Sync Android contacts - how it works

Sync Android contacts - not as easy as it sounds. Especially if your contact details are stored on the SIM card. In our article, we will show you which applications you can use to synchronize your contacts and why a Google account is helpful.

Sync Android contacts: Transfer contacts to your Google account

One of the easiest ways to sync is your Google account. However, since Google cannot read the contacts on your SIM card, you must first transfer and import them.

1. Open the "Contacts" on your Android device and navigate to the settings menu. Here you will find and use the "Import / Export contacts" option.
2. In the following menu, select "Import" and transfer either all or only the contacts you want from the SIM card to your Google account. To do this, check the contacts you want to transfer.
3. To ensure that there are no duplicate names in your Android contacts, go to the setting "Contacts to be displayed" and select Google instead of your SIM.
4. To synchronize new contacts directly, be sure to save it as a Google contact. Otherwise it will only be saved in the cell phone or on your SIM card and not synchronized.

Place synchronized contacts in Gmail under "My contacts"

If Google does not automatically sort the contacts under "My contacts", you have to do this manually:

1. To do this, first log into your Google account on the PC.
2. Open the contact view via "Personal data & privacy". Your cell phone contacts should now appear under the "Other contacts" tab.
3. Select all contacts and click "Add to Contacts" in the top right corner.

Alternative: Use the respective tool from your smartphone manufacturer

Most manufacturers of Android smartphones make it particularly easy for you to synchronize contacts. Often an app is already pre-installed, with the help of which you can easily carry out the synchronization.

• Depending on the manufacturer, this app has a different name: Smart Switch (Samsung); Mobile switch (LG); Phone Clone (Huawei) or Transfer Mobile (Sony Xperia).
• Most manufacturers can transfer data using a USB cable or NFC.
• The prerequisite is that the respective app is also installed on your old smartphone. Simply download it from the Play Store.

Your smartphone's memory quickly fills up with countless photos or videos. In our next practical tip, we will show you how to get storage space without losing your data.