Here's how I can find and recover iPhone contacts in iTunes

“How do I get my contacts back on my iPhone if I accidentally deleted them?”

“I have yet to need to restore an iTunes backup to my existing phone or a new phone. Is there a way to check in iTunes if my contacts are stored there? »

Once your iPhone is damaged, stolen or not working, all your stored data becomes inaccessible. iTunes used to be the default iPhone backup tool. If you have previously backed up iPhone contacts, you can retrieve contacts from iTunes on your lost iPhone.

The iTunes backup file cannot be read. But don't worry about it. You can still view your iPhone contacts in iTunes with detailed information. Here is a complete guide to find and restore iPhone contacts from iTunes backup. Just read and follow.

How to Find iPhone Contacts in iTunes

• Part 1: Common Questions About Finding iPhone Contacts in iTunes
• Part 2: Recommended Method to Find iPhone Contacts from iTunes Backup Without iPhone
• Part 3: How to Recover iPhone Contacts from iTunes Backup

How to transfer everything from an old phone to a new one?

How to Backup Data on an Old Android Phone

1. Open Settings from the app drawer or home screen.
2. Scroll to the very bottom of the page.
3. Go to the system menu. ...
4. Tap Backup.
5. Make sure the Backup to Google Drive switch is set to On.
6. Tap Backup to sync the latest data on your phone to Google Drive.

Part 1: Common Questions About Finding iPhone Contacts in iTunes

If you are not familiar with iTunes and iPhone data recovery, you can answer the following questions. Here are frequently asked questions about iTunes contact backup that you may need.

Question 1: Where are my contacts stored in iTunes?

Answer 1: If you have enabled the iTunes backup feature, all your iOS data and settings will be automatically synced to your computer as a backup. You can find iPhone contacts in iTunes on Mac at ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/. As for Windows users, you can access the iTunes backup folder in \Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\.

Question 2: How can I see my iPhone contacts in iTunes?

Answer 2: Just like above, you cannot view detailed information directly from an iTunes backup. During this time, you will need the iTunes extraction program to extract and check your iPhone contacts backup.

Question 3: Is it possible to recover deleted contacts on iPhone from iTunes?

Answer 3: You can get iPhone contacts back via iTunes backup. Unfortunately, your saved files will be overwritten after restoring iPhone contacts from iTunes. If you want to prevent iPhone files from being overwritten, you'd better extract your iTunes backup to get all iPhone contacts first.

Using iCloud

Now let's look at the most convenient and simple tool for synchronizing your data with a computer or laptop - iCloud cloud storage. By default, you already have an account in this service. To check its availability, go to the “Settings” of your iPhone, then click on the “iCloud” tab. If here you see a page with switches for notes, mail, the “Find iPhone” function and others, then you have a working iCloud account. Now you need to put the switch in the “On” position (green indicator) opposite the contacts item. This will enable cloud synchronization. Please note that your iCloud login information is your Apple ID. That is, if you do not have a connection to cloud storage, then you just need to log in with your Apple ID username and password.

• If we have figured out the registration in this service, then let’s directly try to copy contacts from iPhone to computer via iCloud.
• Go to icloud.com from any browser on your computer or laptop.
• Enter your account information that we discussed above and click on the arrow to go to the applications page.
• Next, click on the “Contacts” icon. You will see a list of your numbers that are on your iPhone.

Click on the Contacts icon

• At the bottom of the left block you will see an options button, which you need to left-click on.

Click on the gear

• Now click on “Select All” if you want to transfer all contacts from iPhone to computer. Or select them manually.
• After that, go to settings again. But now we need the “Export vCard” item. Click on it and select a folder to save. Click the OK button. Now your numbers will be in the selected folder.

When you need to restore contacts

The need to recover data arises in a situation where it was lost for some reason. For example, I deleted a contact on my iPhone, but I don’t know how to find it. There are many situations when such a need arises:

• accidental erroneous manipulations by the owner of the device;
• the system crashed and all saved numbers were lost;
• a hard reboot of the gadget was performed;
• you need to reset all contacts on your iPhone and restore some of them.

How to download contacts to iPhone from Android

Users do not always switch from one iPhone to another. Some people have been holding an Android smartphone in their hands for a long time, and only now have they decided to try out the benefits of the iPhone. Such users also need to transfer contacts.

