I have a long-term problem with contacts inexplicably disappearing while they're being modified without a backup, option to undue (⌘Z), or ability to restore from iCloud.
What is going on and how do I prevent this devastation from recurring?
Aside: I experience a similar problem with Calendar.
Thank you!
Thank you for those details Faulty-from-the-Factory-iMac!
Could it be possible that these contacts were synced to a third-party account such as Yahoo or Google? Take a look here on how to check:
If your iCloud Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders won’t sync - Apple Support
"If you store and edit your contacts in iCloud instead of another place, like On My Mac, Exchange, or Google, then iCloud automatically updates your contacts. If you use multiple accounts on your Mac like iCloud, Gmail, and Yahoo, make sure that iCloud is your default Contacts account:
As long as you've turned on Reminders in iCloud Settings, your iCloud reminders appear on your Mac."
If the issue persists, the next best step would be to contact Apple to investigate:
Cheers!
Thank you for those details Faulty-from-the-Factory-iMac!
Could it be possible that these contacts were synced to a third-party account such as Yahoo or Google? Take a look here on how to check:
If your iCloud Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders won’t sync - Apple Support
"If you store and edit your contacts in iCloud instead of another place, like On My Mac, Exchange, or Google, then iCloud automatically updates your contacts. If you use multiple accounts on your Mac like iCloud, Gmail, and Yahoo, make sure that iCloud is your default Contacts account:
As long as you've turned on Reminders in iCloud Settings, your iCloud reminders appear on your Mac."
If the issue persists, the next best step would be to contact Apple to investigate:
Cheers!
Hello Faulty-from-the-Factory-iMac,
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. If you're using iCloud Contacts, and contacts are missing or were deleted, you can use the steps outlined here to restore contacts from an earlier version: If you accidentally deleted your calendars, bookmarks, or contacts from iCloud
Restore your contacts or bookmarks from an earlier version
1. From your iPad or computer, sign in to iCloud.com.
2. Click your name at the top of the iCloud.com window, then click Account Settings.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Under Advanced, click Restore Contacts or Restore Bookmarks.
4. Click Restore next to the date before you deleted the content.
5. Click Restore again to confirm. After the restore completes, you'll get a notification on iCloud.com and an email to the address on file with your Apple ID.
If these steps don't help, you might be syncing your contacts with an email account. On your Mac, open the Contacts app and review the side bar on the left side. It will tell you where your contacts are saved.
We hope these steps are helpful. Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Hey Faulty-from-the-Factory-iMac,
With the behavior continuing and the other issues you mention, it will be best to reach out to Apple Support to look into this with you more. The link to reach them was previously provided, but here it is again, just in case: Get Support
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Take care!
Thank you, Vilas_S, for your reply!
All the contacts are stored in iCloud but restoring them neither restored this most recent inexplicably vanished contact nor any of the countless previous contacts that similarly inexplicably vanished while they were being modified. In case this might help, the "Last Import" Smart Group is empty.
This iMac is THE MOST problematic computer I've ever used. Since I first turned it on, a multitude of ever-changing problems has beset even the most simple of tasks, the startup volume dramatically changes from startup to startup (even though the Alert and Output volume settings remain the same), it instantly shuts-down without warning but doesn't offer to send Apple a report, sometimes it refuses to start even though TWO new power supplies have been installed, Mail is interminably slow, Calendar additions and changes don't always save or populate to future dates . . . the list of senseless, aggravating, time consuming, data-destroying problems is endless. Immediately after the warranty ended, the Apple Store said that this then-still-relatively-new iMac wasn't worth repairing and they "should have" replaced it yet they continue charging me for incessant repairs. Apple Care "was" in the process of attempting to help but after the technician again asked me to change settings, until he could continue helping (leaving my computer in a vulnerable state), he never contacted me again; when I asked Apple Care what happened to "Tony," they said they closed my case, having never notified me, and I would need to begin again.
I'm a home-bound, 100% disabled, American Veteran completely dependent on technology yet this "Faulty-from-the-Factory-iMac" has been profoundly more bane than benefit but being unemployable for three decades forces me to expend precious time, consideration, and effort addressing all it's too many recurrent problems. ARGH!
Rob_H1,
I began a previous reply but my Faulty-from-the-Factory-iMac performed one of it's many unexpected tricks: without warning, it quit abruptly (uncontrolled shutdown). I reset the SMC and NVRAM and ran Diagnostics and Disk Utility / First Aid neither of which found any problems. The Apple Store has installed two power supplies but neither solved these catastrophic shutdowns nor it's counterpart, not starting.
I followed your suggestions and all settings are proper: below are images showing that both iPhone and iMac Contacts are iCloud and there are no other Internet Accounts involved. Also note that Smart Groups / Last Import is empty.
I made two short vids showing that Night Shift never works nor does Energy Saver / Turn Display Off or Sleep but I was unable to insert those.
I appreciate your reply but the mysterious data destroying, inconvenient, time-consuming, aggravating, variable problems of this Faulty-from-the-Factory-iMac continue unabated no matter what anyone does to attempt solving them making me the unchallenged victim and Apple the undisputed profiteer.
Contacts Suddenly Disappear While Being Modified (macOS Monterey 12.6.8 (21G725))
