Help Export contacts from sim

[Kraftwerk]

I have my 'contacts' synced to google and outlook (Is it a good idea to have them synced to two different accounts?).

I will be inserting a new sim (from a different mobile company) in the next few days and was wondering about any new contacts I have added over the months: Will I lose any?

Are the contacts even saved on the sim card?

Are all contacts automatically saved on a sim card, and if not is it a good idea to do so?

Because my contacts are synced, does that mean that when I insert the new sim card and turn on wifi, all the contacts will be added to my contacts app?

There is an 'import/export' option in the contacts settings - should I use 'export'?

Thanks

 

[girolez]

Hi

No, contacts are not normally saved to SIM cards these days. You can save them there but only basic data, no pictures, notes, email addresses....Its a very old fashioned way to work.

Google contacts have the "master" version saved on Googles servers. The contacts are associated with the google account you use. If you wipe your phone, (or get a new one) they can be reinstated on the phone just by putting the google account on the phone and connecting it to mobile data or wifi. They are also available on any PC by logging into your google account. The contacts have nothing to do with SIM cards. Changing the SIM will not affect your contacts (unless they actually are SIM contacts)

The export option creates a file of contacts which enables them to be imported to a device which does not have your google account installed on it. Maybe useful if you wanted to copy them to someone else's phone.

You can check where your contacts are stored:

Open contacts
Menu button
contacts to display
select an option and see what is there

SIM card
Phone - in phone memory (not on SIM)
Account name - normally your google account. You can add more google accounts to your phone and the contacts associated with each account can be shown (or not as you choose) in your contacts.

Hope this helps

Roger

 

[Kraftwerk]

Thanks for the detailed reply, but I have a 'people' app (which was already installed from new) and can't find the settings you mention.

I need your help again.

 

[girolez]

Hi

I'll see if I can get some better help for you..

Roger

 

[codesplice]

Hi Kraftwerk,

As the Moto G is a very-close-to-stock Android device, I may be able to assist based off of my Nexus 4

As girolez mentioned, if you've got your contacts synced with Google they will persist even after a SIM swap (or even changing to a new device). To confirm what source the People app is using for Contacts, launch the People app and go to Menu > Contacts to Display. That should display what sources and accounts are providing the Contacts on your device. :thumbup:

If you do feel the need to export the contacts just to be safe, you can do that through Menu > Import/Export. Export to Storage will save your entire contact list to a *.vcf file.

Hope this helps.