Have you ever lost your iPhone and needed to access your contacts, but don’t have a backup stored on iCloud? With the help of an iTunes backup, you can still retrieve your contact information from your iPhone. In this blog post, we’ll guide you on how to get contacts from iTunes backup without an iPhone.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
To retrieve your contacts from an iTunes backup, you’ll need a computer with iTunes installed. You’ll also need the backup file from your previous iPhone. If you don’t have a backup file, you won’t be able to retrieve your contacts.
What Requires Your Focus?
The following steps require you to have access to a computer and an iTunes backup. You’ll also need to download third-party software to extract your contacts from the backup file, as iTunes does not provide a direct way to access contacts.
Different Methods to Extract Contacts from iTunes Backup
Method 1: Using FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery
FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery is a third-party software that can help extract contacts from an iTunes backup. These are the steps to extract contacts using this tool:
1. Download and install FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery on your computer.
2. Launch the program and select “Recover from iTunes Backup File” on the interface.
3. The program will display a list of available backup files. Select the one that contains the contacts you want to retrieve and click “Start Scan”.
4. After the program completes the scan, you can preview the data it found. Select the contacts you want to retrieve and then click “Recover”.
5. Choose where you want to save the retrieved contacts and click “Recover” again.
Pros:
– FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery is easy to use.
– It provides a preview of the data it found, allowing you to select only the contacts you want to retrieve.
Cons:
– The free version only allows for the retrieval of a limited number of contacts.
– The full version is quite expensive.
Method 2: Using iMyFone D-Back iPhone Data Recovery
iMyFone D-Back iPhone Data Recovery is another third-party software that’s similar to FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery. Here’s how to use it:
1. Download and install iMyFone D-Back iPhone Data Recovery.
2. Launch the program and select “Recover from iTunes Backup” on the interface.
3. The program will display a list of available backup files. Select the one that contains the contacts you want to retrieve and click “Next”.
4. The program will then give you the option to select only contacts for recovery. Choose “Contacts” and click “Scan”.
5. After the program completes the scan, you can preview the data it found. Select the contacts you want to retrieve and click “Recover”.
6. Choose where you want to save the retrieved contacts and click “Recover” again.
Pros:
– iMyFone D-Back iPhone Data Recovery is easy to use.
– The program allows you to select only the contacts you want to retrieve.
Cons:
– The free version only allows for the retrieval of a limited number of contacts.
– The full version is quite expensive.
Method 3: Using Dr. Fone iPhone Data Recovery
Dr. Fone iPhone Data Recovery is a third-party software that can extract contacts from an iTunes backup. These are the steps:
1. Download and install Dr. Fone iPhone Data Recovery on your computer.
2. Launch the program and select “Recover from iTunes Backup” on the interface.
3. The program will display a list of available backup files. Select the one that contains the contacts you want to retrieve and click “Start Scan”.
4. After the program completes the scan, select “Contacts” for recovery.
5. Preview the contacts and select the ones you want to retrieve.
6. Click “Recover to Computer” and choose where you want to save the retrieved contacts.
Pros:
– Dr. Fone iPhone Data Recovery is easy to use.
– It allows you to select only the contacts you want to retrieve.
Cons:
– The free version only allows for the retrieval of a limited number of contacts.
– The full version is quite expensive.
Method 4: Using iBackup Extractor
iBackup Extractor is a software that can extract data from an iTunes backup. It is mainly used for creating backups, but also has an option to extract contacts. These are the steps:
1. Download and install iBackup Extractor on your computer.
2. Launch the program and select “Extract Contacts” from the menu.
3. The program will display a list of available backup files. Select the one that contains the contacts you want to retrieve.
4. After the program completes the scan, select the contacts you want to retrieve and click “Extract Selected”.
5. Choose where you want to save the retrieved contacts.
Pros:
– iBackup Extractor is easy to use.
– The program allows you to extract a variety of data from an iTunes backup.
Cons:
– The free version only allows for the retrieval of a limited number of contacts.
– The full version is quite expensive.
Method 5: Manually Extracting the Contacts
If you don’t want to use third-party software, you can also manually extract the contacts from an iTunes backup. Here are the steps:
1. Locate the iTunes backup file on your computer. The file will have a .mdbackup extension.
2. Change the extension of the file to .zip and extract the contents to a folder.
3. Navigate to the folder and find the Contacts folder.
4. Copy the contents of the Contacts folder to a new location, like your desktop.
Pros:
– Manual extraction is free.
– You have complete control over the process.
Cons:
– Manual extraction is tedious and time-consuming.
– You need knowledge of file extensions and compression.
Why Can’t I Get Contacts from iTunes Backup Without iPhone?
There are several reasons why you can’t get contacts from an iTunes backup without an iPhone:
1. iTunes does not allow direct access to contacts in a backup file.
2. The backup file is encrypted, and you need a decryption tool to access its contents.
3. The file is in a compressed format that requires third-party software to extract.
To address these issues, you’ll need third-party software to access the contact information. Additionally, because the backup file is specific to your iPhone, you won’t be able to retrieve contacts from another iPhone’s backup file.
Implications and Recommendations
Here are three recommendations for retrieving contacts from an iTunes backup:
1. Always create a backup of your iPhone on iCloud or iTunes.
2. Regularly check if your iPhone is synced with iTunes on your computer.
3. Use a reliable third-party software like FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery or iMyFone D-Back iPhone Data Recovery.
5 FAQs about Getting Contacts from iTunes Backup Without iPhone
Q1: Can I access my iTunes backup without iTunes?
A: No, you need iTunes to access an iTunes backup.
Q2: Can I use these methods to retrieve other data besides contacts?
A: Yes, most of these methods allow you to retrieve a variety of data, including photos, messages, and call logs.
Q3: Do I need to pay for third-party software to retrieve my contacts?
A: Most of these software programs have a free trial, but to access all features, you’ll need to pay for the full version.
Q4: Can I retrieve contacts from an iCloud backup?
A: Yes, you can retrieve contacts from an iCloud backup. However, you’ll need access to an iPhone to restore the backup.
Q5: Can I retrieve contacts from an old iTunes backup?
A: Yes, you can retrieve contacts from an old iTunes backup. However, you’ll need to have access to the backup file.
Final Words
Retrieving contacts from an iTunes backup without an iPhone is possible with the help of third-party software. We’ve listed five methods for accessing your contacts, but the best one will depend on your needs and budget. Always remember to create backups regularly to avoid losing important data in the future.