Member Avatar for maryebach

Last time I was at Apple they did something so I got my gmail back on my phone. Since then, or maybe since my daughter set up an iCloud account, two things happen:

  1. I get all my daughter's contacts and notes (which isn't a bad thing, she's a teenager and that info is good)... but why?

  2. And the main thing: even if I add a contact in manually with a name and phone number (not entered with the 1+ in front of it), some time later they all disappear and are replaced with only the number plus the 1+ in front of it and no names so I have no idea who any one is.

  3. I've reentered the names into the contacts when I've gotten a message or phone call from someone and still they go away again later the same way.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Kelly Burby

Dani AI

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This thread points to two common causes: multiple contact sources (Gmail, iCloud, SIM, Exchange) and a shared Apple ID. and touched on those ideas, but reinstalling iOS or assuming accidental manual deletion are premature. The checklist below diagnoses exactly where the names live and restores them safely.

  1. Confirm account ownership and groups
  • Open Settings and tap the name at the top to see the Apple ID. If the same Apple ID is used on your daughter’s phone, contacts and Notes will be shared.
  • In the Phone or Contacts app tap Groups (top-left) to see which accounts’ contact lists are shown. Uncheck accounts to see where the names still exist.
  1. Inspect account sync and default save location
  • Go to Settings > Contacts > Accounts (or Settings > Mail/Contacts/Accounts on older iOS). Tap each account and look at the Contacts toggle.
  • Set Settings > Contacts > Default Account to the account you want (usually iCloud) so new contacts aren’t saved to Gmail or another shared account by mistake.
  1. Backup before changing anything
  • Before turning off any sync, make a copy: enable iCloud Contacts briefly or export via a Mac/iCloud.com so you have a vCard backup. When iOS asks whether to “Keep on My iPhone” or “Delete,” choose to keep until you confirm the export.
  1. Force a clean resync to restore names
  • After confirming where the correct contact data lives, toggle Contacts off then on for the account that should be authoritative. This forces re-indexing and usually restores names (the +1 is just the country code).
  1. Separate accounts if you’re sharing an Apple ID
  • If devices share an Apple ID, create a separate Apple ID for the other person and use Family Sharing for purchases. Always back up contacts first—signing out of iCloud can remove synced data if not handled carefully.

If names still convert to numbers after these steps, export your good contact set (vCard), remove all contact accounts from the phone, then import the vCard into iCloud and set iCloud as the default account.

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Member Avatar for sanjit.dasgupta2

I get all my daughter's contacts and notes (which isn't a bad thing, she's a teenager and that info is good)... but why?

Ans.) Google / ICloud sync is active with contacts and notes sync option switched on(on both the phones i.e,yours and your daughter's iphone.)

And the main thing: even if I add a contact in manually with a name and phone number (not entered with the 1+ in front of it), some time later they all disappear and are replaced with only the number plus the 1+ in front of it and no names so I have no idea who any one is.
I've reentered the names into the contacts when I've gotten a message or phone call from someone and still they go away again later the same way.

Ans.) Please re-install your Ios software.

Member Avatar for Kelly Burby

wel i think you must be deleting it manually and couldn't remember. You can't lost one by one contact unless you are delelting it manually. I know you might be getting angry but i think you need to cross otherwise you try using the recovery wizard.

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