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I just backed up my iPhone but don’t see all of my contacts in iCloud. What am I doing wrong

I just backed up my iPhone but don’t see all of my contacts in iCloud. What am I doing wrong?

Posted on Mar 27, 2023 7:41 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 27, 2023 8:20 AM

This is often confusing to many; but essentially the backup only backs up data which is NOT already saved and/or sync’d off-device by other mechanisms.


Excerpted from:


What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support


“Your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch backups only include information and settings stored [only] on your device. They do not include information already stored in iCloud such as Contacts, Calendars, Bookmarks, Notes, Reminders, Voice Memos”


Your contacts are either separately stored and backed-up with your e-mail application; while any iCloud Contacts are continuously synced to iCloud separately.


You can confirm it’s setting is “on” at:


Settings -> AppleID -> iCloud -> [Show All] -> Contacts



2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 27, 2023 8:20 AM in response to Skapsak3

This is often confusing to many; but essentially the backup only backs up data which is NOT already saved and/or sync’d off-device by other mechanisms.


Excerpted from:


What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support


“Your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch backups only include information and settings stored [only] on your device. They do not include information already stored in iCloud such as Contacts, Calendars, Bookmarks, Notes, Reminders, Voice Memos”


Your contacts are either separately stored and backed-up with your e-mail application; while any iCloud Contacts are continuously synced to iCloud separately.


You can confirm it’s setting is “on” at:


Settings -> AppleID -> iCloud -> [Show All] -> Contacts



I just backed up my iPhone but don’t see all of my contacts in iCloud. What am I doing wrong

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