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Feb 21, 2025 • Filed to: Data Recovery Solutions • Proven solutions
Many people value their privacy and sometimes wish to keep certain details like their original contact information or location confidential. Yet, accidents like deleting essential contacts can happen, leaving them in urgent need of recovery solutions. Forgetting or losing key contacts can be a major setback for one’s personal and professional life, especially if one does not have an alternate set stored in their device.
You're going to be relieved to know that restoring deleted contacts on Android devices is possible. The article below will direct you to practical and reliable methods of restoring your deleted Android contacts. We shall delve into the easiest ways with which you can safely regain your data with these solutions to retrieve vital information. Now, let's find out how you can get back your lost contacts hassle-free.
On Android, it is possible to recover deleted contacts. Your contacts may vanish from your cell phone for a number of reasons. Common causes include:
Even though there is no universal way of recovering lost contacts, it is still important to know how to recover contacts on Android so as to be ready for any such eventuality.
The thought of removing contacts unintentionally can be aggravating. However, recovering lost phone numbers on Android is straightforward since there are effective ways to achieve that. Below is a detailed guide to one of the most straightforward methods for restoring lost contacts on Android.
Sometimes, contacts are not permanently deleted but instead hidden due to app settings. You can retrieve deleted contacts on Android by unhiding them. Follow these steps to restore such contacts:
Step 1: Open the Contacts App
Start by opening the Contacts application on your Android phone. Find and tap the three-dot menu located at the top-right corner on your screen in order to display the menu options.
Step 2: Navigate to Display Settings
From the expanded options menu, select "Contacts to display." This setting determines which contacts are shown within the app.
Step 3: Select "All Contacts"
Check if the "All contacts" option is selected. If it isn’t, tap on it to activate this setting. This will display all contacts, including those that were hidden unintentionally.
If your Android device has Google applications, then restoring the deleted contacts in Android is even simpler with this method. The majority of the smartphones running on the Android platform back up contacts on the Google account by default, which helps prevent loss of that information.
So, if your Android device is being updated to a newer version or os or even being reset or factory reset, google ensures that your contacts are preserved. Furthermore, Google provides a safety net that holds deleted contacts in the trash or bin folder for a period of 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here's how to restore lost Android contacts on Android using Google Contacts.
Step 1: Open the Google Contacts App
Start by launching the Google Contacts app on your Android phone.
Step 2: Access the "Fix & Manage" Option
Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap on the "Fix & Manage" option to explore recovery tools.
Step 3: Navigate to the Trash or Bin
Find and tap the "Trash" or "Bin" option (this may vary depending on your Android device model).
Step 4: Select Contacts to Recover
You will see a list of contacts deleted within the past 30 days. Choose the contacts you want to recover.
Step 5: Recover the Selected Contacts
Once you’ve selected the contacts, tap on "Recover" from the menu. The chosen contacts will be restored to your device.
In case you lose your contacts on your Android device, Google Contacts web has the option of helping you recover. With this platform, you can, on your Samsung or any other Android device restore lost contacts on Android. As follows, we will see how easy it is to recover contacts from the above website.
Step 1: Open the Google Contacts Website
Visit contacts.google.com in your web browser. Log in using the Google Account linked to your Android phone.
Step 2: Access the Settings Menu
In the top-right corner of the page, click on the gear icon to open the Settings menu. From the available options, select "Undo Changes."
Step 3: Choose a Restoration Period
A number of time frame possibilities will be displayed to you, including yesterday, one week ago, ten minutes ago, an hour ago, and a custom time period. Choose the time frame that matches when your contacts were deleted.
Step 4: Restore Contacts
Click "Undo" to initiate the restoration process. The deleted contacts will be recovered and synced back to your Android device.
The method above works to recover contacts on Android devices if your contacts are synchronized with Google Drive. This kind of feature prevents you from losing information permanently since you can retrieve it even when it is removed by mistake. Follow these detailed steps to retrieve your contacts from Google Backup.
