How to Recover Lost Mobile Contacts After Damage

Damage to your mobile phone can be a significant inconvenience, especially if you lose your contacts. However, with the right approach, you can often recover lost contacts. This guide will explore how to recover your contacts from different storage methods and provide DIY techniques that can help, especially when dealing with Google contacts.

Data Storage and Recovery Methods

The recovery of deleted contacts depends on how the data is stored on your device. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the recovery process based on different storage locations:

Internal Storage

If your contacts are stored in the phone’s internal storage, they will be deleted permanently. In this case, your best option is to use an Android data recovery software. Reliable software brands usually offer user-friendly interfaces and are affordable.

SIM Card

If your contacts were stored on the SIM card and were deleted, you should contact your service provider to recover the data. This service is typically available from SIM manufacturers and can be done for a fee.

Google Account Sync

For those whose contacts were synced with their Google Account, recovery is straightforward. Here are two methods to recover your contacts:

Recover Contacts from Google Contact App

Open the Google Contact App. Go to Fix and Manage Bin Folder Deleted Contacts. From the top left corner, click on the three dots and select or select all contacts you want to recover. Click Recover to restore the deleted contacts.

Use the Undo Feature

Open the Google Contact App. Navigate to Settings Undo changes. Select the time frame from which you want to recover. Tap Confirm Ok.

Assessing Damaged Phone for Recovery

For a more detailed assessment, the condition of your phone is crucial. Here’s what you need to consider:

Is the screen cracked and does it not turn on? Does the phone come on, but you cannot see anything?

The difference between these two scenarios can greatly impact the repair cost. The former might cost around $50, while the latter could range from $150 to $250. Providing detailed information to your service provider or technician can help you get actionable answers.

Other Recovery Methods

There are several other ways to recover your contacts, depending on how you initially stored them:

Use of OTG Adapter

One method is to connect your damaged phone to a mouse or other USB device using an OTG adapter. However, this method might be more useful for regular backups and not specifically for restoring data.

Restore Contacts from Another Device

If you had previously backed up your contacts to another phone, you can manually transfer the contacts to your damaged device. This process is time-consuming but effective if you have access to another phone with the same contacts.

Recovery via Google Cloud and Mi Cloud

If you use a Google phone, your contacts are likely stored in the Google Cloud. On the other hand, if your phone is a Xiaomi (Mi) device, the Mi Cloud can be used to recover your contacts. Follow the manufacturer-specific instructions to access and recover your data.