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All my Contacts are stored in iCloud. When I log to icloud.com, the [Advanced] -> [Restore Contacts] option only shows an error: "no archives available".
In other words, in a case of error, I would not be able to recover my contacts.
The Apple support advised me on the phone to backup my .vcf files manually.
Really? Is this a joke? No option to recover iCloud contacts from the cloud, in case of an error?!
iPhone XS
You had created contacts from iPhone , however you signed in with apple id and password of your iPhone from web browser and in the advanced section , the contacts can't be restored as they were never created from Mac / browser or deleted from the Mac .
But these contacts were created from iPhone and still visible in iCloud .
This article works for Mac / browser If you accidentally deleted your calendars, bookmarks, or contacts from iCloud - Apple Support and not using an iPhone .
I have read the question thoroughly , archives will not be available as you have not deleted contacts or exported contacts so how will you reimport them Import contacts into Contacts on Mac - Apple Support
Archive the contacts you store in iCloud - Apple Support
Your profile shows using iPhone .
Dear tygb, my contacts are in iCloud since years already, and I have done many deletions / creations during that time.
Just for the sake of it, I created a new contact item and deleted it today. And indeed this event caused a single new contacts archive to show up in the archive history.
The bottom line is, that archives are being deleted over time in iCloud when there are no active changes done to the address book for a certain time. The question is: how long will the archives be kept in iCloud? 90 days? No chance to go back after the timeout?
Dear tygb, thank You for clarifying.
Might very well be that my last change was older than 30 days.
As already stated, the phone support did not know how this feature functions at all, and advised me to back up all .vcf's locally.
Thank You for Your support & have a great day ahead!
The question is: how long will the archives be kept in iCloud? 90 days?-----its up to 30 days .
Does anybody read what I just wrote? IT IS NOT WORKING
There are "No archives available." in the "Advanced" section.
The contacts are erased after 30 days , additional info files / reminders are also erased after 30 days .
iCloud: Advanced -> Restore Contacts: "No archives available."
