Recover Lost Contacts on WhatsApp
Recover lost contacts on WhatsApp It can be a daunting task for those who have lost data from their mobile devices. Whether you've changed your phone or performed a factory reset, you may at some point face the situation of losing your stored contacts. Below are several ways to recover contacts Effectively.
How Contacts Work in WhatsApp
WhatsApp uses contacts stored in your phone's address book to automatically add them to your contacts list within the app. Every time a new contact is saved to your phone's address book, WhatsApp syncs this information, allowing the person to appear as a user if they also have the app installed.
Reasons Why Contacts Are Lost
* Phone Changes: Switching to a new phone can lead to loss of contacts if not properly backed up.
* Factory Reset: When you restore your phone to its original settings, all stored data, including contacts, is erased.
* Sync Errors: Occasionally, sync issues can result in the loss of contacts in apps like WhatsApp.
Restoring from Google Account
One of the most common forms of recover contacts On Android, it's through syncing with your Google account. For users who regularly link their contacts to this account, following these steps may help:
- Sync Contacts with Google Account:
* On your Android phone, go to “Settings.”
* Select “Accounts” and then “Google.”
* Make sure contact sync is enabled. This will ensure your contacts are saved to the cloud and can be restored.
- Import Contacts to WhatsApp:
* Once the contacts have been synced and restored to your phone, open WhatsApp.
* Go to “Contacts” in the app and select “Refresh” to ensure the sync completes successfully.
Using WhatsApp Backups
WhatsApp performs backup Periodic backups of messages and contacts, making it easier to recover information in the event of data loss. The backup can be linked to your Google Drive account on Android or iCloud on iOS devices.
Restoration on Android
- WhatsApp installation:
* Install or reinstall WhatsApp from Google Play Store.
* Open the app and verify the associated phone number.
- Restore from Google Drive:
* During the installation process, WhatsApp will prompt you to recover data from a backup found on Google Drive.
* Select “Restore” to recover both lost messages and contacts.
Restoration on iOS
- WhatsApp installation:
* Install WhatsApp from the App Store.
* Open the app and verify the associated phone number.
- Restore from iCloud:
* During installation, WhatsApp will detect the backup stored in iCloud.
* Select “Restore” to recover your data.
Third-Party Applications and Recovery Tools
In some cases, automatic synchronization and backups may not be available or sufficient to recover contactsThere are several recovery applications and tools that can be useful:
* Dr.fone: It is a data recovery software that allows you to recover contacts, messages and other data from your mobile phone.
* EaseUS MobilSaver: Another effective tool that provides the option to recover contacts from mobile devices.
Using these tools may require access to a computer and the installation of specific data recovery software. The general process for using these tools is described below:
Using Dr.Fone
- Download and install Dr.Fone on your computer (available for Windows and macOS).
- Connect the phone to the computer using a USB cable.
- Select “Data Recovery” from the main panel and follow the instructions to scan your device.
- Once the scan is complete, your contacts and other recoverable data will be displayed. Select the contacts and proceed with the recovery process.
Using EaseUS MobilSaver
- Download and install EaseUS MobilSaver on your computer.
- Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable.
- Run the software and select “Mobile Data Recovery.”
- Choose the file type (in this case, contacts) and follow the instructions to scan and recover the data.
Synchronization with the SIM Card
Another classic but effective alternative is to use the synchronization with the SIM card from the phone. Contacts saved on the SIM card can be easily transferred between devices. The basic steps are:
- Export Contacts to SIM:
* On your old phone, go to “Contacts.”
* Select the option to “Export” and then choose “SIM Card”.
- Import Contacts from SIM:
* In the new phone, insert the SIM card.
* Go to “Contacts”, select “Import” and choose “SIM Card”.
When you transfer contacts this way, WhatsApp will automatically sync them when you open the app and refresh your contact list.
Recovery from Cloud Storage Services
Services like Dropbox, OneDrive y Google Drive They can also be used to store backup copies of contacts. Users can export a VCF (vCard) file from their phone's contacts app and save it to any of these services. They can then to import the VCF file to a new device.
- Export VCF File:
* On your phone, open the “Contacts” application.
* Select the option to “Export” and choose to save as a VCF file.
* Save the file to a cloud storage service.
- Import VCF File:
* On the new phone, access the cloud storage service and download the VCF file.
* Open the “Contacts” application and select the “Import” option for the VCF file.
Preventive Measures to Avoid Losing Contacts
To avoid resorting to recovery methods in the future, it is advisable to implement preventive measures:
* Regular Synchronization: Keep synchronization active with your Google or iCloud account.
* Frequent Backups: Make regular backups of contacts using data security applications.
* Cloud storage: Use services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive to store backup copies of your contacts.
These measures can minimize the risk of losing contacts and facilitate their recovery in the event of unforeseen events.