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amaule05 Author

Level 1

1 points

iPhone 4 Contacts Disappeared After Receiving Text Message

This morning when I woke up to a text message it showed the full name. Literally just about an hour later I received another message from the same person, but it only showed the phone number. When I went into the Contacts I saw it was completely empty. All of my favorites and recent calls are there but they're just the phone numbers, no names or anything else. How did this happen? I didn't change anything and I have no idea what to do.

iPhone 4, iOS 4

Posted on Nov 8, 2010 6:34 PM

243 replies

Mar 24, 2014 1:56 PM in response to amaule05

Hi everyone! I had the same issue but I figured it out, at least on my phone 4s. Try going to your settings>iCloud and make sure the "contacts" option is turned on. I also had to turn on the "iCloud" option as well as this is where the contact information is stored.

Good luck, hope it helps.

Oct 9, 2014 8:13 PM in response to amaule05

If you created a backup some time before the update, it is possible to get your contacts back. You can manually extract data out of the backup using a iPhone backup extractor software. It should be easy. It's a good idea as well to sync it with a PIM application as appropriate such as Gmail etc.

safdoo

Level 1

0 points

Oct 15, 2014 7:03 PM in response to amaule05

I have an Iphone 4S and the IOS 7 installed.

I tried all the suggestions listed here but unfortunately none of them worked. However, I was able to fix it through another method:

1. Go the "Contacts" app

2. Tap on the "Groups" option on the top left

3. Tap on the "Hide All Contacts" option; then immediately

4. Tap on the "Show All Contacts" option (check marks with appear and disappear from steps 3 and 4); then

5. Tap "Done" on the top left

This will take you back to the All contacts screen. You will begin to notice that the contacts now slowly start appearing again. This will take a couple of minutes but the contacts should repopulate eventually.

I hope this helps!

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,395 points

Nov 11, 2010 5:22 PM in response to amaule05

You can try restoring from a previous backup:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414

Nov 9, 2010 9:48 AM in response to amaule05

YES, exact same issue, APPLE please help, I have business contacts on there too. Someone please assist.

Nov 11, 2010 2:17 PM in response to amaule05

No help on this topic ???

amaule05 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 11, 2010 2:51 PM in response to ramonreyesjr

Doesn't look like it. Aghhhh. Some people have said their contacts would magically reappear but no such luck here, don't think it'll happen either.

Jan 12, 2011 12:33 AM in response to amaule05

Mine just disappeared too. I'm not sure if it is directly after receiving a text message or not. I have backups on PC, but my PC is in the shop for service.

Jan 13, 2011 12:17 AM in response to whitetailz

In addition to above: I don't use MobileMe

Kindbud

Level 1

0 points

May 19, 2011 6:49 AM in response to falleri

Im in the same boat a solution would be nice apple?

May 27, 2011 6:23 PM in response to Kindbud

Has anyone found a solution to this? So random, this just happened to me after zero problems with my phone for forever. Please someone help!

Jun 23, 2011 8:42 PM in response to amaule05

Same thing happened here; all contacts missing after receiving a text message. Is it something to do with mobileMe? I recently added an account.

justin97

Level 1

0 points

Aug 25, 2011 4:30 PM in response to amaule05

I too just had this happen. My work is my contacts. I connect people for a living. I need these contacts back now. Not cool. Anybody know what the F is going on? I have an iphone 4.

Nov 24, 2011 8:17 AM in response to amaule05

AAAAARRRRRRGH! Sorry - it's back. DANG APPLE PIECE OF CR$&!!

theck444

Level 1

0 points

Nov 29, 2011 11:00 PM in response to LRud

This worked for me. Thanks!

iPhone 4 Contacts Disappeared After Receiving Text Message