iOS 5 wiped all my contacts. Any help?

Thanks Random11 - works perfectly!

Thanks @random11.

FYI this only worked for me when I edited by adding a new phone number. Editing the name didn't work.

Thank you that work with me

I had the same problem: all the data was gone (contacts, apps, messages, photos...). What I did to fix:

1. Open iTunes

2. Restore iPhone version to previous version (I had only one version in iTunes)

3. During setup process on iPhone I turned OFF iCloud syncronization

4. Done, all the data were back

5. Turn ON iCloud sync (merge data)

I'm using OS Lion and iPhone 4

What happened to me: All contacts were gone after install. I couldn't get the iCloud to sync. Panic. Other than contacts everything else seemed to be there.

What solved the problem: Going to settings -> iCloud and then UNCHECKING the Contacts line. Then when promped I told it to delete the contacts downloaded so far from iCloud, went back to contacts -> Nothing happened...

So,

Went again into settings -> iCloud and this time CHECK the contacts line. Then I went to contacts again, and there were all the contacts!

My conclusion: Apple has sort of messed up the whole iCloud syncing and things aren't working as smoothly as intended, but the good news are that it does work EVENTUALLY, you just have to be patient and don't rush into restoring your device too fast.

Play around with the iCloud, turn it on and off, play with the contacts settings (under iCloud) or whatever else it is that you're missing and eventually you should be able to get it back.

I'm not too happy with Apple about this release so far. Looks bad guys.

An unlikely solution worked! After the iOS5 upgrade all my contacts were wiped, however I noticed all my call records were still intact, including secondary contact information for each of those records.

Although it seemed like an unlikely solution, I followed the recommendation to "go to the Mail/Contacts/Calender, scroll down to Import SIM Contacts and select it" solution and this has worked for me... I've never saved contacts to this sim so it must somehow perform some form of contacts reset.

I'm with VodafoneAU.

Worked:) Thank you for that! I am with Vodafone NZ

I have had similar issues with my contacts missing from the contacts app but all my phone favourites there. Also Contacts weren't syncing with my Mac (Snow Leopard - not upgraded to Lion yet due to some 3rd party app issues with Lion). I removed contact syncing from iCloud in my phone settings and the contacts reappeared in Contacts. I think the Contacts app is disabled when you select to store on iCloud which is why they are available still to other apps presumably directly from iCloud?

The syncing issue was that the update to IOS 5 had unchecked the option to sync contacts - maybe this is because contacts are now synced via the cloud rather than from the normal iphone to computer syncing process though I haven't checked as I don't want to mess with my resoterd contacts for now. I guess a bit more info and warnings with the new os would avoid us having to learn the hard way

Consider yourself lucky. IOS5 wiped my entire phone, and didn't even bother to mention it was going to do so. Sure, it ran its backup first, but that didn't include the two gig of video and pictures I had on there. Should all file a mass injunction....

Hey guys -- I've compiled a list of possible fixes for missing contacts. Sorry it's my own site, but I think it's helpful and relevant (no ads or anything):

http://www.seangw.com/wordpress/index.php/2011/10/ios-5-upgrade-lost-my-contacts /

this needs to be bumped asap

heres a list of problems:

All data wiped, Contacts, texts, Pictures

All above solutions have not worked, it furthermore will not allow me to back up to any of my old back ups. Itunes backed up before installing ios5 and it wont let me back up to it.

Still missing all my information and am ******.

also:

"import from sim" doesn't work

"turn icloud off in itunes" doesn't work

"restore from back up" doesn't work

This Post greatly helped me get get all my 11 years of accumulated contacts back after loosing them ALL after iOS5 Upgrade.

I treid every suggestion and none worked.

So I did the Restore under Devices and then Disabled iCloud during the Phone restart and all my contacts are back.

I have now re-Enabled iCloud and everything works.

Thanky you greatly.

I finally FIXED my device

What you have to do if you have a number of restore back up points, like I did, find the largest file size mine was around 4.25 gigs, you can check by going to

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

then you know which restore point to use,

THEN after right clicking on device, select restore from back up,

after the restore do not enable icloud when it starts up. (icloud disabled)

All contacts, texts, photos from my restore point where there ... sure 10 days old but whatever.

THEN enable icloud from phone settings, icloud, contacts etc.

Using the Restore under Device I feel this is becoming the truly only fix for the loss of contacts & info during upgrade to iOS5. Nothing else worked for me.

Make sure to give it a LOT of time to download/transfer (25 minutes in my case) the Restore to your Phone. Then allow your phone to restart, reload, eject (an other +/-5 minutes) all by itself before you even touch your phone.

Then when your phone says Restart / Start using, DISABLE iCloud when it asks you whether you want to use it or not. Then all of your contacts should re-appear along with all pertaining info / data.

This I feel is the only solution even though I had Backed up my phone BEFORE upgrading AND after upgrading, the Contacts & info & data did not transfer over to the Phone during the original Restore when upgrading.

Hope this helps.