences have disappeared since I upgraded to 10.6, so I suspect that is the culprit.

I reselected it and it synced. But it found two mismatches between the Address Book and the iPhone. Apple Computer Inc. does not match Apple Computer Inc. and another I cannot remember, also a perfect match. All entries predate the upgrades and I haven't seen the mismatch message for 2 years.

I forgot about iPhone search so I didn't try that. Hope that helps someone.

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Answer 2

ATILANO

Level 2

300 points

Aug 4, 2009 10:48 AM in response to David Bizzarri

I just tried this on my iPhone 3GS (v3.0.1) using the White Pages app.

http://itunes.com/app/whitepages

It worked perfectly and synched to MobileMe instantly.

On your iPhone, ensure you are in your "All Contacts" group and not a sub-group (like "Family"). This may be why it is only showing up in a search.

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Answer 3

Jan 26, 2010 5:55 AM in response to David Bizzarri

I got mine to work by turning off the contacts on my exchange account. It only gave me the options to delete or cancel, so deleted them. When i looked at my contact list, all these missing contacts were there. I turned contact syncing back on and it asked me if i wanted to keep my existing contacts, which i did,and now they're all on the list. BUT, the 'missing' ones wont sync with Outlook ... 😟

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Answer 4

ATILANO

Level 2

300 points

Aug 24, 2009 7:04 AM in response to David Bizzarri

David,
Your settings appear to be the same as mine. I don't sync contacts, calendars, etc. with iTunes. All of those are synced OTA with MobileMe.

Have you tried a different contact? It's a long-shot but the contact you are trying to add via the Whitepages app could be bad.

The contact I added successfully was "Fosters Grille of Bristow." Try that and see if you can add it as a new contact. Report back as to what happened.

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Answer 5

adam_oz

Level 1

0 points

Aug 28, 2009 12:25 AM in response to David Bizzarri

I have the same problem as David.

Twice now, after having created a new contact on the iPhone from a text/SMS message I have received (clicking to Add to Contacts at the top of the text message window), the Contact is missing from my Contacts list. However, I can find the Contact by performing a Spotlight search. The only way I have been able to fix the problem is to delete the Contact and re-create it from within the Contacts app.

I am syncing my Contacts with MobileMe over the air and have synchronisation via iTunes switched off. Once the Contact appears in the Contacts list, it syncs perfectly with MobileMe.

I have an iPhone 3GS running 3.0.1, though the problem also occurred on OS 3.0.

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Answer 6

adam_oz

Level 1

0 points

Oct 31, 2009 4:58 AM in response to DaraMunnis

To fix the problem, I reset all my Contacts on the iPhone, replacing them via synchronisation with MobileMe. After that point, adding new Contacts from an SMS successfully added them to the Contacts list.

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Answer 7

Aug 8, 2009 11:41 PM in response to ATILANO

I too have White Pages and still even after 3.0.1, it will not file the contact created into the contact app nor will it sync with MM. In iTunes under the "Info" tab, the box labeled "Sync Address Book Contacts" is unchecked to avoid the double contact situation on my phone.

It is almost like the new contacts created are stored only in the iPhone's memory and nowhere else.

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Answer 8

Jan 30, 2010 10:15 AM in response to ATILANO

this has nothing to do with subgroups. When I create a new contact from a phone number, I'm not indicating any group. The new contact will be found by the phone wide search, but not within the phone app, or the contact app.

I sync via MobileMe, and all my contacts and edits sync as they should, except for those new ones created from within email, phone, or contacts.

This is clearly a bug, and it's maddening that since this thread started in August, nothing has been done about it by apple.

iphone 3G, OS 3.1.2

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Answer 9

Aug 23, 2009 4:30 PM in response to ATILANO

When you sync with iTunes, what setting do you have selected? Currently, under the "Info" tab in the "Contacts" section I do not have any boxes checked. All of my contacts are synced with MobileMe over the air.

Thanks for the help

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Answer 10

adam_oz

Level 1

0 points

Aug 28, 2009 12:48 AM in response to adam_oz

just following on from my previous post...

If I make one of these "missing" contacts a Favourite, it is visible in the Favourites list, no problem.

If I perform a search within the Contacts app, the contacts are not found - only a search from Spotlight will find them.

Also, I AM looking within the "All Contacts" group ... so it's not that I'm looking in the wrong group.

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Answer 11

Jan 30, 2010 10:20 AM in response to kayperbeats

Same here. Any new contact created in mail or phone app (note: apple apps), is not added to contacts, and doesn't show in a contacts or phone search. However, a spotlight/iphone wide search will reveal that contact, with an addressbook icon in front of it. So it clearly lives somewhere.

I sync over mobileme, not iTunes. my sync works perfectly with new records created on my mac, and contacts edited or created in the addressbook on the phone.

3G, OS 3.1.2

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Answer 12

Jan 30, 2010 5:46 PM in response to Sebastian Kaupert

Hi Seb,

I totally agree with you. I have been through the developer discussion forums, apple, help forums.... and nobody seems to have a fix for this. Why? Why won't apple respond to this?
If you somehow come across fix does not involve deleting or restoring software please email me.
sandrobasile@me.com

iphone 3G, OS 3.1.2

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Answer 13

Feb 1, 2010 3:48 AM in response to Sebastian Kaupert

Hi all

I know it doesn't help anyone but I have the same problem too.

It's particularly annoying that when I read someone's e-mail/SMS on my iphone, add their details to my contacts, then later go to send an e-mail from my office browser mobileMe account and none of the contact details to be seen!

I have to dig out my phone, spotlight the contacts, copy and paste details into a new contact on my phone then hope it has synced to mobileMe.

Aaargh!!

Apple, please take notice!!

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Answer 14

lucky 68

Level 1

0 points

Aug 4, 2009 3:39 AM in response to David Bizzarri

I have the same problem too...

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Answer 15

Sep 8, 2009 4:04 AM in response to adam_oz

Adam_oz - I'm having excactly the same problem. Just did a full reset and it hasnt solved it. Have you found any solution yet?

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