A few weeks ago, all the entries in Contacts, barring the last one I looked at, disappeared! I'm trying restore the application Contacts from my Time Machine drive but it's not there! In fact, lots of apps have not been backed up, what's going on?
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.8
The data aren't stored in the Contact app. They are in ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook
"~" means your user name
Apps which are part of the OS, such as Contacts, Calendar, etc. won't be backed up by TM
This is weird, the AddressBook is called Contacts, there is no actual AddressBook App.
There was, about ten years ago. They renamed it Contacts but left the storage location name.
and restored the folder from last August, when I knew it had all the contents, opened Addressbook and it was completely empty!
Try removing the com.apple.addressbook.plist file from the Peferences folder inside the Library, then restore the folder, again.
There may also be a Container folder, but I’m not at a Mac to check. Restoring all three of those may be required.
Also, make sure Contacts isn’t selected in iCloud System Settings.
Zurarczurx wrote:
The app itself isn't backed up. The data should be. Have you looked in Time Machine for the contents of that directory?
Before you restore it's worth trying to work out why the disappeared? Do you use iCloud to synch contacts between devices? If so and you deleted them on another device then they'd be deleted on all your devices.
Good question which has since been answered later in OP thread
The app itself isn't backed up. The data should be. Have you looked in Time Machine for the contents of that directory?
Before you restore it's worth trying to work out why the disappeared? Do you use iCloud to synch contacts between devices? If so and you deleted them on another device then they'd be deleted on all your devices.
Restore from iCloud (most effective fix)
If contacts were deleted or overwritten:
If I Option open the Library from Go via the Desktop, access Application Support, AddressBook is there, I just can't find it in any of the TM Backups and it's just not possible to access Option/Library from the TM Backups, even from Time Machine in the Desktop Sidebar. This is an exercise in futility.
With the Finder window open to Application Support, enter Time Machine. It should open in the same folder that was open.
You can also inside the Library by showing the View Options (cmd-j) on your Home folder. There is a checkbox to show the Library.
Which library have you found? There are two. One is at the top level of the HD the other is in your User directory. It's the user one you need.
If you're there and there's no addressbook then it's either been deleted - in which case you should be able to get it back with TM or that's not where they are stored in High Sierra - In which case you need to get googling to find out where contacts are stored in HS or wait and hope someone comes along who knows HS.
One last attempt to try and be constructive on this matter
Use a third-party app to export all contacts
Apple doesn’t provide a built-in “export all” button on iPhone, so apps help here.
Popular options:
How it works:
This is the easiest non-iCloud method for large contact lists.
Apologies for the High Sierra thing - I thought I saw it in your tags.
Have you got Time Machine in the Mac's menu bar - like in the screenshot I posted? If not put it there - the option to do so is in TM settings.
cmd shift . (hold cmd, shift and then press the full-stop/period) will finder to permanently reveal hidden files .
Open your Library <username>/Library using finder, not TM.
Open Application Settings
In the Mac Menu bar click on the TM icon and browse. This will open TM in the Applications folder and you should be able to see AddressBook. You should be able to see all the folders in there.
Forget Time Machine. Use Finder. Open your library. Post a screenshot of the contents.
Sorry, you're on High Sierra - I seem to remember that the library is hidden. I haven't used it for many years. in Finder hit the Go menu. Library might be listed there. If it's not then hit Go to Folder at the bottom and paste the folder path I gave you earlier, including the ~
If it's not there then you'll have to wait for someone who has or remembers High Sierra.
If you go into the folder using Finder then from the menu bar click on Enter Time Machine or Browse Time Machine Backups or whatever it was called in High Sierra then TM opens in whatever folder you are looking at in Finder. You don't need to do any navigating in TM.
Most intersting
How does your iPhone use the Contacts application
Provisional license not accepted for age … - Apple Community
Then, it maybe in the best interests of computer to Use iCloud to sync the iPhone to the computer
I have 5 Apple Computer, 1 iPhone and 1 iWatch
The changes I make on 1 device are reflected back onto all the other devices
Responsibility is built on the choices you make, the actions you take, and the accountability you accept.
Could you post a screenshot of the folders in the library?
It's not possible to make a screenshot when Browsing TM Backups and if you read the rest of replies, you'd see that Application Support doesn't show up when accessed from TM
Contacts disappeared; Time Machine not backing up all apps