To import numbers from Android to iPhone, you can put into practice the same methods that were used to transfer from iPhone to iPhone:

• via SIM card;
• using Google services;
• via vcf file;
• using the My Contacts Backup application;
• via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

In addition, you can use an additional method. In this case, you will need the Move to iOS application.

You need to download it to your Android smartphone and follow several steps:

1. When you start your iPhone for the first time, click the “Transfer data from Android” button.

2. Launch the program on Android and click “Continue”.
3. Confirm the user agreement.
4. On iPhone, also click “Continue” and wait for the code to appear.

5. Enter the digital value on your Android smartphone.
6. Mark the contacts on Android and click the Next button.
7. Wait for the process to complete.

To port numbers, you need a stable Wi-Fi connection.

The duration of the transfer will depend on the number of marked files. If only contacts were selected, the operation will only take a couple of minutes.

Tags: iphone 4s

Comments 53

Thank you all for your reviews!))

I also sent a photo of what it all looks like... otherwise many people write a little without understanding my words.

9.1 4s search on the spot with me, I don’t know where you put it...

I don’t know, after 6s on 4s not long ago I took it and installed 9.1, as on 6s everything works clearly)) Despite its age, it works more clearly than many Android g!

Disable updating contacts from Facebook and the search will work

Everything is fine for me - 4c on 9.1, I even started working a little faster than on 8.1. I’m happy with my iPhone, I’m not going to change it. Conjure...)

This is just the beginning))) aren’t you tired of updating?

I had the same problem, after updating 9.1, the search started working.

This happened on the 4, the problem was solved by deleting some application, I don’t remember which one.

Same crap after updating to 6K...

swipe down on the desktop to call up the search and enter what you are looking for

thank you!)) it works without problems. But I would like the search to work through contacts as before.

It was like this, rebooting didn't help. I just sold my phone)

Well, that's an option. but there are no complaints about the work, I’m not selling it yet)) when it dies, of course I’ll buy a new iPhone))

Try a cold reset, hold two buttons at the same time.

tried it. same story as it was. It just says not found. although he searches for everything through swipe.

I have it... In general, I downloaded it for myself and use only iCaller. Convenient)

Understand. but it’s more convenient for everyone. I want it to work in the right mode

thanks anyway for the feedback))

It was on the 4S that I had this happen, when there was less than half a gig of free memory left. I removed the unnecessary photos/videos, rebooted and everything was in order). I heard that, in principle, fours work poorly on the latest firmware... like, the manufacturer is specifically pushing people to change their phone in this way))). Good luck!

Crap. it's a pity. ok, I'll try to do magic with it))) thanks for the feedback))

My 4s doesn’t have any problems with the new firmware, maybe you’re doing something wrong?

I just noticed this after the update, I didn’t notice anything like this since the purchase itself. I do everything as usual, I press the handset, go to contacts to find the subscriber to call him, there is a search bar at the top, I press it, start typing., and when writing the first letter he starts looking for something, and from the second and subsequent ones he stupidly writes that he is not found. that's the whole story! you have to manually scroll through all your more than 700 contacts

Resync

If synchronization with iCloud was not performed after deletion, you can restore it by reconnecting to the server.

1. Open phone settings.
2. Next, go to iCloud.
3. Disable contact synchronization.
4. Connect your phone to the Internet.
5. Enable synchronization.
6. Next you will be asked to merge contacts.
7. We confirm the action, and after downloading the lost number will be restored.

Saving contacts using third-party applications.

The ExcelContacts application will help you save your contacts in an Excel file.

With this application you can get a file that opens on any computer and in almost any operating system.

Install the application using the following link

(the application costs 66 rubles, but it is available in our General account)

Launch it and select the type of file to save

Then we send the file by email and save it on different computers and on several flash drives. Now contacts from your iPhone will definitely not be lost.

The method is “old-fashioned”, but definitely nothing will be lost.

Part 2: Recommended Method to Find iPhone Contacts from iTunes Backup Without iPhone

Apeaksoft iPhone Data Recovery offers 3 ultimate solutions to recover deleted or lost iPhone contacts. You can selectively and safely restore contacts from the iPhone itself, an iTunes backup, or an iCloud backup.

Compared to iTunes, iPhone Data Recovery allows users to extract and find iPhone contacts in iTunes. The preview window will show you all the details. You can choose which iPhone contact to recover while keeping other iOS data. Moreover, you can only restore iPhone contacts from iCloud backup with all these features.

