AddressBookManager

1. Install and Launch

Download AddressBookManager from the App Store and open it on your iPhone. You'll see an onboarding walkthrough explaining the main features.

2. Grant Contacts Permission

When prompted, tap "Allow" to give AddressBookManager access to your contacts. This permission is required for the app to function. Your data stays completely private on your device.

3. Start Your Free Trial

Enjoy 7 days of free trial access to core features. No credit card required during the trial period.

Main screen showing all available operations

Manual Backup

Step 1: Tap the "Create Backup" button on the main screen

Step 2: Wait while AddressBookManager reads all your contacts

Step 3: Your backup is saved with a timestamp (e.g., "AddressBook_Backup_2025-10-10_14-30-00.json")

Tip: Create backups regularly, especially before making major changes to your contacts.

Auto Backup (Optional)

Enable automatic backups to create a backup whenever your contacts change:

• Go to app settings and enable "Auto Backup"

• AddressBookManager will monitor contact changes and automatically create backups

• Auto backups are named with "Autobackup_" prefix

Restore from App Backup

Step 1: Tap "View Backups" to see all your saved backups

Step 2: Select the backup you want to restore

Step 3: Review backup details (date, contact count, device name)

Step 4: Tap "Restore" and confirm

Important: AddressBookManager automatically creates a safety backup before restoration, so you can undo if needed.

Restore from File

Use this to: Import contacts from CSV, VCF, or JSON backup files

Step 1: Tap "Restore from File"

Step 2: Choose file source (Files app, iCloud Drive, etc.)

Step 3: Select your backup file (.json, .csv, or .vcf)

Step 4: Review and confirm restoration

⚠️ Warning: This will replace ALL existing contacts on your device. A safety backup is created automatically.

Automatic Duplicate Detection

Step 1: Tap "Clean Device Contacts"

Step 2: AddressBookManager scans for duplicates using smart matching:

• Certain duplicates: Same name + organization, or same name + shared contact info
• Uncertain duplicates: Different names but shared email/phone (needs confirmation)

Step 3: Review detected duplicates before cleanup

Step 4: Choose cleanup option:

• Merge Duplicates: Combine duplicate contacts into one, preserving all information
• Delete Name Only: Remove contacts that only have a name (no phone/email)
• Delete Incomplete: Remove contacts without phone or email

Safety: A rollback snapshot is created before cleanup, allowing you to undo changes if needed.

Smart Merge

Use this to: Combine contacts from a backup with your current contacts

Step 1: Select a backup to merge

Step 2: AddressBookManager compares and categorizes contacts:

• New: Contacts in backup but not on device
• Updated: Contacts that differ between backup and device
• Deleted: Contacts on device but not in backup
• Identical: Contacts that match exactly
• Conflicts: Contacts with significant differences requiring review

Step 3: Choose merge strategy:

• Prefer Current: Keep device version when conflicts occur
• Prefer Backup: Use backup version for conflicts
• Prefer Newest: Keep the most recently modified version
• Manual Review: Review and choose for each conflict

Step 4: Review changes and confirm merge

Side-by-Side Comparison

Step 1: Select two backups or compare a backup with current contacts

Step 2: View side-by-side comparison with highlighted differences:

• Names (first, middle, last, prefix, suffix, nickname)
• Phone numbers (all types: mobile, home, work, etc.)
• Email addresses
• Postal addresses
• Organizations and job titles
• Birthdays and notes
• Social profiles and URLs

Tip: Use comparison before merging to understand exactly what will change.

Import from Google Contacts (Premium)

Step 1: Subscribe to Premium ($1.99/year or $0.99/week)

Step 2: Tap "Import from Google"

Step 3: Sign in with your Google account

Step 4: Grant permission to access your Google Contacts

Step 5: AddressBookManager fetches all contacts from Google (including contact groups and other contacts)

Step 6: Contacts are imported and saved as a timestamped backup

Note: OAuth authentication keeps your credentials secure. AddressBookManager never stores your Google password.

Import from CSV File (Free)

Step 1: Export contacts from your source as CSV (Google, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.)

Step 2: Tap "Import from CSV"

Step 3: Select your CSV file from Files app

Step 4: AddressBookManager automatically maps columns (supports variations like "first name", "given name", etc.)

Step 5: Review and confirm import

Import from VCF File (Free)

Step 1: Get your VCF/vCard file from any source

Step 2: Tap "Import from VCF"

Step 3: Select your .vcf file

Step 4: AddressBookManager parses the vCard format and imports all contacts

Contact Version History

AddressBookManager automatically creates rollback snapshots before any destructive operation:

• Before restoring from backup
• Before cleaning duplicates
• Before merging contacts
• Before deleting contacts

To rollback:

Step 1: Tap "Rollback" or "Version History"

Step 2: View all available snapshots with timestamps

Step 3: Select the version you want to restore

Step 4: Confirm rollback to undo changes

Safety: Rollback creates its own snapshot, so you can even undo a rollback!

Export Backup File

Step 1: Go to "View Backups"

Step 2: Select a backup and tap "Export" or "Share"

Step 3: Choose destination:

• Save to Files app
• Upload to iCloud Drive
• Share via AirDrop
• Email as attachment
• Save to other cloud services (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)

Tip: JSON backup files can be opened on any device and imported back to AddressBookManager or converted to other formats.

Contacts Permission Issues

Problem: App can't access contacts

Solution: Go to iPhone Settings → Privacy → Contacts → AddressBookManager → Enable access

Missing Notes Field

Problem: Contact notes aren't backing up

Solution: This is a system limitation on some iOS versions. AddressBookManager automatically falls back to exclude notes if access is restricted.

Import Not Working

Problem: Google/Yahoo import fails

Solution: Ensure you have an active Premium subscription. API imports are not available during the free trial. Use CSV/VCF import as an alternative.

Need More Help?

Contact our support team at support@myphonetools.com for personalized assistance.