How do I recover a single Contact via Time Machine?

Background:

I use the Contacts app on my iMac to store various information about that Contact. I do this in the 'note' section of the Contact. (please know that I'm referring to the 'Contacts' app, not the 'Notes' app).

I accidentally deleted the note information which existed withn one of my Contacts and I wish to retrieve it.

I backup my iMac regularly via Time Machine using a USB hard disc. My backup would contain the information I wish to recover but I have been unable to locate that specific information on my backup disc.

I have searched both here and the greater web world, but alas, I remain stumped.

Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank you.

iMac 24″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Sep 11, 2025 8:50 AM

Top-ranking reply

neuroanatomist

Level 9

55,905 points

Posted on Sep 11, 2025 9:54 AM

Open the Contacts app, then open the contact card you want to recover, then click the Time Machine icon in the Menu Bar (you may need to enable it in System Settings > Control Center) and select Browse Time Machine Backups. Go back to a pre-edit version and click Restore.

For example, here's Apple's contact card in my contacts app, from a TM backup a month ago:

View in context

16 replies

larrybobba Author

Level 1

56 points

Sep 11, 2025 12:36 PM in response to 6x6

Thank you.

Good advice! I do not use iCloud to back up but I do use it to sync Contacts.

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How do I recover a single Contact via Time Machine?