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Upgrading to Windows 10 is a great way to keep your computer up to date and secure. However, sometimes after upgrading, you might notice that your contacts are missing from your apps like Mail or People. This can be frustrating, especially if you rely on these contacts daily.

Don’t worry—lost contacts after a Windows 10 upgrade is a common issue and can usually be fixed with some simple steps. In this guide, we’ll walk you through easy-to-follow solutions to recover your contacts.

Each step is explained clearly so even if you are not very tech-savvy, you can follow along without trouble. Let’s get started and bring your contacts back.

Remember, it’s important to be patient and try the steps in order, from simplest to more advanced.

Quick Note Before You Begin

• Check your internet connection: Some contact syncing requires internet access.
• Make sure you are signed in with the right Microsoft account: Contacts are often linked to your Microsoft account.
• Back up your data: Before making any major changes, always back up important files and contacts if possible.
• Restart your computer: Sometimes a simple restart can fix temporary glitches.

Step 1: Check Your Account Settings

Most contacts in Windows 10 apps are stored in accounts like Outlook, Gmail, or Yahoo. If these accounts are not connected properly, your contacts won’t show up.

1. Open the Settings app by clicking the Start button and selecting the gear icon.
2. Go to Accounts > Email & accounts.
3. Look under the Accounts used by email, calendar, and contacts section.
4. If your email account (like Outlook or Gmail) is missing, click Add an account and follow the instructions to add it.
5. Make sure the account has permission to sync contacts. To check this, click on the account and select Manage, then confirm that Contacts sync is enabled.

Why this matters: Contacts linked to your email accounts won’t appear if those accounts aren’t connected or syncing properly.

Step 2: Sync Your Contacts Manually

If your accounts are connected but contacts still do not show, try syncing manually.

1. Open the People app from the Start menu.
2. Click the three dots (More options) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Scroll down and click Sync contacts.
5. Wait a few moments as Windows attempts to sync your contacts.

Sometimes automatic syncing can fail, and this manual step forces the app to update.

Step 3: Check the Contacts Folder

Windows stores contacts in a specific folder. If your contacts are saved locally, they might be there but not linked correctly.

1. Open File Explorer (click the folder icon on the taskbar).
2. Navigate to C:Users[YourUserName]Contacts.
3. Look inside the folder to see if your contacts files are still present.
4. If you find them, you can import these contacts into the People app.

To import contacts:

1. Open the People app.
2. Click the three dots and choose Settings.
3. Scroll down to find Import contacts.
4. Select the file type (usually .csv or .vcf) and browse to your contacts folder to import.

Step 4: Use Windows Troubleshooter for Apps

Windows 10 has built-in troubleshooters that can detect and fix common issues with apps like Mail and People.

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
2. Click Additional troubleshooters.
3. Find and select Windows Store Apps.
4. Click Run the troubleshooter and follow any recommendations.

This tool can sometimes fix syncing or permission problems preventing contacts from showing.

Step 5: Reset the People App

If the problem persists, resetting the People app can clear corrupted data and refresh the app.

1. Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
2. Scroll down and find People.
3. Click on it and select Advanced options.
4. Scroll down and click Reset.
5. Confirm the reset. This will delete app data but not your contacts saved in accounts.

After resetting, open the People app again and allow it to sync your contacts.

Alternative Method: Restore Contacts from Backup or Cloud

If you regularly back up your contacts or use cloud services like Outlook.com or Google Contacts, you can restore them directly from there.

• Visit your email provider’s web interface (for example, Outlook People or Google Contacts).
• Check if your contacts are available online.
• If they are, ensure your Windows 10 account is linked to that service to sync contacts again.
• You can also export contacts from these services as .csv or .vcf files and import them manually into the People app.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why did my contacts disappear after upgrading to Windows 10?

Upgrading can sometimes change account sync settings or cause temporary glitches, which prevents contacts from showing in apps.

Are my contacts lost forever?

Most likely not. Contacts are usually stored in cloud accounts or locally and can be recovered by reconnecting accounts or importing files.

Can I recover contacts from a previous Windows version?

If you created backups or exported contacts before upgrading, you can import those backups into Windows 10 apps.

Will resetting the People app delete my contacts?

Resetting clears app data but does not delete contacts stored in your cloud accounts.

What if I don’t use Microsoft accounts but use Gmail or Yahoo?

You need to add those accounts to Windows 10 and enable contacts syncing for them to appear in the People app.

When Nothing Works

If none of the above steps help, you can try the following final options:

• Run a System Restore: Roll back your system to a point before you upgraded if you have a restore point available.
• Contact Microsoft Support: They can help diagnose deeper system or account issues. Visit Microsoft Support.
• Create a new user profile: Sometimes user profiles get corrupted and creating a new one can fix missing data problems.
• Use third-party recovery software: If contacts were stored locally and deleted, recovery tools may help retrieve them.

Conclusion

Missing contacts after a Windows 10 upgrade is a common yet fixable issue. By verifying your account connections, manually syncing contacts, checking local folders, and using built-in troubleshooters, you can restore your contacts in most cases.

Always make sure your accounts are linked properly and syncing is enabled. Resetting the People app or restoring from backups are effective next steps if initial fixes don’t work.

Following these detailed steps carefully should help you recover your lost contacts and get back to using your Windows 10 apps smoothly.