where is the data for the Contacts app stored?

[baxlobs]

Hi, I have messed up "Importing" some Contacts from a csv file, and ended up duplicating many on the list. I thought the easiest way to fix it would be to restore the data from Time Machine. Which file or files do I need to restore? Is it just the Contacs.app in Applications or is there another file?

 

[bogdanw]

Contacts are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/

 

[baxlobs]

Thanks, I have had a look, but there is no entry for AddressBook under Application Support. I am running Catalina, might that be different?

 

[BrianBaughn]

Thanks, I have had a look, but there is no entry for AddressBook under Application Support. I am running Catalina, might that be different?

Are you looking in /Library/Application Support/ or ~/Library/Application Support/ ?

To get to the latter…in Finder hold down the option key and the "Library" folder will appear there. ~/Library/ is an invisible directory inside your user folder…the "~" being the indicator.

 

[baxlobs]

Thanks for the clarification. I had not appreciated the significance of the wavy line symbol. I will have another look later.

 

[bogdanw]

It’s the same folder in Catalina.
“Go to a folder by entering its pathname
In the Finder on your Mac, choose Go > Go to Folder.
Type the folder’s pathname (for example, ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/), then click Go.”
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac...cific-folder-on-mac-mchlp1236/10.15/mac/10.15

 

[BadMacRumours]

Thanks for the clarification. I had not appreciated the significance of the wavy line symbol. I will have another look later.

heh, yeah, ~ is very important in path names

 

[NoBoMac]

Having gone through some Contacts problems recently, if have Contacts enabled for iCloud, found that surest/easiest restore was to restore from iCloud.

1. Disable Contacts in iCloud on Mac
2. Make sure Mail is not running, otherwise will need to Force Quit later
3. Delete the entire ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook folder
4. Sign into iCloud.com via browser of choice
5. Click on "you" at upper-right > iCloud Settings
6. Click Data Recovery tab, click on a Contacts backup under "Restore Contacts"
7. Turn iCloud Contacts on Mac back on

 

[baxlobs]

Apart from the fact that, for some reason I can't log in to iCloud right now, wouldn't iCloud have updated the Contacts list when I b***d it up? It certainly is the messed up list that is now on my iPad and iPhone.
I am going to contact Apple support about the log in issue. It is odd as I can access my Apple ID to pay for stuff but not login directly.

 

[NoBoMac]

iCloud will have some number of backups (5?), so yes, will have the borked setup but will also have what was prior to the duplication. Will see a list of dates in there so can decide “bad” vs “good” backup.

 

[baxlobs]

Thanks, if I can get to it that should be the answer.

 

[baxlobs]

Hi all, thanks for your advice.
I have followed NoBoMac's advice above, using my iPad to sign in to iCloud which seems to work, restored the Contacts from 1st March and it has fixed the list on the Mac, however there is still the messed up Contacts list on my iPhone and iPad !!?? I am worried that that might just sync back to the Mac, also I use the Contacts list on the iPhone when making calls so would like that to be correct also.
Any ideas please?

Update, I separately logged in to iCloud on the phone and iPad and carried out a restore of Contacts so they are all back to the 1st March data. Hurray!! Thanks again for all your help

 

[NoBoMac]

Not sure what you mean by "I separately logged in to iCloud on the phone and iPad and carried out a restore of Contacts" but iDevices should have updated/synced on their own once restore done on iCloud.com

If not, can always turn off iCloud Contacts on iDevices, tap "delete from device", wait a moment, re-enable iCloud Contacts to sync the server copy.

 

[baxlobs]

Not sure what you mean by "I separately logged in to iCloud on the phone and iPad and carried out a restore of Contacts" but iDevices should have updated/synced on their own once restore done on iCloud.com

If not, can always turn off iCloud Contacts on iDevices, tap "delete from device", wait a moment, re-enable iCloud Contacts to sync the server copy.

I thought they should have synced as you say, but they didn't so it had to be done separately. Very odd as they clearly had synced with the bad list that I had created.