Key Features of iTunes Alternative Software

• Selectively restore contacts from iTunes backup, as well as messages, call history, videos, photos, etc.
• Extract your iTunes backup to show you everything in detail, such as phone numbers, emails, job titles, companies and more.
• All your iPhone files will be in their original location without overwriting the data.
• Export lost or deleted contacts from iTunes backup, iCloud backup and iOS devices from various scenarios.
• Supports the latest iOS devices and iOS versions, including iPhone XS Max and iOS 12.

How to Safely and Selectively Retrieve and Restore Contacts from iTunes Backup

Step 1
Connect iPhone to iPhone Data Recovery

Free to download, install and run iPhone Data Recovery. Connect your iPhone to a trusted computer using a lightning fast USB cable. The connected iPhone will be detected automatically.

Step 2
Select iPhone Data Recovery Mode

The left panel shows 3 different data recovery modes. You can read and select the most suitable one.

Recover from iOS Device: Recover contacts to iPhone without backup.

Recover from iTunes File Backup: All iTunes backups will be scanned. You can selectively download, extract and restore any iPhone contacts from iTunes backup.

Recover from iCloud backup file: Sign in to your iCloud account and download your iCloud contacts backup. You can restore contacts from iCloud backup without iPhone.

Step 3
Scan and View iPhone Contacts in iTunes Backup

When you enter "Recover from iTunes Backup File", all available iTunes backup files will be displayed in order without entering iTunes. Choose the most suitable iTunes backup. Click "Start Scan" to extract iPhone contacts from iTunes backup. Later, select Contacts from the Messages & Contacts section in the left pane.

Step 4
Recover Contacts from iTunes Backup on iPhone

You can double-click any contact to view detailed information. Check before your deleted or lost iPhone contacts. Click "Restore" in the lower right corner. Set the output path and click "Recover" to restore contacts to iPhone from iTunes backup without overwriting.

How to save numbers to a SIM card on iPhone

In order to transfer phone numbers from a SIM card to an iPhone, the developers have created a special and convenient service, which is why users do not experience any difficulties in transferring. However, to perform the reverse procedure, the user needs to show not only skills and knowledge in the field of iPhone and Apple devices, but also several special programs and imagination. It is worth considering the most popular methods.

Manual copying

The simplest, but also ore method is manual copying. First, the user needs to transfer all the numbers to the computer, and then only add them to the iPhone system.

If you follow the instructions, the algorithm looks like this:

• First, the user needs to download the iFUNBOX program;
• After that, connect the cable to the computer, connect the iPhone;
• Next, you should click on the “Browse Folders” section, open the Raw File System – var-mobile;
• Transfer all contacts from your phone to your computer.

After this, all that remains is to transfer the address book to your Android smartphone using the settings in the main menu.

Using Gmail and Android

This option is considered the most time-consuming and tedious, because the developers generally did not provide the ability to write phone numbers onto a SIM card from the iPhone’s address book. To complete the procedure efficiently, you should register in Gmail in advance.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

• First you need to select settings and go to “Contacts”;
• After that, open the account item, open Gmail in the list;

• Next, check if there is an Internet connection;
• Create an account or log in to your email;
• Move the slider to the right, activate the contacts option and wait for the process to complete;
• Remove the SIM card from the iPhone and insert it into Android;
• Log in to Gmal again, enter your username and password, go to the settings for this, then go to the “Account” item and select a profile;

• We wait for the data synchronization to complete, after which we enter the “Contacts” section and make sure that the numbers of the required subscribers have appeared in the address book;
• Now you need to find the “Export to SIM card” item. To do this, tap on the menu at the top of the screen and activate the import option;
• The device will offer to enter selective numbers, select the desired line and tap export;

• You will now be notified that only some information will be saved. Click yes if some important data is missing.

We wait for the transfer operation to complete, after which we remove the card and use it as necessary.

Free My Contacts Backup utility

To import numbers, another application can be used - My Backup Contacts. The algorithm for working with it is simple:

• We provide the utility with all the data, access to the “Contacts” section, tap on “Allow”;

• After that, tap on the “Backup” button if all subscribers are reflected;

• The program generates a file that will later be sent by mail;

• Tap on “OK”;

• A form opens, in it we indicate all the address numbers, tap on “Send”. The program itself will convert the data into VCF format;
• We go to the phone, go to email, open the letter.

We are transferring contacts. This is a simple method that allows you to transfer contacts in a few steps.