A factory reset can erase all the data on your Android device, including contacts. Fortunately, there are several ways to restore these contacts, especially if you’ve synced them with your Google account or backed them up beforehand. In this guide, we will walk you through all the possible methods to recover your contacts after a factory reset.
1. Using Google Account Sync
If your contacts were synced with your Google account before the factory reset, restoring them is the simplest method. Here’s how to recover them:
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Re-Sign Into Your Google Account: After resetting the phone, sign in with the Google account you used before the factory reset.
- Go to Settings > Accounts.
- Select Google and sign in with your account.
- Enable Contacts Sync:
- Once signed in, go to Settings > Accounts > Google.
- Under your Google account, make sure the Contacts option is toggled on. This will sync all your saved contacts back to your phone.
- Wait for Sync to Complete: It may take a few minutes for your contacts to reappear depending on your internet connection.
Things to Note:
- Ensure that you were backing up your contacts to your Google account before the reset.
- You can check if your contacts were synced by visiting contacts.google.com and logging in to see the saved contacts.
2. Restoring Contacts from a Backup File
If you backed up your contacts locally (on an SD card or other storage) or through a cloud service (such as Samsung Cloud or other backup apps), you can easily restore them after a reset.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Access Your Backup: If you saved your contacts to an SD card, insert it into your phone. For cloud services, sign in to the app or service you used for backup.
- Restore from Backup:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Tap the menu icon (usually three dots) and select Settings or Manage contacts.
- Look for an option like Import or Restore from backup.
- Choose From storage if you saved contacts to an SD card or From cloud if you used a cloud service.
- Complete the Process: Follow the on-screen prompts to import your contacts back onto your phone.
Supported Backup Options:
- Google Drive Backup: If you backed up your phone’s data to Google Drive, you can restore contacts during the initial setup after the factory reset.
- Samsung Cloud: Samsung users can access their contacts from Samsung Cloud by going to Settings > Cloud and accounts > Samsung Cloud > Restore Data.
3. Using a Third-Party Backup App
If you used third-party backup apps like SMS Backup & Restore or Super Backup & Restore, follow these steps to restore your contacts:
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Install the Backup App: After the reset, download the backup app from the Google Play Store.
- Restore from Backup:
- Open the app and sign in or locate your previous backup file.
- Choose the Restore Contacts option and follow the on-screen instructions to bring your contacts back.
- Complete the Process: Once the restoration process is done, you should see your contacts back in the Contacts app.
Supported Apps:
- SMS Backup & Restore
- Super Backup & Restore
- MobiKin Backup Manager
These apps typically store backup files either locally on the device or on cloud services like Google Drive, making it easy to restore after a factory reset.
4. Restoring Contacts from Your SIM Card
If you had contacts saved on your SIM card, they can easily be restored by importing them to your phone.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Insert the SIM Card: After resetting the phone, insert the SIM card with the saved contacts.
- Import SIM Contacts:
- Go to the Contacts app.
- Tap the menu icon (three dots), and select Settings or Manage contacts.
- Choose Import/Export contacts > Import from SIM card.
- Complete the Import: Follow the instructions to import the contacts back onto your device.
Things to Note:
- Only contacts saved on the SIM card will be restored. If your SIM was not used to store contacts, you’ll need another recovery method.
5. Using the Google Contacts App (Undo Changes)
If you recently lost your contacts due to a factory reset and your Google account was synced, Google allows you to undo changes to your contacts within a specific time frame (up to 30 days).
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Open Google Contacts:
- Visit contacts.google.com from your browser.
- Sign in with your Google account.
- Access Undo Changes:
- On the left side, click on More and select Undo changes.
- Choose a time frame (e.g., 10 minutes ago, 1 hour ago, yesterday) based on when you last had your contacts.
- Sync Your Contacts:
- Once you’ve reverted to the previous version of your contacts, sync them back to your phone by following the instructions in Method 1.
6. Contacting Your Carrier
Some mobile carriers offer services to back up and restore contacts through their networks or apps. Contact your carrier for details on whether this service was enabled before your factory reset and how to restore your contacts.
7. Restoring Contacts Using Data Recovery Software
If none of the above methods work, you may try using data recovery software to retrieve lost contacts directly from your device. Be cautious, as this method isn’t always guaranteed, and you may need to use paid software.
Recommended Software:
- Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (Android)
- EaseUS MobiSaver for Android
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Install Data Recovery Software: Download and install the software on your computer.
- Connect Your Android Device: Use a USB cable to connect your phone to your computer.
- Start the Recovery Process:
- Launch the software and follow the on-screen instructions to scan your device for lost contacts.
