Updating to the latest version of iOS is always exciting as it brings new features and improved performance to your iPhone. However, after updating to iOS 14 or 15, many iPhone users often face the issue of missing contacts. Various reasons, such as software glitches, incomplete updates, or syncing problems, can cause this issue. In this chapter, we will explore the possible reasons behind the problem and what you can do to resolve it.
Firstly, it’s essential to understand that when you update your iPhone’s operating system, there are chances that the contacts may not be synced to your phone’s address book correctly. This may lead to missing contacts, or your phone may not show any contacts.
One of the primary causes of missing contacts is the Group button, which is located in the upper-left corner of your Contacts page. If you have selected an unintentional group, your contacts may appear to be missing. Therefore, it’s crucial to check whether you have chosen the right group of contacts or not. Tapping on the “All Contacts” option should show all of your contacts.
Another reason for the missing contact issue could be that your iPhone is not connected to iCloud or Gmail. If your contacts are synced with iCloud, ensure your iPhone is connected correctly.
To check this, go to Settings > iCloud > Contacts. If it shows “On,” then your contacts are automatically synced with your iCloud account. Similarly, if your contacts are synced up with the Gmail account, make sure that you are signed in with your Gmail account. Go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Gmail, and ensure Contacts is toggled on.
If your contacts are still missing after checking the group and syncing with iCloud or Gmail, it’s worth trying to sign out of your iCloud or Gmail account and then back in. Signing out and signing back in can help reset your iPhone’s syncing capabilities, thus resolving the issue.
Lastly, if none of these basic solutions works, you can try rebooting your iPhone. Restarting your device can help refresh the system and fix any minor bugs affecting the functioning of your iPhone.
Press and hold the power button until you see the power slider, and then slide it to turn off your iPhone. Wait for a few seconds before turning your device back on.
Understanding the possible reasons behind the missing contact issue is the first step in resolving it. In this chapter, we have discussed some common causes of the problem and how to fix them. However, if you cannot retrieve missing contacts, don’t panic. We will explore some advanced solutions in the next chapter to help you.
Simple Solutions to Try First
If you’re one of the users who have recently updated their iPhone to iOS 14 or 15 and their contacts are not showing up, there are simple solutions to try before jumping into advanced ones. In this chapter, we’ll explore the easy tips and tricks to help resolve the issue.
1. Check the group button in the contacts app: Your contacts may be hidden in the group section of your contacts app. To check this, go to the contacts app and look for the group button in the upper left corner. If the group button is checked, tap it and uncheck all boxes to show all contacts. If it’s unchecked, tap it and select a group to show.
2. Ensure your iPhone is connected to iCloud or Gmail: If you’ve checked the group button and still can’t find your contacts, ensure your iPhone is connected to the account where your contacts are stored.
For iCloud: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > toggle Contacts to on.
For Gmail: Go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > select your Gmail account > toggle Contacts to on.
3. Sign out and sign in again with your Apple ID password: Sometimes, signing out of your iCloud or Gmail account and then signing back in can help resolve syncing issues. Here’s how to do it:
– For iCloud: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > scroll down and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off. Then, sign back in with your Apple ID password and toggle Contacts to on.
– For Gmail: Go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > select your Gmail account > scroll down and tap Delete Account.
Then, add your account back and toggle Contacts to on.
4. Reboot your iPhone: Rebooting your iPhone can sometimes solve minor issues, including syncing contacts. To do this, press and hold the Side button (or the top button for older models) until you see the slider. Then drag the slider to turn off your iPhone. Finally, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.
5. Use a third-party tool: If none of the above solutions work, you can use a third-party tool like UltData to recover your missing contacts. UltData supports over 35 types of files to recover, and you can choose to scan only your contacts.
