How can I merge iPhone contacts with Google contacts?

[dmk1974]

My daughter has an iPhone 7 which uses Google for Contacts and Gmail. To my knowledge, all seemed fine. I set her up with an iPad Air 2 the other day using all of the same settings, and she told me that when texting on the iPad, some of the contacts do not show the name and only the phone number. Typically, this is due to those senders not being in the contact list.

Looking at her iPhone, which was listing many more contacts than on the iPad, I saw there was a toggle for contacts "on this iPhone" and "Google". I'm not sure why she has 30% of her contacts not part of the Google contacts. Maybe added in from other apps? But either way, they are on her phone and I don't want to lose them, but would like to somehow get them all merged into her Google contacts.

Has anyone had this issue and if so, is there some easy fix? I don't want to mess around and then accidentally lose all of her contacts for her. Thanks!

 

[eyoungren]

The default for adding contacts on an iDevice is either iCloud or 'On this device'. Even if you set up the contacts you want you have to make sure you change that default to what you set up, in this case Google.

I've used this app since iOS 6. It's called Groups and it will let you move the contacts on your daughter's phone from one group (on her device) to the other group (Google).

It's the only app I know that lets you make groups and move contacts between them on an iDevice.

 

[BrianBaughn]

eyoungren's app may be the easiest but I'm not sure how it works.

Wise to ask as there are definitely ways to lose them.

There are probably more than a few apps that can help you. The one I've used hasn't been updated in a while but it still works...it's listed in the App Store as "Contacts Backup - IS Contacts Kit Free".

First, on the iPad check Settings>Contacts>Default Account to be sure that it's set to the Google account.

Pretty straightforward using the app. I'd suggest selecting just the "on this iPhone" group for export (as VCF) then "Open in" and select "Import with Contacts". If you've changed the default above then they should be added to the Google account. Check that they are by opening contacts and toggling ONLY the Google group on. If they're showing up under the Google group you're good to proceed. Be sure to verify at the Google Contacts website that the contacts have synced to their servers.

At this point I think it's easiest to temporarily turn off syncing of the Google contacts by going to Settings>Contacts>Accounts>[the google account], toggling off the Google contacts and then going back to the Contacts app, where all you should see is the "On my iPhone" contacts. Delete them all then go back to the setting to toggle Google contacts back on. Then change the Default Account back to Google again.

To get rid of the empty "On my iPhone" group you can toggle the iCloud contacts on and off.

 

[dmk1974]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot tonight after work. I'll double check, but I'm also pretty sure that iCloud contacts were set to OFF as well which made it strange.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot tonight after work. I'll double check, but I'm also pretty sure that iCloud contacts were set to OFF as well which made it strange.

No that's not unusual. When the device is new and not synced to any contacts it creates the "On my iPhone" group if you add a contact. It will also create that group if you unsync all contacts and then add a contact.

 

[dmk1974]

I got it all worked out.

1. Backed up her phone via iTunes (just in case)
2. Turned off syncing google contacts on iPhone
3. Turned on syncing contacts to iCloud (asked me to merge the additional contacts from iPhone and I said yes)
4. On my Mac Mini, via Chrome browser, logged into her iCloud acct and verified those additional contacts were all present there.
5. Selected all of the contacts in web iCloud and exported to vCard and saved to Mac Mini
6. Selected all of the contacts in web iCloud and deleted them
7. Turned off syncing contacts to iCloud on her iPhone (now, no contacts at all on the iPhone)
8. Logged into her Google account in Chrome and accesed her contacts
9. Imported the vCard with the additional contacts into Google Contacts
10. Turned back on syncing contacts with google contacts on her iPhone
11. Verified the entire list of contacts was present now on her iPhone, iPad, and computer web browser.

Thanks!

 

[BrianBaughn]

The "merge" dialog doesn't appear unless you're turning on syncing for iCloud contacts, it would seem. I've tried it with Google and that option doesn't come up.

Glad it's worked out.