SIM contacts gone

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Level 1

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SIM contacts gone

Hi,

I have just reseted my iPhone 4 (iOS 4.2) and now all the contacts stored on my SIM card are gone! I can't get them back by clicking on "import from SIM" in my iPhone's menu. This has never been an issue before. After a reset, I was still able to import my contacts from the SIM card. But now all of a sudden it's all gone with the wind.....

Please help. Thank you.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.5), iPhone 4 with iOS 4.2.

Posted on Dec 19, 2010 10:22 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 19, 2010 10:36 AM in response to bastastian

The iPhone does not store any data on the SIM card. Although it is possible to import contacts from a SIM card that was used with another cell phone that supports storing contacts on the SIM card, the iPhone does not store any data on the SIM card nor includes an option to erase any data stored on a SIM card - at least not that I'm aware of. There is no option for this on the iPhone.

Certainly your contacts are available on your computer - you don't depend on your iPhone or any cell phone alone for this data which can be lost or stolen? Contacts are designed to be synced with a supported address book application on your computer. With Mac, this can be with the Address Book application. In addition, contacts are included with your iPhone's backup or should be, which is updated by iTunes as the first step during the iTunes sync process.

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Answer 2

Dec 19, 2010 12:40 PM in response to bastastian

But I'm stil curious to know why the restore deleted the contacts on my SIM?

It shouldn't have. The iPhone does not store any data on the SIM card nor includes an option to erase any data stored on a SIM card - at least not that I'm aware of.

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Answer 3

bastastian Author

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Dec 19, 2010 11:58 AM in response to Allan Sampson

The contacts on my SIM were from my old phone.
Because there is indeed no function to delete SIM contacts, I am very surprised that my iPhone (or iTunes) has managed to successful delete them all.

Under iOS 4.1 it was no problem to import the SIM contacts after a reset of the iPhone.
This was the first time that i have made a reset under iOS 4.2. and tried to import my contacts. Maybe this is a bug in iOS 4.2?

Now I feel dumb to have relied on this "import from SIM" feature.

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Answer 4

Dec 19, 2010 12:03 PM in response to bastastian

An iPhone reset does not affect any data or settings.

Restoring a iPhone with iTunes does and there are two restore options - from your iPhone's backup along with being prompted to update your iPhone's backup as the first step and restoring from your iPhone's backup being the default selection, and as a new iPhone or not from your iPhone's backup, which must be manually selected.

Contacts are included with your iPhone's backup, or should be.

Did you restore your iPhone with iTunes from your iPhone's backup, or as a new iPhone or not from your iPhone's backup?

What prompted you to restore your iPhone with iTunes to begin with?

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Answer 5

bastastian Author

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Dec 19, 2010 12:32 PM in response to Allan Sampson

I restored my iPhone as a new iPhone without using a backup. The plan was to get back to the original state of my iPhone with iOS 4.1. because i have a lower WiFi reception since 4.2.
But I know now that it is not possible to get back to an older iOS version via restore.

From now on I will only use the address book to sync my contacts.

But I'm stil curious to know why the restore deleted the contacts on my SIM?

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Answer 6

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Dec 19, 2010 12:36 PM in response to bastastian

But I'm stil curious to know why the restore deleted the contacts on my SIM?

Unless your old phone used a micro sim, your contacts were never on your iPhone 4 sim as the iPhone 4 uses a micro sim.

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Answer 7

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,401 points

Dec 19, 2010 10:25 AM in response to bastastian

How did the contact get one the SIM?

Iphone does not save to SIM at all.

You should be syncing your contacts and calendars to your computer as is designed. Have you failed to do this?

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Answer 8

bastastian Author

Level 1

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Dec 21, 2010 11:46 AM in response to Allan Sampson

Hi,

thank you for all your helpful tips. I came to the conclusion that my SIM card has some kind of error. I will replace it immediately.

Thank you.

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