Step 1: Access Google Settings on Your Android Device
Open the settings menu on your Android phone. Scroll down and select the "Google" option to access the Google account and backup settings.
Step 2: Locate the Contacts to Restore
Within the Google settings menu, search for the "Restore Contacts" option. This section allows you to review and retrieve contacts saved in your Google Backup.
Step 3: Restore the Desired Contacts
Choose the contacts you wish to recover from the backup list. Once selected, tap "Restore Contacts" to complete the process.
Recovering deleted contacts through the Structured Query Language (SQL) database is a more advanced and technical approach. This method involves accessing the contacts2.db file stored in the Android file system. It requires specific tools and permissions to retrieve lost contacts. Below are the steps to recover erased contacts on Android using SQL database access.
Step 1: Obtain Root Permissions
To begin, you must have root permissions on your Android device. Rooting allows access to system-level files, including the database storing your contacts.
Step 2: Install a File Manager
Download and install a file manager app, such as "Root Explorer," to access the system files on your device.
Step 3: Locate the Contacts Database
Using Root Explorer, navigate to the folder path:
/data/data/android.providers.contacts/databases.
Copy this folder to your SD card for safe storage.
Step 4: Transfer the Database to Your PC
Connect your Android device to your computer. Transfer the "Database" folder you copied earlier to your PC's hard drive for further processing.
Step 5: Set Up SQLite Manager
Download and install Firefox on your PC along with the SQLite Manager add-on. This tool will help you analyze the database file.
Step 6: Open the Contacts Database
Use SQLite Manager to open the contacts2.db file. Navigate to the database menu and select "Connect Database" to load the file.
Step 7: Recover Deleted Contacts
In the loaded database, look for the table labeled "Data." Here, you will find all the deleted contacts stored within the system. Extract the relevant details as needed.
When it comes to recovering lost contacts, Dr.Fone - Data Recovery (Android) is one of the simplest and most efficient tools available. This software can retrieve deleted contacts and other data types like videos, images, and files. The best part is that it works without needing a backup or root access. It also offers selective recovery, allowing you to preview data before restoring it, saving time and effort.
Recover Deleted Phone Numbers on Android
Follow the detailed steps below to recover contacts on Android with Dr.Fone.
Step 1: Launch the Data Recovery Tool
Start by opening Wondershare Dr.Fone on your computer. Navigate to the "Toolbox" section and select "Data Recovery" to initiate the process.
Step 2: Select Android as the Device Type
When a new window appears, choose "Android" as the device type you want to recover data from.
Step 3: Choose the Recovery Function
Choose "Recover Android Data" from the list of options on the following screen.
Step 4: Connect Your Android Device
Your Android handset and computer must be connected via a USB cord. Wait for the tool to detect your device automatically.
Step 5: Select the File Types to Recover
Once a new screen loads, choose the types of files you want to recover, including contacts. Once the file types have been chosen, click "Start Scan" in the lower-right corner.
Step 6: Preview the Recovered Data
Dr. Fone will start looking for deleted data on your device. A preview screen will show all of the recovered data after the scan is finished. Take your time to review the results.
Step 7: Review and Filter Recovered Data
You can look over the recovered data upon scanning. To arrange the outcomes and concentrate on particular file kinds or categories, use the filter options located at the top of the screen.
Step 8: Recover Data to Your Computer
Press the ‘Recover’ button positioned on the bottom right side of the screen. Select the directory in your computer where the fixed data will be kept and click the ‘Recover’ option within the window prompt.
With most Android devices having an effective means of recovering misplaced or lost contacts, the once-impossible task of restoring deleted contacts is now becoming possible. From simple solutions like unhiding contacts or using Google’s backup features to advanced options such as SQL database access, each method offers a way to retrieve your essential information.
Come on, it’s 2025, who doesn’t like efficiency? This is where we recommend tools like Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (Android) to users. Not only does it help recover contacts, but it also helps recover texts and a lot more with no prior backups and no root access. With the right approach, a user can easily retrieve the significant contacts they may need and restore their peace of mind.
staff Editor
