WhatsApp: restore contacts - how it works

In some cases, it happens in WhatsApp that individual contacts suddenly disappear. So that you can continue to chat with all your friends, we show you how to restore contacts in WhatsApp.

Individual numbers can be lost for various reasons, for example, due to a technical error or a wrong setting. However, you can usually bring lost contacts back to your WhatsApp overview quickly and easily. In general, it can be said that WhatsApp does not have its own contact management, but accesses the general phone book of your mobile phone. In most cases, the problem is not with WhatsApp, but with the contact management of the smartphone.

Solutions for Android

First of all, you should synchronize the contact list of your Android phone with WhatsApp. It works like this:

1. Open WhatsApp.
2. Go to the chat overview and press the green text icon in the lower right corner.
3. Press the three dots in the top bar.
4. Now tap on Update.

If the missing contact is still not there, you have to make the following setting:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
2. Select the Account Settings section.
3. Look for the entry for WhatsApp here.
4. Tap Sync Account.

If the contact list is still incomplete, first remove the WhatsApp account in the menu just mentioned. Then restart your phone and add your WhatsApp account again from the account management.

For certain contacts, syncing may be prevented. So, open the phonebook app and search for the particular contact that does not appear in WhatsApp. With this, you can now write a message to the contact. Also, check if the corresponding number is blocked in the phone settings and accordingly not transferred to WhatsApp.

Also, make sure that WhatsApp can access your contacts. To do this, open the app settings and call up the overview of all installed apps. In the WhatsApp overview, select the Permissions from option. Here, the setting for contacts must be activated. If the corresponding contact has disappeared not only in WhatsApp but also in the phone book, you can retrieve the phone number from the general backup. More on this here: Restore deleted contacts - here is how.

Restore contacts on WhatsApp on iPhone

WhatsApp must also be able to access the general contacts in the phone book on iOS:

1. So open the Settings app.
2. Go to the privacy section.
3. Here you will find the options for contacts.
4. Make sure the WhatsApp slider is on.

If WhatsApp is not listed here or if the controller is grayed out, restrictions have probably been activated. How to reset the setting:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Go to the Screen Time section.
3. Here you can find the submenu Restrictions.
4. Turn off restrictions for WhatsApp.

Also on iOS, you should check whether the number you are looking for is possibly being blocked. With the iPhone, deleted phone numbers can be retrieved from the iCloud via a backup.