- Once the scan is complete, select the contacts you want to restore and save them back to your phone.
Things to Note:
- Data recovery software may not work if your phone has overwritten the lost data.
- Always read reviews and ensure the software is from a reputable source before downloading.
Final Thoughts
Restoring contacts after a factory reset can be straightforward if you’ve been regularly syncing or backing them up. The best practice is to always back up your phone’s data using a cloud service like Google Drive or a dedicated backup app. This ensures that even after a reset, your contacts and other important information remain safe.
By following the methods outlined above, you can successfully recover your contacts and resume using your Android device without any hassle.
How to Recover Contacts After Factory Reset on Android Without Backup
A factory reset, also known as a master reset, is a process that restores a device to its original settings, wiping all data, including apps, contacts, and personal information. If you’ve performed a factory reset on your Android device, you may find that you’ve lost all your contacts. This guide will show you how to recover your contacts after a factory reset, even if you don’t have a backup.
Section 1: Understanding Factory Reset
Factory resetting a device wipes all data on the internal storage, returning the phone to its default settings. This action does not impact data stored on external storage, like an SD card, but it will erase everything from the internal memory, including your contacts.
People perform factory resets for a variety of reasons, such as resolving software issues, creating more space, or preparing the device for sale. However, the downside is complete data loss unless a backup is available.
In this guide, we will show you methods to recover contacts, both with and without backup.
Section 2: Recovering Contacts with Backup (Without Computer)
2.1 Restore Contacts from Gmail Backup
If your contacts were synced with your Gmail account, you can easily restore them by following these steps:
Step 1: Sign in to your Gmail account on a desktop browser.
Step 2: On the left sidebar, click “Contacts.”
Step 3: Click “More” from the dropdown menu, then select “Restore Contacts.”
Step 4: Choose the time period for which you want to restore your contacts and click “Restore.”
Note: Gmail allows you to restore contacts deleted within the past 30 days only.
2.2 Recover Contacts from Google Backup
If you had previously enabled Google Backup, you can retrieve your contacts by doing the following:
Step 1: Open your Android phone’s “Settings.”
Step 2: Scroll down to “Google” and select “Restore Contacts” under the “Services” section.
Step 3: If you have multiple Google accounts, select the account you wish to restore contacts from.
Step 4: Choose the device where the contacts were saved and press “Restore.”
Google will automatically restore the contacts associated with your Google account when you sign back in after a reset.
Section 3: Recovering Contacts Without Backup
If you don’t have a backup, you can still recover your contacts using third-party recovery software. One such tool is iMyFone D-Back, a program specifically designed for Android data recovery.
Features of iMyFone D-Back
- It restores contacts after a factory reset without the need for a backup.
- It supports recovery of various file types, such as contacts, messages, photos, and more.
- It offers a high recovery success rate and protects your privacy during the process.
How to Recover Contacts Using iMyFone D-Back
Step 1: Download and install the iMyFone D-Back software from their official website.
Step 2: Launch the program and select the “Android Data Recovery” option.
Step 3: Confirm your device details and allow D-Back to download the appropriate data package.
Step 4: Connect your Android device to the PC with a USB cable and follow the on-screen instructions to enter “Download Mode.”
Step 5: Choose the file types you wish to recover (in this case, contacts) and click “Next.”
Step 6: After scanning, select the contacts you want to recover and click “Recover.”
Your contacts will be saved on your computer, and you can transfer them back to your phone
FAQs on Restoring Android Contacts After Factory Reset
1. How to restore contacts in Android phone without backup?
You can try using data recovery software like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver to recover contacts directly from your phone.
2. Do I lose my contacts if I do a factory reset?
Yes, a factory reset deletes all data, including contacts, unless they are backed up.
3. Does a factory reset delete contacts on Android?
Yes, a factory reset removes all contacts from the phone.
4. Can you restore permanently deleted contacts on Android?
If you had a backup or synced your contacts to Google, you can restore them. Otherwise, use data recovery software.
5. How do I get my contacts back on my Android phone?
You can restore them from a Google account sync, a backup file, or your SIM card.
6. How can I get my deleted contacts back?
You can recover deleted contacts from Google Contacts’ “Undo Changes” feature, a backup, or by using recovery software.
7. Can contacts be recovered after a factory reset?
Yes, if they were backed up to Google or stored on your SIM, or by using recovery tools.
8. Does factory reset permanently delete?
Yes, it permanently deletes all data on the device, including contacts, unless they were backed up.
9. Why are my contacts automatically deleted in Android?
Contacts may be deleted if your phone syncs with an empty account or due to system errors.
