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Help Google Contact Sync is a MESS!

H

Harpswellian

Lurker
I recently reset my phone and restored contacts with Google sync. I got HUNDREDS of duplicates and HUNDREDS more of unwanted, mostly unknown to me, contacts. Most phone numbers were missing.

I'm editing all the contacts on my phone (wish I could do it from my PC - but that is is different issue). When I'm dome, I'd like to (1) synch one way to Google so that Google has the same content as my (corrected) phone and (2) backup the contact list to Dropbox (preferably) or other free cloud acct (Google Drive, Box Sync). Can you help me or guide me to a resource explaining how to do this?

Bill
 
I assume that you either have contacts sync turned off so your list is only on the phone or you aren't saving the working list as Google contacts.

Anyway, once you have a contacts list you're happy with, export it as a .vcf file. Upload it to Dropbox, Google Drive or whatever for a backup and save a copy to a computer. Log in to Gmail and delete all your contacts. Import the .vcf file.

You should now have only the corrected contacts in Gmail. If it looks correct go back to the phone. If you created your list on the phone only, IOW not saved as Google contacts, delete them to avoid duplicates.
Turn contacts sync on and once the phone syncs with Gmail your contacts should be correct both online and on the phone.
 
I have turned all Sync off while I re-setup my phone (after a reset).

How do I export the contacts to a .vcf?

"IOW not saved as Google contacts, delete them to avoid duplicates." Could you expand on this. I don't quite understand. Thanks.

Thank you for the reply.
Bill
 
I don't know what phone you have so it may be a little different than on my Nexus. The concept is the same though, so you should be able to poke around and find it or check the user manual. On vanilla Android 5.1 it is:

Open Contacts > Menu > select Import/export > select Export to storage.
A box opens that says:
"Export contacts?"
"Your contact list will be exported to file: /storage/emulated/0/0001.vcf"
Make note of the file location and tap OK.

Now, your question about Google contacts and duplicates...
Many phones give a choice where to save contacts:

1. As Google contacts. Saved on the phone and uploaded to your Google account. Automatic backups. Highly recommended.

2. To the phone only. Not sent to Google so not backed up online. Lose your phone, lose your contacts. If you saved your new list here, then import it to Google, then sync Google contacts back to the phone, you will have 2 contact lists on the phone - thus duplicates.

3. SIM contacts, saved to the SIM card. Can only save names and numbers, no other information. Old, outdated technology. Not recommended.
 
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