Contacts disappeared after iOS 7 update

I do not use iCloud, for any number of reasons (including an absolute disaster with Contacts after an iOS upgarde), but still have some contacts disappear just between my iPhone 4, iPad, and MacBook Pro Address Book. As an ancient and long-term Apple user, I can say that they have yet to actually make Contacts and Address Book play nice in the sandbox. I am seriously considering dumping the technology for this single problem. It is ridiculous.

Back in the day I used to sync a Palm device and it had clunky "Conduit Settings." That said, it was superior to this mess.

That's related to what I said regarding this issue. There seem to be some Apps that interfere with the new sandbox rules of iOs 7. Recognize them and you'll never have this issue anymore. It's not Apple's fault.

To switch Off and then On again Contacts in iCloud doesn't fix the problem, it temporary "reconstruct" your contacts, but only before you open the malfunctioning App or it interfere with the system by its own.

I can assure I tried all those things before to publish.

I am not sure which contacts are missing on my phone, but I do know all of the contacts I had before getting my iPhone 4s are there. This seems to have just started happening to me about two weeks ago... all of the contacts I've added over the past few months are gone. I've tried a multitude of suggested fixes posted here, and none have worked. I don't think it has anything to do with texting, because I am missing some contacts to landlines owned by folks who don't text.

AND WHAT'S UNBELIEVABLE TO ME IS THAT NO APPLE TECH HAS WEIGHED IN ON THIS LENGTHY THREAD TO OFFER VIABLE SOLUTIONS!!

Kudos for Apple in that this is the first time I've really needed help to solve a problem they've created. But shame on them for ignoring what's obviously a very common problem!

i have this problem too! suddendly my contacts disappears without doing anything... its already the 3rd time in 2 months!! i've fixed this to turn on/off the button for contacts by icloud.. but does anyone know if there is a solution that the problem wont appear again..??

Read my posts.

It's only matter to find which app/apps are causing that.

In my case they were:

Infinity Blade 2

Pro Camera

and how will we know which app it is..?

Try to think what you installed just before the issue began and try to delete it/them.

I was very lucky because I never had any issue before installing those two, so I recognized them immediately.

The name of the second app is "ProCam", I went back to check the correct name.

Sorry for my bad english, but I'm doing my best... I'm Italian.

FOR EVERYONE!

Remember to switch back on "Find my iPhone", this bug also disables it!

Yeah! I just found out that my self. By coincidence, when i was doing something else. I didnt think it was because of the update/bug.

Same thing just happened to me. All of my contacts and photos plus some of my apps have disappeared. I tried for several hours to look up how to get them back; nothing seems to work. I am not connected with icloud and I updated so I could start using icloud, I just want to say ISO 7 *****!!!! APPLE *****!!! I only have 1 more month left before I switch over to an android phone. I WILL NO LONGER BE BUYING APPLE PRODUCTS!!!! and I will make sure everyone I know, knows how much APPLE *****!!!

I don't see any good point to complain against Apple this time. iOs7 is much stronger in protection than any iOs versions before, the problem in this issue is related to some, really a few, third party Apps that can cause this problem, going against the strong sandboxing of the system. It's right to say also that this is not a REAL problem, 'cause fixing it is only a matter of re-syncing contacts from iCloud or your backup (everyone has a backup of their data and contacts, in a phone, are the most important thing).

Good luck if you're moving to Android and prepare to say "welcome" to every sort of issue you can imagine, say hello to your privacy and to any kind of serious assistance of the brand you will buy that terminal from. The only reason I can understand to choose Android is to spend less money, that's it.

In what you're saying there are also a lot of wrong things... You can use iCloud, for free, since iOs 5. In case you're using a Mac you're forced to sync them with iCloud since Mavericks, in the case you're using Windows, at least you've never did it, so that's your fault, I can't believe you've never synced your iPhone!

Remember that we are always speaking about devices, machines, therefore we all should know that nothing is 100% safe. So everyone should take care of their data, it's obvious!

Seriously, think it twice before letting iOs and going to Android, especially if you run a business, like I do.

Don't take all these words as a critic to you, I will never dare to do that, I'm only trying to advise you and, as you can understand, when writing is difficult to explain feelings, I'm only trying to be kind and help you, plus I'm italian and my english is like your italian I bet... 🙂

That is not quite true, yes iCloud does back up your contacts but when they restore from iCloud (unless you wipe and restore the entire phone) they do not come back with the photos or ring tones assigned to them, or at least mine didn't.

If this is caused by an app then fair enough but i hadn't added any new apps for months before it started happening on my phone so how am i supposed to know which apps are causing it.

I have resorted my phone from iCloud and had it wipe my contact again even before the restore is finished so simply restoring from iCloud is not a solution it is temporary patch at best and Apple should be addressing this problem and fixing it, and if they have decided not to I cannot blame anyone for moving to a different device that does rectify its customers problems.

The only why i have found to stop the problem occuring is to allow it to wipe everything and re input it one by one.

i have this problem too, in fact shortly after i added a few back, it disappeared again. waited for almost an hour but no result yet. anyone can help now? even contacts in icloud is gone...

As there are clearly numerous avenues for mischief regarding ios contacts, that a number of these replies suggest that there is a single explanation or solution misses the boat. In my case it is a particular contact that disappeared from the phone and then subsequently my other ios devices after syncing. It also disappeared from my laptop address book. The process of syncing proliferated the problem rather than restoring lost data.

There is a true issue here and Apple owns it.

I just had this happen to me as well. try Settings>Mail, Contacts, Calendars> Go to where it says Import SIM Contacts.

Thats how i got all my contacts back.