Get Your Contacts

If you have a Google Account, any contacts associated with that account are automatically backed up by Google. This means all your contacts are always available on the web and can be synced to any Android phone that's set up with the same account.

As a result, even if you lose your phone, switch to a new phone, or use a desktop computer, your contacts are always available.

To get your phone numbers and other contact information into your Google account, you have several options:

  • Import your contacts directly into your phone from your SIM card. See the instructions below.
  • Use a desktop computer to import both your email and your contacts from another email account into your Gmail account.
  • Use a desktop computer to export your contacts from applications like Outlook or the Mac Address Book as a text file, then import them into your Google Account through a desktop browser. Two common text file formats used for this purpose produce files that end with .csv or .vcard.
  • Use a desktop computer to export your contacts as a text file, then import them directly into your phone.

Regardless of the method, you only need to import your contacts once. After you start using a Google Account, all your contacts stay in sync, even if you get a new phone or other mobile device. To view your contacts:

  • On your phone: use the People app .
  • From a browser on a desktop computer: Go to google.com/contacts. If you aren't already logged in, you need to provide your Gmail address and password.

To import contacts from a SIM card:

  1. Install the SIM card with your contacts on it in your new phone.
  2. From a Home or All Apps screen, open the People app

    .

  3. Touch Menu icon > Import/Export.
  4. Touch Import from SIM card.

    If asked to choose an account, touch the one where you want to add the contacts.

  5. To import contacts one at a time, touch them.

    To import all at once, touch Menu icon > Import All.