Losing your iPhone contacts happens to many people, but it can be avoided by simply creating a backup. You can back up contacts on your iPhone using iCloud, Finder or iTunes, Google Drive as well as third-party software. Let’s take a look at these methods.
Note: iPhone contacts contain more than just names and phone numbers. They also store other personal information such as email ID, home address, and notes you may have added for the contact.
Back up contacts using iCloud
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
Tap Settings. - Tap your name at the top to go to your Apple ID’s settings.
Tap your name. - Tap iCloud.
Tap iCloud. - Look for Contact in the list of apps that are using iCloud. If it’s enabled, then you already have a backup of your contacts in iCloud. If it’s turned off, tap the slider to turn it on.
Tap Contacts. - If you turned it on in the past, it will ask you if you’d like to merge your current contacts with the ones from the previous backup. Tap Merge if you want to keep contacts from the previous backup. If you didn’t have it turned on before, the button will turn green without you having to merge anything.
Tap Merge. - To see the contacts that are currently backed up, go to icloud.com on a computer and sign in with your Apple ID. Note: You can’t do this on your iPhone’s browser because the mobile version of icloud.com doesn’t show contacts.
Sign in with your Apple ID. - Click on Contacts.
Click Contacts. - You’ll be able to see all of your backed-up contacts here.
You’ll see all your backed up contacts here.
Back up contacts using a Mac or Windows computer
Users who have a PC or a MacBook with macOS Mojave and earlier can use iTunes which can be downloaded from here. Apple discontinued iTunes on macOS Catalina and above and it was replaced by the Finder app which has the same interface. For this article, I’ll be using the Finder app, but you can use the same steps on iTunes.
- Connect your iPhone to your MacBook with the charger cable (USB to lightning cable) and open a Finder window by clicking its icon in the Dock.
Click the Finder icon in the Dock. - In the sidebar under “Locations”, click on your iPhone’s name.
Find your device under Locations. - Click on Info.
Click on Info. - Check Sync contacts onto (your name’s) iPhone.
Click on the checkbox. - Click on Apply.
Click on Apply.
Backing Up Contacts Using Third-Party Software
If you don’t want to backup your contacts on iCloud or Mac, you can use a third-party software. Here are three third-party tools that you can use:
Google Drive
- Download the Google Drive app from the App store.
Download Google Drive from the App store. - Tap Open once the app has finished downloading.
Tap Open. - Tap the Menu icon in the top-left corner.
Tap the Menu icon. - Tap Settings.
Tap Settings. - Tap Backup.
Tap Backup. - Tap Contacts.
Tap Contacts. - Tap the “Back up to Google Contacts” button to enable it. This will back up all of your contacts on your device and iCloud to Google Drive.
Tap the “Back up to Google Contacts” button.
PhoneTrans
PhoneTrans helps you backup contacts on your iPhone selectively. The software also lets you backup other types of data such as photos, messages, and videos. With the paid versions, you can use the software on multiple devices.
Dr.Fone
Wondershare’s Dr.Fone allows you to choose which contacts you want to backup or you can easily create a backup for all of them. The software has a trial version and subscription-based plans.
EaseUS MobiMover
The free version of EaseUS MobiMover allows you to back up any data on your iPhone. It also automatically updates your data regularly so you don’t have to do it manually.
