I've checked to make sure my Mac and both iPhones are saving contacts to iCloud. I've checked the data recovery list for contacts in iCloud but the data don't go back far enough. The backups on both phones and my Mac don't go back far enough to ensure that I might have the info I'm looking for. I there anything else I can try??
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 13, iOS 18
If you've confirmed that your Mac and iPhones are saving contacts to iCloud, and iCloud’s recovery options and backups don’t go back far enough, here are a few more things to try:
1. Check Other Linked Accounts
Go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts on your iPhone and System Settings → Internet Accounts on your Mac. You may have synced contacts through Gmail, Outlook, or another service without realizing it.
2. Search iCloud Contacts
Log in to iCloud.com, open Contacts, and use the search bar. Sometimes contacts appear here even if they aren’t showing on your devices.
3. Search the Mail App
If you’ve communicated with the person before, search the Mail app for their name or email. You might find their contact info in old emails.
4. Recheck iCloud’s Restore Options
Go to iCloud.com → Data Recovery and choose Restore Contacts. Even though it only keeps data for 30 days, double-check for any older versions.
5. Look on Older Devices
If you have an older iPhone or Mac, it may contain a local copy of the missing contact. Turn off Wi-Fi and iCloud sync immediately when powering it on to prevent data from syncing or being overwritten.
6. Check Third-Party Apps
If you’ve ever used a contact manager app, check there for old backups or exports. Some apps store data separately from iCloud.
If none of these options work, and the contact wasn’t saved elsewhere, it may not be recoverable.
Missing contacts and contact information on Mac and iPhone 13
