Why are my contacts showing up as numbers instead of names?

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Level 1

12 points

Why are my contacts showing up as numbers instead of names?

Recently, my contacts show up as numbers instead of names. I've tried numerous fixes for this and can't seem to get the issue resolved for longer than a day.

I've tried this fix:

Settings, Contacts, Accounts

in each account turn off Contacts

Delete from phone? Yes.

Restart the phone

Back in settings again turn on the correct account for contacts

It did not work. I've changed the region in my settings and shut down my phone and turned it back on and changed the region back. That didn't work either. I've checked for software updates and those are all up to date. Sometimes it will fix it for a few hours or once it lasted for a day, but then they always go back to numbers. It's very frustrating since this is a new phone and I'm constantly trying to fix this issue. Please someone help!!

Posted on May 11, 2021 7:39 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

SravanKrA

Community+ 2024

Level 10

413,862 points

May 11, 2021 7:43 AM in response to Jen_59

Contacts are neither stored locally on an iPhone nor in SIM. They are synced to an email account that you had Google, iCloud, AOL, Exchange, Outlook, Yahoo or any Other

If Contacts on iCloud, try this --> Restore contacts, calendars, bookmarks and more using ...

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Answer 2

May 11, 2021 7:53 AM in response to Jen_59

Do you see the contacts when you open the Contacts app or the Phone app and tap Contacts? Are the phone numbers all 10 digits (or+1 then 10 digits), or the proper format for your country? If they are all there go to Settings/Phone and turn on Dial Assist (it’s the last switch at the bottom of the page).

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Answer 3

Jen_59 Author

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12 points

May 11, 2021 9:09 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Ok, both are checked. When I uncheck gmail, all contacts still show up. When I uncheck icloud, there are no contacts listed.

When I go to Settings/Contacts and look for the default account, gmail is checked, icloud is not checked.

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Answer 4

Jen_59 Author

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12 points

May 11, 2021 9:44 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Yes, that is turned on. But up above that, it doesn't list Contacts in iCloud Storage. If I click on Manage Storage, Contacts is not listed under that list either. Photos, messages, backups, health, notes, mail, shortcuts and siri. Should Contacts be listed there?

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Answer 5

May 11, 2021 8:49 AM in response to Jen_59

Let’s dig a little deeper. Where did your contacts come from, and where do they sync to? Go to Settings/Contacts/Accounts and see what account or accounts your contacts sync to.

BTW, if you used gmail for your contacts on Android (which is the default) then just adding the gmail account to your phone would have moved over the contacts.

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Answer 6

Jen_59 Author

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12 points

May 11, 2021 8:57 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

The contacts in my phone, I manually entered after buying the new phone. They were not able to transfer them from my Samsung phone for some reason.

When I go into Settings, it shows two accounts - one is iCloud and the other is gmail.

I can say I'm sure I have had the gmail account (more than likely due to having a phone) but I've never used it, so I don't know if my contacts would have been on there or not.

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Answer 7

May 11, 2021 9:03 AM in response to Jen_59

OK, good start. Next open the Contacts app and tap Groups at the top left. Are both accounts checked, and do you see any others? You can see which contacts are in each group by unchecking all but one at a time, and seeing the contacts in the group.

Then you can go to Settings/Contacts and scroll to the bottom, and chose one for Default Account. This is the account all contact additions will go to.

I know we haven’t fixed the fundamental problem yet, but we’re heading towards it 😁

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Answer 8

Jen_59 Author

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12 points

May 11, 2021 7:49 AM in response to SravanKrA

I have never had an iCloud account before getting this phone so my contacts were never there. Also, when I purchased the phone, the store was not able to transfer my contacts from my Samsung phone to my iphone. I had to manually enter them all on my new phone. So I'm not sure that I have contacts stored anywhere. Is this why I'm having the problem? Should I still try your fix?

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Answer 9

Jen_59 Author

Level 1

12 points

May 11, 2021 9:24 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

I changed the default to iCloud and restarted my phone, but it still shows up as numbers instead of names.

I've noticed that when I go to Settings/Apple ID/iCloud, up above in the storage it lists photos, messages, backups and others, but it does not list contacts. Maybe it's not supposed to, but just thought I would mention it. It makes it look like the contacts are not backed up in the iCloud. However, down below under Apps using iCloud, Contacts is ON.

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Answer 10

Jen_59 Author

Level 1

12 points

May 11, 2021 10:00 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Ok, good to know.

I had to leave work and let my sister's dogs out :) I am back now and as of right now, it is back to listing the names. I don't know if it's because I left the wifi it was using and it reset. But it does this. I play around with switching Settings and nothing works and then randomly it changes to names. However, usually it changes back to numbers again. Sometimes, it takes an hour or so, sometimes it will go a few days before it changes back. Maybe I'll get lucky this time and it won't, but I doubt it.

Thanks for your help today! If it changes back to numbers, I'll come back and see if someone can figure it out.

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Answer 11

May 11, 2021 10:54 AM in response to Jen_59

If it changes back to numbers that means that the Phone app cannot access your Contacts app. Make sure that you have Contacts enabled in Settings/Cellular, that you have Cellular Data on (in the same settings), and that you have Settings/General/Background App Refresh enabled for Phone and Contacts.

And possibly also that the phone is not in Low Power mode (yellow battery icon), although that’s just a guess I suggest because of the intermittent nature of the issue.

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Answer 12

Jen_59 Author

Level 1

12 points

May 11, 2021 10:59 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Ok, I checked all of those and Contacts are enabled in Settings/Cellular, the Cellular Data is on, but when I go to Settings/General/Background App Refresh there is no Phone or Contacts listed. The Background App Refresh is On, but there is no Phone or Contacts in the list below. Should there be?

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