How to Backup Your iPhone 3G Contacts With iTunes on Windows XP

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The contact list is the most important piece of data on your phone. The music comes second to that since you can easily sync it back but by default the contacts are not backed up by iTunes. To perform these tasks you will need these requirements:

Windows Address Book
Latest version of iTunes

Syncing your contacts is a really easy once you see the option. You can sync it to Windows Address Book, Outlook or even Google Contacts. We will use Windows Address Book to backup your contacts since it is the safest method.

Windows Address Book

In order for iTunes to backup your contacts, we will need an application on Windows XP to hold that data. iTunes currently does not hold any contact data. Fortunately, Windows comes with a built in program called the Address Book. To get to it:

Click on Start
Click on All Programs
Move your mouse over Accessories
Click on Address Book

Make sure you make it your default to handle contacts. Now we move on to iTunes to backup your contacts.

iTunes Contacts Backup

Connect your iPhone to your computer and select your iPhone when it appears in iTunes. You’ll be presented with the iPhone summary but we’re more interested in the Info tab.

Click on the Info tab
Click OK on the warning message about Microsoft Office Outlook, we do not need to be worried with that.

Scroll down a little until you fully see the Contacts section.
Check the box to ‘Sync Contacts With:’ and select ‘Windows Address Book’

Select the radio button for ‘All Contacts’
Click on Sync

Your contacts will now be populated in the Windows Address book and you’ll have everything backed up which will include their phone numbers and email addresses. Unfortunately, the pictures for your contacts will not be included.

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