8 Ways to Restore Google Contacts
Whether you accidentally deleted a critical contact or found that your Google Contacts have gone missing, don’t worry – there are several ways to restore them. In this article, we’ll go over eight methods to help you retrieve your missing Google Contacts quickly and easily.
1. Undo change: If you’ve recently deleted or altered a contact mistakenly, you can immediately undo the change by pressing ‘Ctrl + Z’ on Windows or ‘Cmd + Z’ on Macs in Google Contacts.
2. Restore from trash: Deleted contacts are moved to the trash and remain there for 30 days. To restore a contact from the trash, select the ‘Trash’ option on the left-hand side menu of Google Contacts, find the contact you want to recover, and click ‘Restore.’
3. Use a restore backup: Google automatically backs up your contacts every so often. To access these backups, go to Google Contacts and click on the gear icon for ‘Settings.’ Select ‘Undo Changes,’ choose the time frame you’d like to restore from, then click ‘Confirm.’
4. Check connected accounts: Sometimes, contacts may be stored in another account that’s connected to your device. Go to your phone’s settings and look for linked accounts under “Accounts” or “Sync.” If you find any of your missing contacts there, you can import them into your primary Google Contacts account.
5. Export and import manually: If you’ve synchronized contacts with other third-party platforms (e.g., Outlook), export those contacts as a CSV or vCard file. In Google Contacts, click ‘Settings’ > ‘Import,’ then upload this file to restore your missing contacts.
6. Recover from Android phone backup: If you backup your Android phone regularly, it’s possible that your missing contacts have been saved in one of those backups. Use a trusted app that allows you to restore files from backups and see if your contacts are there.
7. Use third-party software: Various apps and tools exist explicitly for recovering Google Contacts. Research and select a reputable one, then follow their instructions to retrieve your missing contacts.
8. Contact Google Support: If none of the methods above work, reach out to Google Support for assistance. They might be able to help you restore your lost contacts or provide alternative solutions.
In conclusion, it’s important to regularly backup your contacts and other critical data to prevent future losses. However, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to restore Google Contacts, these eight methods should help you do so effectively.