Custom Labels for Phone numbers now missing

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Level 1

4 points

Custom Labels for Phone numbers now missing

WARNING TO USERS: I have over a thousand contacts in my Apple Address Book, and many had CUSTOM labels. They were backed up to iCloud and to an external hard drive. Now my CUSTOM label identifiers are all GONE! It happened about 3 software updates ago, that is when I first noticed the issue. I have contacted AppleCare, and they have escalated the issue to their engineering team.

After a week, they contacted me and said that know why it happened but they do NOT have a way to fix it and that they can only show me how to keep it from happening in the future! Now, I have an address book with phone numbers that do not identify mobile, office, or any CUSTOM labels. This is crazy. Surely someone has an answer, as it appears this has happened to many people.

PS: I am an avid Apple supporter who has owned many Apple computers for many years…dozens, or more.

MacBook Air, macOS 15.6

Posted on Sep 2, 2025 08:43 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 2, 2025 09:01 AM in response to newiphonex

What account are you syncing your contacts with. The fact that you say they are backed up to iCloud indicates to me they are not synced to iCloud (as you can't do both). Some types of accounts, such as Exchange accounts (very often work accounts) don't allow or restrict custom labels. If your contacts are connected to an Exchange account and the Exchange administrator has made changes in how it works, that could explain it.

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