# How to restore deleted contacts on iPhone and Android

Source: https://exportcontacts.com/guides/restore-deleted-contacts/
Updated: 2026-11-14 · By the Contaxo team

> Where you can recover them depends on where the contacts were saved. **iCloud** contacts: restore an earlier version at **icloud.com/contacts › Data Recovery**. **Google** contacts: open the **Trash** or use **Undo changes**, both within 30 days. Contacts saved only on the phone come back only from a backup, such as a **Contaxo** backup file, whose restore adds just the missing contacts.

## What you need

- Your iPhone, iPad or Android phone
- For the iCloud and Google methods, a computer or browser signed in to that account

## Restore from a Contaxo backup

1. **Open Backup Contacts.** In Contaxo, tap the backup card at the top of the Home tab to see your list of backups.
2. **Pick a backup from before the deletion.** Find the most recent backup made before the contacts went missing.
3. **Swipe and tap Restore.** Swipe the backup and tap **Restore**. Contaxo adds only the contacts that are missing from your address book and leaves the others untouched.
4. **Check.** Open your contacts and search for a few of the people you lost.

## First: where were the contacts saved?

- **iPhone:** in **Contacts**, tap **Lists**. If you see **iCloud**, your contacts sync with iCloud. **Gmail** or **Google** means Google. **On My iPhone** means only on the phone.
- **Android:** most contacts are in your Google account. Samsung phones may also save to the phone or a Samsung account.

## iCloud contacts: Data Recovery

1. On a computer, go to **icloud.com/contacts** and sign in.
2. Open **Data Recovery** and choose **Restore Contacts**.
3. Pick a version from before the deletion and click **Restore**.

The version you pick replaces your contacts on all your devices. Contacts you added after that date disappear, so back up or export your current contacts first.

## Google contacts: Trash or Undo changes

- **A few contacts:** on **contacts.google.com** (or in the Google Contacts app), open **Trash**, select the contacts and click **Recover**. Deleted contacts stay in the Trash for 30 days.
- **Many contacts or a bad cleanup:** in Google Contacts, open **Settings › Undo changes**, choose a time up to 30 days ago and confirm. This rolls back your whole list.

## Samsung contacts

Samsung's Contacts app has its own **Trash** in the menu, for contacts saved on the phone or in a Samsung account. Open it, select the contacts and tap **Restore**.

## Next time: keep your own backup

Sync isn't a backup: when a contact is deleted, the deletion syncs to every device. A backup file is a copy from a point in time. With Contaxo, **Back Up Now** saves every contact for free, and you can [set it to run every week](https://exportcontacts.com/guides/automatic-contacts-backup-iphone/). See [Back up and restore contacts](https://exportcontacts.com/backup/).

## Frequently asked questions

### How far back can I restore iCloud contacts?

iCloud keeps a limited number of automatic archives, listed by date under Data Recovery. A recent deletion can take up to 24 hours to show up as an archive.

### Does restoring from iCloud undo my newer changes?

Yes. The version you choose replaces your current contacts on every device. iCloud saves your current contacts first, so you can undo the restore.

### Can I get back Google contacts deleted more than 30 days ago?

Not from Google: the Trash and Undo changes both stop at 30 days, and contacts deleted forever from the Trash can't be recovered. A backup file you kept is the only way.

### My contacts were only on the phone, not in iCloud or Google

Then only a backup can bring them back: a Contaxo backup file, or a full phone backup (restoring that replaces everything on the phone). Start backing up now so it doesn't happen again.

### Are backups and restores free in Contaxo?

Yes. Backing up every contact and restoring are free with no limit.

## Related

- [How to back up and restore your contacts](https://exportcontacts.com/backup/)
- [How to back up your iPhone contacts without iCloud](https://exportcontacts.com/guides/back-up-iphone-contacts-without-icloud/)
- [How to back up your iPhone contacts automatically](https://exportcontacts.com/guides/automatic-contacts-backup-iphone/)
- [How to find and merge duplicate contacts](https://exportcontacts.com/duplicates/)

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