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User profile for user: Linkster2
Linkster2 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

I have an Iphone 12 and have experienced some of my contacts disappearing from my contact list. How can i recover contacts from all the way back to October of 2020? And take steps to prevent contacts from bring deleted in the future?

Contacts are being deleted from my contacts list. Why is this happening and how can i recover contacts and set up steps to prevent this from happening again? Thanks, very frustrated….

Posted on Feb 22, 2023 2:39 PM

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User profile for user: Lawrence Finch
Lawrence Finch
User level: Level 10
214,398 points

Posted on Feb 22, 2023 2:54 PM

The master copies of contacts are not stored on your iPhone, they sync from one or more email accounts. If you delete an email account that is hosting your contacts they will disappear from your phone. Go to Settings/Contacts/Accounts to see which accounts contain the master copy of your contacts.


  • If it is iCloud, then see this→iCloud: Restore contacts, calendars, and more in iCloud Settings
  • If it is any other type of email account (e.g, AOL, Yahoo, gmail, hotmail, Outlook) then you need to use whatever tools your email provider offers for recovering contacts
  • You may also just not be viewing the contact “groups” in the Contacts app - open the app and tap Groups (or Lists in iOS 16) in the upper left corner and make sure all groups are checked or All Contacts in iOS 16.


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User profile for user: Lawrence Finch
Lawrence Finch
User level: Level 10
214,398 points

Feb 22, 2023 2:54 PM in response to Linkster2

The master copies of contacts are not stored on your iPhone, they sync from one or more email accounts. If you delete an email account that is hosting your contacts they will disappear from your phone. Go to Settings/Contacts/Accounts to see which accounts contain the master copy of your contacts.


  • If it is iCloud, then see this→iCloud: Restore contacts, calendars, and more in iCloud Settings
  • If it is any other type of email account (e.g, AOL, Yahoo, gmail, hotmail, Outlook) then you need to use whatever tools your email provider offers for recovering contacts
  • You may also just not be viewing the contact “groups” in the Contacts app - open the app and tap Groups (or Lists in iOS 16) in the upper left corner and make sure all groups are checked or All Contacts in iOS 16.


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I have an Iphone 12 and have experienced some of my contacts disappearing from my contact list. How can i recover contacts from all the way back to October of 2020? And take steps to prevent contacts from bring deleted in the future?

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