Have you ever accidentally deleted a phone number from your iPhone and desperately want to get it back? Losing important contact numbers can be a big problem especially if you use your phone for work and keeping in touch with friends and family. Luckily, there are methods that you can use to bring back the deleted phone numbers.
In this blog, we will discuss the steps you can take to retrieve deleted phone numbers on your iPhone. We will also discuss the essential requirements and things that you need to focus on to achieve a successful restoration.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
Before diving into the methods, here are some requirements that you need to take care of:
1. An iPhone that you have previously synced with a computer or iCloud
2. A computer with the latest iTunes software installed
3. An active internet connection
4. Apple ID and password login information for iCloud.
What requires your focus?
Before moving forward with the methods, you need to take care of a few things and focus on them to ensure that you don’t make any mistakes during the recovery process. Please follow these instructions carefully:
1. Stop using your phone immediately after losing the contact number
2. Turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data to prevent syncing with iCloud
3. Always keep a backup of your data to avoid further loss of information.
Method 1: Restore Deleted Numbers from iCloud Backup
Pros:
– Retrieving information from an iCloud backup is fairly quick and straightforward
– You can restore only the contacts you need instead of restoring the entire backup
– You can access your backup on any Apple device using your Apple ID and password.
Cons:
– You cannot access individual data from an iCloud backup without restoring the entire backup
– If the backup is not available, you won’t be able to retrieve the numbers
– It may take some time to restore the backup, and you may need a stable internet connection.
Description:
1. Start by going to the "Settings" menu on your iPhone and clicking on "iCloud."
2. Sign in using your Apple ID and password.
3. Look for the "Contacts" slider button and turn it off. At this point, your contacts should disappear.
4. Now, turn the "Contacts" button on again.
5. A pop-up message will appear, asking whether you would like to "Merge" or "Cancel." Click on "Merge." The contacts on your iPhone will now synchronize with iCloud and should restore any missing contact numbers.
FAQs
Q: How do I know whether my iPhone is synced with iCloud?
A: Go to the "Settings" menu and click on "iCloud." If the contacts slider button is on, this means that your iPhone is syncing with iCloud.
Q: What if the backup data on iCloud is outdated?
A: You will need to restore the entire backup. Unfortunately, if the backup is outdated, you will lose any new data that has been added since the backup.
Method 2: Restore Deleted Numbers from iTunes Backup
Pros:
– iTunes backups allow you to restore your iPhone to a previous state without overwriting any new data
– Unlike iCloud, you can access individual files and data from an iTunes backup.
Cons:
– You need a computer with iTunes installed and an internet connection.
– Restoring an iTunes backup to your iPhone may take a considerable amount of time
– If the backup is not available, you won’t be able to retrieve the numbers.
Description:
1. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.
2. Launch iTunes and select your iPhone from the left side of the screen.
3. On the "Summary" tab, click on the "Restore Backup" option.
4. A drop-down menu will appear, showing all the backups saved to your computer. Select the most recent one and click the "Restore" button.
5. Wait for a few minutes as your iPhone restores the backup. Once the process is complete, your phone will restart with all your deleted contacts restored.
Note: If you are unable to retrieve the deleted contacts from using this method, try repeating the process with a different backup.
FAQs
Q: Will restoring an iTunes backup delete my current data?
A: Restoring an iTunes backup will add the missing data to your current iPhone data. It will not erase any of your current information.
Q: Can I restore a single deleted contact instead of restoring the entire backup?
A: Unfortunately, you cannot restore a single deleted contact; instead, you need to restore the entire backup.
Method 3: Using a Third-Party Data Recovery Tool
Pros:
– Third-party data recovery tools can retrieve lost or deleted data from iPhone without needing an iTunes or iCloud backup
– Some tools can recover data that has been lost due to a damaged iPhone.
Cons:
– They can be expensive and may require a monthly subscription
– The recovery rate depends on the extent of the damage to the iPhone
– The recovery process can take a long time.
Description:
1. Download and install a reliable third-party data recovery tool on your computer (e.g., EaseUS MobiSaver, Tenorshare UltData, etc.).
2. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.
3. Launch the data recovery tool and select the "Recover from iOS Device" option from the main screen.
4. Scan your iPhone for deleted contacts.
5. Once the scanning process is complete, select the contacts you want to recover and click on the "Recover" button.
Note: Don’t disconnect your iPhone while the recovery process is ongoing. Doing so may result in data loss.
FAQs
Q: Can I use the third-party data recovery tool on my Mac computer?
A: Yes, these data recovery tools work seamlessly on both Windows and Mac computers.
Q: Can I recover deleted contacts using free data recovery tools?
A: While some free data recovery tools exist, they rarely offer a high recovery rate and may not be able to recover all lost data.
Why Can’t I Retrieve My Deleted Numbers?
Losing important contact numbers can be a frustrating experience. Here are some reasons why you may be unable to retrieve deleted phone numbers:
1. The data may have been permanently deleted if it was not backed up.
2. The data may be overwritten by new data if you continue using the phone, making it impossible to restore the deleted numbers.
3. Your iPhone may be experiencing software or hardware issues that cannot be fixed through restores.
To avoid losing important data, always backup your iPhone data regularly and stop using your phone when you notice that data has been lost or accidentally deleted.
Implications & Suggestions
Now that you know the methods for restoring deleted phone numbers, it’s essential to keep in mind the following implications and suggestions:
1. Regularly backup your iPhone data to avoid losing important information.
2. Stop using your iPhone immediately if you accidentally delete important contact numbers.
3. Use reliable data recovery tools to ensure a high success rate when recovering lost data.
4. Avoid using your iPhone when restoring a backup or using data recovery tools.
5. Be careful when deleting data, double-check before deleting or adding new contacts.
FAQs
Q: Can I retrieve deleted contacts on an iPhone that is not mine?
A: No, it is illegal and unethical to retrieve data from someone else’s iPhone without their consent.
Q: Can I retrieve a deleted contact using Siri?
A: Unfortunately, you cannot use Siri to retrieve deleted data.
Conclusion
Losing important contact numbers can be panic-inducing. However, there are methods and tools that you can use to retrieve deleted phone numbers on your iPhone. You can choose to restore your phone using an iCloud or iTunes backup, or use a third-party data recovery tool. To avoid losing data, always backup your iPhone regularly, and seek assistance from an expert if you experience any software or hardware issues. Always remember to be cautious when deleting and adding new contact information.
