I first posted on this process back in May of '09. After the release of iOS 4 on June 21st, I noticed a big jump in traffic to my blog post. So I thought it was time to update the post using screenshots from iOS 4. Note if you're still using version 3.0 iPhone software follow this link.
I sync my iPhone, MacBook and iMac over MobileMe. I like that a change in an appointment or contact on one device shows up on the other two. But on a few occasions I have opened my iPhone to find that all my Contacts were gone. This calamity mysteriously happened on its own. (I did not make any setting changes to lose my contacts.) But here's how I got them back.
Assumption: This process assumes that you are using MobileMe to store your contacts. Before you begin the steps below, I suggest you go to your MobileMe account and confirm that your contact are there. Assuming your contacts are on MobileMe, here's the way to get them back to your iPhone.
1. On my iPhone I went to "Settings" and picked "Mail, Contacts, Calendar." All the email accounts you have on your iPhone will be there as choices along with your MobileMe account. See below.
2. Under accounts I selected my MobileMe account. You get a list of all the data that MobileMe is syncing. See below.
3. I turned Contacts "Off." (It's the only sync I turned off.) You get the dialogue box below asking you if you really want to do this. I chose "Delete from My iPhone" since I did not want to run the risk of duplicating contacts. (Remember, that I had already confirmed that all my contact are backed up on my MobileMe account.)
4. As the process of deleting progressed, I got this confirmation.
4. Once the process was finished, I waited a few seconds then I went back to the screen in Step 2 above and turned Contacts back "On."
Re-synching your contact to your iPhone takes a new minutes - don't panic!
When I reopened my iPhone contacts, initially they were all gone. But I could see the sync icon running and after about 5 minutes all my contacts were back. Your time will depend on how many contacts you have and whether your are running on a wifi network. Note on this last step you might have to open and close Contacts a few times to get your iPhone to force a MobileMe sync.
Uh, it's not working for me. My mom's angry at me for losing all her contracts and apps, and the iPhone was given to her by someone who couldn't handle the taxes/bills, and I doubt the person knows both his MobileMe and iTunes account. Am I screwed?
Posted by: Jack Wickelson | October 09, 2010 at 06:06 AM
Hi Jack,
You don't want to get in trouble with mom!
The iPhone would have needed to have been activated using iTunes. iTunes doesn't use a password to sync with the iPhone. iTunes password is used to access iTunes store.
To use the method above you need to be using MobileMe to sync. But you don't give enough detail to troubleshoot your problem.
I've found that the Apple discussion groups can be very helpful - search on your problem or post a question. Apple has done a clever job of outsourcing it's tech support to it's discussion forum readers who get status point for solving problems. Here the link to the iPhone sync forum.
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1142
Hope that helps!
Posted by: Peter Pappas | October 09, 2010 at 01:51 PM
When i did sync my iPhone4 with outlook contacts. then i got message want to marge or replace. I choose replace. and then when finished SYNC. i saw in iPhone4 no contacts. So i lost my all contacts. How can i restore again in iPhone4. Do you have any helpul advice for me or suggestion????
Posted by: Mohammad Raihan Mazumder | January 12, 2011 at 12:37 AM
Hi Mohammad,
I don't use Outlook, so I don't have any experience with the problem you have. I did find some useful info at the Mac discussion board. Here's a link to some of the discussion and solutions on the iPhone / Outlook sync http://tinyurl.com/5wffa4f
Good luck!
Posted by: Peter Pappas | January 13, 2011 at 06:34 AM
Thank you - it worked like a charm
Posted by: Alison | March 07, 2011 at 06:11 PM
Alison,
Glad to hear it's back. Losing all that data is frightening!
Cheers ~ Peter
Posted by: Peter Pappas | March 07, 2011 at 06:42 PM
I don't have mobile
Me and for some reason I lost all my contact how do I get this back. Not even able to retribe it on my computer. Please help me
Posted by: Will | May 08, 2011 at 05:46 AM
Hi Will,
I'm not sure that this will apply to your situation. But by best suggestions is to
[Go to Settings, click on Mail, Contacts, Calendars>hit/click Import SIM Contacts.]
I hope that does the trick. ~ Peter
Posted by: Peter Pappas | May 08, 2011 at 01:25 PM