How to Restore iPhone iPad Contacts from iTunes (Backup)

[Last Updated: June 29, 2017]

Q: "Owing to I have lost all my contacts after update to iOS 9.2.1, so I want to know can I get my contacts on my old iTunes backup. If possible, please send me a detailed guide to operate."

-- A User from Cnet Forums

Contacts on iPhone can disappear for many reasons, such as, mistaken deletion, iOS upgrade, device crash or damage, etc. It is relatively easy to restore contacts with iCloud. However, if you don’t rely on iCloud and have got backups of your iPhone with iTunes, it is also possible to restore iPhone contacts. But you should know that iTunes won’t allow you to restore ONLY contacts from the backup and it will wipe the existing data on your iPhone, what if you want to restore JUST contacts from iTunes backup?

Therefore, in this guide we will recommend you an iOS data recovery tool named PhoneRescue, which allows you to restore only contacts from iTunes, and offer you a detailed guide about how to selectively extract contacts from iTunes (backup). Absolutely, we also offer you the tutorial about how to restore contacts from iTunes backup in tradition way. Let’s get it started!

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Method 1. How to Restore Only Contacts from iTunes Backup with PhoneRescue

PhoneRescue is a comprehensive data recovery tool working well for both Android and iOS devices. With PhoneRescue - iOS data recovery you are fully capable of retrieving almost all the commonly used personal data and multimedia files directly from an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch.

More than anything, PhoneRescue is compatible with all the models of iPhone iPad and iPod touch, including the old iPhone 4/4s/5/5s, the latest iPhone 6s/SE and iPad Pro. And it also supports both of Windows and Mac operating system. Now Download PhoneRescue, and start to restore contacts from iTunes backup.

Step 1. Open PhoneRescue > Select Recover from iTunes Backup > Click on Right Arrow.

Step 2. Select the backup that contains the contacts you want to extract > Click on Right Arrow to scan the backup.

Step 3. Select Contacts > Preview and select the contacts you want to restore > Click on To iDevice button to get them to your iPhone directly; If you want to extract or restore contacts from iTunes backup without iPhone, you can click on To Computer button to download them to computer.

Method 2. How to Restore Contacts from iTunes Backup with iTunes

• With this method, all the current data on your iDevice will be lost and replaced by the contents in backup like photos, videos, messages, notes, calendar, settings, etc. If you want to keep current data safe and restore only contacts from iTunes backup, please move to method 1.

Step 1. Run iTunes and connect your iPhone to the computer.

Step 2. Right-click your iPhone under the Devices list and click Restore Backup…

Step 3. Select the latest backup entry appearing under the most recent date and click "Restore".

Must Read: How to Restore Contacts from iCloud >

The Bottom Line

PhoneRescue manages to recover your contacts and other types of media data and personal info. Besides, you can also download iCloud backup and recover data with PhoneRescue, such as voice memos, photos, videos, WhatsApp chat history, etc. Any question or comment about this article or PhoneRescue is welcomed. Meanwhile, don't forget to share this article with your friends. Now Download PhoneRescue to Start free trial >