iPad Contacts Disappeared – How to Restore Missing Contact List


This request for help concerned missing contacts. I suggested a fix and Elaine confirmed this approach restored her missing contact list.

From:
Elaine

Message:
I set my iPad settings on iCloud, & now all my AOL Contacts are erased.
Where are they?
Thanks for help

My Reply
Here’s what I suspect happened:
When you turned on iCloud, you directed your iPad to replace all your Contacts with the collection on iCloud. This collection was empty, so you have no contacts. Try this:

Return to Settings > iCloud
Set Contacts to OFF for iCloud
If you are asked what to do with the contacts on your iPad, choose to leave them there

Now go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars
Find your AOL mail account
Set Contacts for this account to ON
if already set to ON, set to OFF
wait a minute, then set back to ON

Hopefully, your AOL contacts will reappear in the Contacts app.


About Andy Brovey

Dr. Andy Brovey, The Portable Prof, teaches about digital tools through his work, websites and social media. In 2007, Apple Inc. recognized his work and named him an Apple Distinguished Educator. He started this iPad Academy website shortly after the first iPad went on sale. On his Freelance Teaching site you'll find the resources you need to teach like a smart entrepreneur.