To use UltData:
If your iPhone contacts are not showing up after updating to iOS 14 or 15, check the group button and ensure your iPhone is connected to iCloud or Gmail. Then consider signing out and signing back in or rebooting your phone. Use a third-party tool like UltData to retrieve your contacts if all else fails. By following these simple solutions, you’ll likely be able to resolve the issue without using more advanced methods.
Advanced Solutions for Persistent Problems
If the simple solutions outlined in Chapter 2 do not work for you, don’t worry; you can still try some advanced solutions. These methods may require more work and effort, but they can effectively fix missing contacts after updating to iOS 14 or 15.
iCloud Sync Issues
If your iPhone contacts are stored on iCloud and are not syncing correctly, you can try turning off iCloud sync for contacts, restarting your iPhone, and then turning it back on. To do this, go to Settings > iCloud > toggle off Contacts > select Keep on My iPhone > restart your iPhone > go back to Settings > iCloud > toggle on Contacts.
If this method doesn’t work, you can try turning off iCloud sync for all data and then turning it back on. To do this, go to Settings > iCloud > turn off all the toggles for the data types you want to sync, wait a few minutes, and then turn them back on. This may take some time to complete, especially if you have a lot of data stored on iCloud, but it may help to resolve the issue.
Reset Network Settings
Sometimes, the issue may be related to network settings on your iPhone. Resetting these settings can help to resolve the problem. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings to do this. After doing this, you will need to re-enter your Wi-Fi passwords and other network information, so make sure you have this information on hand before resetting.
Restore from Backup
If you have a backup of your iPhone from before you updated to iOS 14 or 15, you can try restoring your iPhone from that backup. This can help to fix any issues that occurred during the update process. To do this, connect your iPhone to your computer, open iTunes or Finder, select your iPhone, and then click Restore Backup.
Get Help from Apple Support
If none of these methods work, it may be best to contact Apple Support for further assistance. They may provide additional troubleshooting steps or help you determine if your device has a hardware issue. Support options are available on the Apple Support website or your iPhone’s Support app.
In conclusion, when simple solutions do not work, there are still a few advanced solutions. You can troubleshoot iCloud sync issues, reset your network settings, restore from backup, or seek help from Apple Support. These methods may require effort, but they are worth trying if it means recovering your missing contacts.
Best Practices for Maintaining Contact Syncing
While updating to iOS 14 or iOS 15 may cause issues with contact syncing, there are certain best practices you can follow to avoid such problems. These practices are essential for maintaining the integrity of your contacts and ensuring that they remain up-to-date, no matter what iOS version you use.
Here are some tips to help you keep your contact syncing running smoothly.
1. Ensure your iPhone is updated
Keeping your iPhone updated is essential for maintaining contact syncing. New updates often come with bug fixes that may have caused contact syncing issues in the past. To check if your iPhone is updated, go to Settings > General > Software Update and check if a new update is available.
2. Enable iCloud syncing
Using iCloud to sync contacts across all your devices is one of the most convenient ways to manage your contacts. Enabling iCloud syncing ensures that your contacts are backed up and synced across your devices.
To turn on iCloud syncing, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and toggle the Contacts switch.
3. Use the same Apple ID across your devices
Using the same Apple ID across all your devices ensures that your contacts are automatically synced. This ensures you have access to the same contacts regardless of your device.
To check if you use the same Apple ID across all your devices, go to Settings > [Your Name] and check if the Apple ID is the same.
4. Avoid using third-party apps for contact management
While many third-party apps offer contact management solutions, it is best to avoid using them. These apps can cause conflicts with the contacts app on your iPhone and create issues with contact syncing. Sticking to the built-in contacts app or using iCloud to manage your contacts is best.
5. Regularly backup your iPhone
Regularly backing up your iPhone is necessary to ensure your contacts are safe from data loss. Backing up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer ensures you have a copy of your contacts, even if something happens to your device.
These best practices can help you maintain contact syncing on your iPhone and avoid issues when updating to a new iOS version. By following these tips, you can ensure that your contacts remain up-to-date and readily available, no matter what happens.