Some users have stated that text message notifications show the phone number rather than the contact name after updating to iOS 9. Reported problems include, but are not limited to:
- Only iMessages do not display the name
- Only certain/random contact names are missing
How to fix missing contact names
Here is how you can fix this problem. Please, after you follow each step, check whether the problem is fixed:
1-Restart your device by pressing and holding the on/off button and then slide the slider.
2-Make sure to upgrade to Apple’s latest iOS release by going to Settings > General > Software Update
3-Go to Settings > Messages and turn off iMessage, wait a few seconds then turn back on.
4-Go to Settings > Messages and turn off MMS Messaging and turn back on.
5-Reset your network settings by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Note this action will delete your Wi-Fi passwords.
6-This tip may not be an ideal solution but you may want to try. Try deleting the whole conversation messages from the the affected contact.
7-Try these steps:
a-Restart your iPhone
b-Once the device turns on, do not enter your passcode, simply lock the iPhone immediately by pressing the Sleep/Wake (or on/off) button.
c-Ask a person to send a text message, note this person should be someone whose contact you are having a problem with.
d-When you receive the message, unlock the phone and read it. After you read it, simply lock the phone again.
e-Again ask the same person to send a message.
f-Repeating these steps will fix this issue but only for that particular number. Repeat this steps for every broken contact.
If your iPhone (or iPad) is not making any sound when a new message arrives, see this article to fix.
Michelle says
November 20, 2016 at 1:09 pmThe only fix that worked for me was to open a contact and update it. I changed one name and clicked Done. All contact names restored after that saved change.
Stephen L says
December 13, 2016 at 4:40 pmDitto with Michelle’s advice. Updated one contact’s information and saved it by clicking “Done”. All active chats were restored with names, not their phone numbers.
chad says
January 11, 2017 at 2:40 pmMichelle’s fix worked for me as well.
Daniel says
January 20, 2017 at 10:31 pmYup that did it as well for me. Thanks!
Nate says
March 8, 2017 at 7:00 pmMe too ! Worked great
Lachlan says
March 23, 2017 at 1:46 amThis worked as well, thank you.
Tony says
May 10, 2017 at 5:47 pmWorked for me too.
Eric says
June 12, 2017 at 10:23 pmThank you very much. That fixed my contact names. This was driving me crazy.
Joseph says
October 3, 2017 at 10:23 pmThis didn’t work for me
peter says
December 6, 2017 at 6:26 amWanted to add my solve for this problem: For you guys who use gmail, your phone is hooked on there. Change it to icloud.
So in your phone go to Settings->Contacts->Default Account-> iCloud <– as in it will be gmail, change it to iCloud.
Hope that helps. I did not find this answer anywhere and so I wanted to share with the world
John says
December 14, 2016 at 3:07 amThat fix worked for me too!
Amy says
January 14, 2017 at 1:33 amMichele’s fix worked for me. Thank you!!
SDSmith says
January 16, 2017 at 5:40 pmThis worked for me too!
john says
January 20, 2017 at 1:28 amWorked for me
Karen says
January 20, 2017 at 1:48 pmThanks Michelle – worked for me too!
TC says
January 24, 2017 at 1:56 amWorked for me too. Great tip!
Ginny Mackay says
January 31, 2017 at 10:42 amWorked for me too – thanks so much
jax says
February 6, 2017 at 9:45 pmThis worked for me too. Thanks!!
Jennifer says
February 8, 2017 at 7:49 pmI was having the exact issue with my iPhone SE. I tried all the suggestions pretty much, the only thing that worked was turning off the iMessage and then turning it back on.
Boris says
February 18, 2017 at 12:53 amThanks a lot Michelle! I spend a few hours trying to fix the problem with no success. Your simple fix worked!
Danny Collings says
February 20, 2017 at 8:23 pmWhat worked for me was switching of contact sync with my Exchange email account, waiting 30 secs and switching back on.
Larry Powers says
March 21, 2017 at 7:09 pmSo weird, but changing one name, saving, then changing it back works! Thanks Michelle!
Stevei says
April 17, 2017 at 2:01 pmMy names disappeared after I logged out of iCloud. When I logged back in they reappeared. I had not previously been connected to iCloud.
Jose says
June 30, 2017 at 3:31 amThanks!! editing one contact and saving worked for me.
sprite says
August 10, 2017 at 6:21 pmthis worked for me after many hours of searching
Toggle Contacts Off/On – In iOS 10, go to Settings | Contacts. Go to Accounts and select the account(s) for which your contacts for the Messages app are connected to. Within that (those) account(s), toggle the Contacts button to the off position, wait 10-15 seconds, then toggle the button back to the on position (On = Green). Check to see if the issue has been resolved.
Jackie says
October 17, 2017 at 8:05 pmThis worked for me! Thank you!
Tipo874 says
September 22, 2017 at 11:44 amThis happened on my new iPhone 7 after upgrading to iOS 11 last night. Tried some of the other things, with no luck, but changing one of the affected contacts did.
Thanks for the tip!
iku says
September 27, 2017 at 5:37 pmYup!!! Editted one contact and I am good to go with all of them
Jamie says
October 11, 2017 at 2:27 amThank you, thank you, thank you! The phone numbers instead of names was frustrating but editing one contact fixed all of them too. Great help!
Terry says
October 19, 2017 at 8:31 amThanks Michelle. Your help was plain and simple and it worked brilliantly. Many thanks, Terry
julie says
November 3, 2017 at 2:31 amthis worked for me too. my issue was on my iMac. only the #’s were showing up in iMessage. i edited a name on my iPhone and it fixed the issue on my iMac. thanks!! i wish i would have seen this hours ago!!!
Kris says
June 21, 2018 at 4:48 pmThis worked for me all the other suggestions would just fix the problem temporarily.