Before you start
- The Google account the contacts were saved in
- Contacts deleted within the last 30 days
Method 1 Restore contacts from the Trash
On an Android phone, open the Contacts app, tap Fix & manage > Trash, select contacts and tap Recover.
-
Step 1: Open Google Contacts
On a computer, go to contacts.google.com and sign in with the right Google account.
-
Step 2: Open Trash
Click Trash in the menu on the left. Deleted contacts stay here for 30 days.
-
Step 3: Recover
Select the contacts (hover and tick the box next to each) and click Recover.
Method 2 Undo changes to your whole contact list
Changes made after that time, such as new contacts, are also undone. Export a copy first (Export in the menu) if you want to keep them.
-
Step 1: Open Undo changes
In contacts.google.com, click the gear icon at the top right and choose Undo changes.
-
Step 2: Choose a time
Pick 10 minutes ago, 1 hour ago, Yesterday, 1 week ago, or a Custom time within the last 30 days, from before the contacts were deleted.
-
Step 3: Confirm
Click Confirm. Your list returns to how it was at that time. On Android, this is under Contacts app > Fix & manage > Undo changes. Contacts deleted from Other contacts don’t go to Trash, but this method brings them back too.
Troubleshooting
The Trash is empty
The contacts may have been saved to the phone or SIM, not to Google, or deleted more than 30 days ago. Check other accounts (Samsung, iCloud, Outlook) in your Contacts app.
Restored contacts don’t appear on my phone
Check that contacts sync is on for that Google account and that the Contacts app shows contacts from all accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I recover contacts deleted more than 30 days ago?
Not from Google. Look for an old exported file, a phone backup, or another device that still has them.
Does Undo changes affect Gmail emails?
No. It only changes your contacts.
How can I back up my contacts?
At contacts.google.com, click Export and choose Google CSV or vCard. Keep the file somewhere safe.
Summary
Check the Trash at contacts.google.com first, or use gear icon > Undo changes to roll back up to 30 days. Save new contacts to your Google account and export a backup now and then.
