How To Backup Messages And Contacts On Iphone

Table of content:

How to back up contacts to iCloud

How to back up iPhone contacts to iTunes

How to backup iPhone contacts to Gmail using iCloud

Back up iPhone contacts to Gmail without iCloud

Backup iPhone contacts to Google Drive

FAQ

The best way to protect your contacts list on iPhone is by regularly taking its backup. Backups are big relief if contacts are deleted after iOS upgrade, iPhone crash, or your device is lost, broken, or stolen. Although Apple recommends iCloud and iTunes for data backup, here, you will also learn the other best ways to backup iPhone contacts on PC, Mac, or iPhone. These methods are applicable to all the variants of iPhone, including iPhone 13, iPhone 12, iPhone 11, and below.

Method 1: Backup your contacts to iCloud

With iCloud you can access your contacts data on all your devices including PC and Mac. Further, any change in contacts on iPhone will reflect in the iCloud backup as well. Contacts backup in iCloud is safe and are not lost until you delete the backup file.

How to backup contacts in iCloud:

On your iPhone turn on Internet and open Settings.
Click on your name and select iCloud.

Toggle the iCloud Backup slider to green.
If a dialog box asks to 'merge' or 'cancel', click on the 'merge' option to store your iPhone contacts in iCloud.

To ensure all your contacts information is saved in iCloud, login to www.icloud.com using your Apple ID. Then, click on 'Contacts' and verify if the iPhone contacts are backed up completely.

Method 2: Backup iPhone contacts to iTunes

You can easily back up iPhone contacts to iTunes on Windows PC or Mac. However, before following the below steps, make sure you are using the latest version of iTunes.

Steps to backup contacts in iTunes:

Connect your iPhone to PC/ Mac via USB.
Open iTunes on your computer.
If a message prompts to 'Trust This Computer'. Click on 'Trust' button to sync your iPhone with iTunes.
Click on Summary option on the left.
Click on your device.
In the Summary window, click Back Up Now. iTunes will back up your complete iPhone data, including the contacts.

Note:If you are using macOS, check As iTunes saves iPhone contacts backup on computer, you can lose it in case of hard drive corruption, virus attack, OS crash, etc. Know how to recover lost data from computer.

Method 3: Backup contacts from iPhone to Gmail using iCloud

You can backup contacts to Gmail either through iPhone Settings or by using iCloud. To back up contacts to Gmail via iCloud you need first to sync iPhone contacts to iCloud. Next, export the contacts in vCard file and then import it to Gmail account.

Steps to backup iPhone contacts to Gmail via iCloud:

To sync iPhone contacts to iCloud use the steps in method 1.
Log in to www.icloud.com.
Click on Contacts. Select all the contacts.
Click on the Settings icon in iCloud.com
Select export vCard option.
You can save this .vcf extension file either on computer or iPhone.
Next, open your Gmail account on computer.
From the left panel, select import contacts.
Click on Choose File and browse to add the .vcf file from PC.

Backup contacts from iPhone to Gmail using iCloud

Click Import. Gmail backs up your iPhone contacts.

Method 4: Backup iPhone contacts to Gmail without iCloud

Creating iPhone contacts backup in Gmail without iCloud is fast and easy. You can directly backup contact list to Gmail from iPhone settings by following the below steps.

Steps to backup contacts to Gmail without iCloud:

On your iPhone, open Settings.
Click on Contact > Accounts.
Click on your Gmail account.
Toggle on Contacts. This will sync and copy your iPhone contacts to Gmail.

Method 5: Backup contacts from iPhone to Google Drive

To save a copy of your iPhone contacts to Google Drive, download the application on your iPhone from Apple store and follow the given steps.

Steps to backup contacts to Google Drive on iPhone:

Install Google Drive from App Store on your iPhone.
Open Google Drive.
From the menu options, click on Settings > Backup.

Backup contacts from iPhone to Google Drive

In Backup with Google Drive screen, set Contacts toBack up to Google Contacts.
Click on Start Backup button at the bottom.
Click OK when prompted. Google Drive will save the copy of your iPhone contacts.

To Sum Up

Having multiple contact backups protects you from catastrophic data loss situation occurring due to iOS crash, water-damaged or broken iPhone, etc. You can create more than one backup of your iPhone's contacts in iCloud, iTunes, Gmail, or Google Drive.

Nonetheless, in case you have accidentally deleted or failed to recover iPhone contacts from backup, immediately use an iPhone data recovery software — Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. The software can restore deleted or lost contacts from iPhone, iCloud, and iTunes backup. It is an optimal solution to iPhone data loss in any situation. The software also supports the recovery of iPhone photos, videos, messages, chats, FaceTime, Safari bookmarks and more. It is compatible with the latest iOS 14 and below.

FAQ

Q1. How can I back up my iPhone Contacts without iCloud?

If you don't want to use iCloud, backup iPhone contacts to iTunes. You can also sync contacts to Gmail or save them in Google Drive, as shared in this article.

Q2. Can I back up only contacts on iPhone?

Yes, you can backup only Contacts on your iPhone using iCloud. On your iPhone, navigate to Settings > iCloud. Toggle on Contacts slider. When prompted, select 'Merge'. ClickiCloud Backup. Toggle on iCloud Backup and click Back Up Now.

Q3. Can I back up my iPhone Contacts to my computer?

Yes, you can use iTunes to backup contacts to your computer.

Q4. How to back up contacts from iPhone to Mac?

Connect your iPhone to Mac by using USB cable. On your Mac, open iTunes, and backup contacts from iPhone to Mac by following the steps given in this article.

Q5. How do I get iPhone contacts on PC?

Backup your contacts in iCloud using the steps in this article. Then access contacts on Windows PC through icloud.com.

Q6. How can I recover iPhone contacts from backup?

You can easily recover iPhone contacts from iCloud and iTunes on iPhone, PC, and Mac. Know the steps in detail here.

Q7. What to do if I am not able to recover my iPhone contacts from backup?

If you cannot restore contacts from iCloud, iTunes, or other methods, use Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. The software can retrieve deleted contacts from iPhone and backup files. Know the steps here.

Q8. How to back up iPhone contacts to sim card?

iPhone doesn't save any data to SIM card. Apple recommends iCloud and iTunes for contact backups.