Throughout life, there always comes a time when you lose all your Contact and starts putting them back in one by one. To avoid that, they started saving them to the SIM card. However, that method is old and inefficientIf we want to save contacts so as not to lose them again, or transfer them between Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, etc. mobiles, it is best to use the contact sync through our Google account, which is extremely simple and fast. Also, when you edit a contact, the changes will be applied all your devices.
Synchronization with Google account is something essential on any Android smartphone. The truth is that to download apps we even need to do so through our account, so considering having an Android without an active Google account is crazy. Once we log in, even if we don't realize it, our account synchronize Many data, such as calendar, contacts, and other items. Sometimes, however, these options are not active, so we must do so manuallyLet's see how to activate contact synchronization and how to always have them saved in our Google account.
Activate and understand contact synchronization with Google
1.- We access Settings and Accounts
The first step is to access the section of accounts of our device, something that may differ slightly depending on the version of Android we have. In any case, generally, we must access Settings > Accounts > Google. Until Gingerbread and Honeycomb, Accounts was a folder within Settings. Starting with Ice Cream Sandwich, Accounts is no longer a folder, it's a section within Settings. The goal is to get to Google, within Accounts, within Settings.
2.- We access the corresponding account
At this point, we'll most likely be shown the accounts we're logged into Google with. It's easy for only one to appear, but that's not necessarily the case. Click on the one we're most interested in, personal account, if we have several. We may be shown a message saying "Sync is disabled", but that does not mean we cannot perform a punctual synchronization.
3.- We start the synchronization
Right now we will be looking at the different elements that we can synchronize, such as the calendar, the Contact, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Reader, Browser, etc. Depending on the operating system version, the process to synchronize may be different, but in any case, it is usually only necessary click on the element to sync, in this case, Contacts. We can also press the Android Menu button and select Sync now, which will synchronize all elements.
4.- We wait for the process to finish
Obviously, if we have a lot of contacts, and we have never synced before, it will most likely take a few minutes synchronize everything. We wait for this to finish. Although we haven't mentioned it, it is absolutely necessary to have Internet connection so that our contacts can be synchronized with our Google account.
From now on, every time we create a new contact and we are asked to select the directory in which we want to do it, we must select our Google account. On the other hand, we must not forget to repeat this synchronization process from time to time, in order not to lose the new contacts we have added. If we have synchronization Always active on our smartphone, and the process is marked as automatic, we won't have any problems, as it will do it automatically. However, if it doesn't, we'll have to do it manually from time to time.
This same process is useful if we acquire a new mobile phone and want to do it in reverse. From our Google account we will synchronize All contacts can be transferred to our smartphone without wasting time or copying them to the SIM. And the same can be done with any iOS device, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and others. To transfer contacts from another smartphone to an Android or from an Android to another smartphone, we must do it through the Google account, since it is the simplest method. Keep in mind that if you disable synchronization Contacts, those that were in the cloud may no longer be visible on the mobile; when you reactivate it, restaurant automatically.
Sync Google Contacts from the Contacts App (Android)
For finer control from Android, open the Contacts app from Google (you can download it from the Play Store if it doesn't come installed). Tap Correct and manage o tu profile picture top right and enter Settings. Then, go to Google Contacts Sync Settings.
On the sync screen you will see the status and two key switches: 1) Synchronize Google Contacts to bring your account contacts to your mobile, and 2) Also sync device contacts to upload local or cloud contacts YES. Activate what you need and wait for the process to finish.
Sync Google Contacts on iPhone or iPad
- Sign in Settings > Contacts > Add account (o Accounts if you already have one).
- Choose Google and log in with your email and password. Complete the two step verification if applicable.
- Check the box Contacts and press Save.
If you notice that they are not syncing, check the SSL connection: Go to Contacts > Accounts > Google > Contacts > Account > Advanced and activate Use SSL. Return to the previous screen and press Ready.
Sync Google Contacts on Mac and Windows
On a Mac computer
- Opens System preferences.
- Sign in Internet accounts.
- Click on Google (or in Add Google if you are going to add another account).
- Enter your email and password and press Next.
- Choose Contacts and confirm with Ready.
On a Windows 10 computer
- Opens Configuration.
- Go to Accounts > Email accounts and apps > Add an account > Google.
- Sign in, check the permits and press Allow o Enable.
- End with Ready.
Export and import contacts with Microsoft Outlook
If you use Outlook and you want to take your Google address book there, first export from Google Contacts: log in to your account, open Contacts, press More > Export and choose the format Outlook .CSV. Download the file.
Then, in Outlook: Open and export > Importar / Exportar > Import from another program or file > Comma Separated Values. Press Browse, choose the CSV and decide how to treat the duplicates (replace, allow, or do not import). Select the folder Contactsuse Assign custom fields if you want to adjust columns and end with Finalize.
WhatsApp and other apps: how your contacts appear
WhatsApp reads contacts adress book from the phone. You don't need to import files CSV to WhatsApp: just have Google synchronization activated and grant WhatsApp the right permission to access Contacts. By doing so, you'll automatically see who uses the app. If your company shares contacts using tools like Shared contacts for Gmail, those contacts may appear in the autocomplete from Gmail, WhatsApp or SMS and the changes are reflected almost instantly.
Multiple Google accounts and shared directories
Yes, you can sync contacts from multiple accounts Google accounts on the same device: Each account will have its own sync switch, and contacts are combined in the phone view. If you also want to keep a list synchronized between different accounts (for example, between multiple people or devices who don't share the same session), Google Contacts doesn't offer it natively. In that case, solutions like Shared contacts for Gmail allow you to share contact labels as if they were Google Docs, with permissions from just watch, can edit, can delete o can be shared again. Owner changes spread almost instantly to those who have access.
Troubleshooting and best practices
- Update your device: Settings > Software update > Download and install and follow the instructions.
- Check the connection and that battery saving or restrictions background data do not block synchronization.
- Manage from contacts.google.com: merges duplicates, restore changes and organize with tags.
- Use Google account as default when creating new contacts and, if applicable, activate Also sync device contacts to upload the SIM cards.
- For one-time migrations, use Export/Import in CSV or vCard if an app does not support direct sync.
With all the above, your agenda is protected in the google cloud, editable from any device and ready to use in apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, or Outlook. Keeping it synchronized, choosing the right account when saving new contacts, and regularly checking the status in Settings are three simple steps that prevent loss, speed up mobile changes, and ensure each update is reflected where you need it.
