How to identify why I lost all my contacts in s9+?

[Android Central Question]

I was using my phone for about 3 weeks and suddenly one morning part of my contacts, mostly old ones, were gone. Then I added part of the contacts which I had o my whatsapp app and once again today all contacts were gone. What is happening???

 

[Rukbat]

Were they entered as Google account contacts? If so, you should be able to restore them at Google Contacts. If not, I can't tell you why they disappeared (that's something someone has to see happening to have a chance of explaining), but from now on, enter all your contacts as Google contacts (the first line on a new contact entry). Contacts stored as Phone contacts, when they disappear, are gone. (Google account contacts are still on the phone - it should be called Sync to Google and Don't sync.)

 

[illdini]

Do you have Contacts set to show All contacts?

Contacts (the standalone app, *not* from the Phone app) -> Settings -> Contacts to show -> set to All & see if the contacts show up.