How to Edit, Delete, and Sync Your Gmail Contacts

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A comprehensive guide to managing your Google Contacts

Co-authored by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: September 9, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Opening Contacts
|
• Adding a Contact
|
• Editing Contacts
|
• Deleting or Hiding a Contact
|
• Exporting a Contact
|
• Printing Contacts
|
• Labeling Contacts
|
• Syncing Google Contacts on iPhone
|
• Video
|
• Q&A

|Show more |Show less

You can manage your Gmail (or Google) contacts using a web browser on a computer or iPhone/iPad or using the Contacts app on an Android phone. This wikiHow article teaches you how to manage your Google Contacts on a computer, Android, or iPhone.

Quick Steps

1. Log in to your Gmail account in a web browser or open the Google Contacts app.
2. Click the Apps icon in the upper-right corner.
3. Click Contacts.
4. Use this page to edit your contacts.

Steps

Section 1 of 8:

Opening Contacts

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1. 
   1
   Open your contacts using a computer. If you are using a PC or Mac computer, you can access your contacts using any web browser. Use the following steps to do so:

   • Go to https://www.gmail.com in your web browser.
   • Log in to your Gmail account, if you are not logged in automatically.
   • Click the Google Apps icon. It's the icon that resembles 9 squares. It's in the upper-right corner.
   • Click Contacts. It has an icon that resembles a blue silhouette of a person.
2. 
   2
   Open your Google Contacts on Android. The Google Contacts app comes pre-installed on most stock Android devices. However, if you are using a Samsung Galaxy, you may need to download and install the Google Contacts app. Use the following steps to open your Google Contacts on Android:

   • Download the Google Contacts app from the Google Play Store, if it's not already downloaded.
   • Tap the Contacts app in your Apps menu. Alternatively, you can tap Open in the Google Play Store once it is finished downloading.
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3. 
   3
   Open your Google Contacts on iPhone or iPad. The Google Contacts app is not available for iPhone, but you can manage your Gmail contacts at https://contacts.google.com, or by syncing them to your iPhone to access them in the Apple Contacts app.
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Section 2 of 8:

Adding a Contact

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1. 
   1
   Add a contact on a computer. Use the following steps to add contacts using a web browser on your computer:

   • Click + Create Contact at the top of the menu bar to the left.
   • Click Create a contact. Alternatively, you can click Create multiple contacts.
   • Enter the contact's first and last name in the first two bars.
   • Enter the contact's company and job title in the next two bars.
   • Enter the contact's email and/or phone number.
     • Click + Add phone or + Add email to add additional phone numbers and emails.
   • Click Add address to add an optional physical address.
   • Enter the contact's birthday where it says "Month," "Day," and "Year."
   • Add any additional notes where it says "Notes."
   • Click Show more to show additional fields.
   • Add any additional fields. You can add a significant date, website, or add your own custom fields.
   • Click Save in the upper-right corner.
2. 
   2
   Add a contact on Android. Use the following steps to add a contact using the Google Contacts app.

   • Tap the Contacts tab at the bottom of the screen.
   • Tap the Plus (+) icon in the lower-right corner.
   • Tap Add picture and select a picture for the contact (optional).
   • Enter the contact's first and last name in the first two bars.
   • Enter the contact's company in the third line.
   • Enter the contact's phone number in the fourth line. You can also select a label for the phone number in the drop-down menu below this line.
   • Enter the contact's email address in the fifth line. You can also select a label for the email in the drop-down menu below this line.
   • Enter a significant date (i.e., a birthday) in the last line. You can select a label for the date in the drop-down menu below the line.
   • Tap More fields at the bottom to enter additional information.
   • Fill out any of the additional fields. You can enter information such as job title, nickname, website, and more.
   • Tap Save in the upper-right corner.
3. 
   3
   Add a contact on iPhone or iPad. Use the following steps to add a contact using a web browser on iPhone or iPad:

   • Tap + Create Contact at the top of the menu bar to the left.
   • Tap Create a contact. Alternatively, you can tap Create multiple contacts.
   • Enter the contact's first and last name in the first two bars.
   • Enter the contact's company and job title in the next two bars.
   • Enter the contact's email and/or phone number.
     • Tap + Add phone or + Add email to add additional phone numbers and emails.
   • Tap Add address to add an optional physical address.
   • Enter the contact's birthday where it says "Month," "Day," and "Year."
   • Add any additional notes where it says "Notes."
   • Tap Show more to show additional fields.
   • Add any additional fields. You can add a significant date, website, or related person, or you can add your own custom fields.
   • Tap Save.
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Section 3 of 8:

Editing Contacts

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1. 
   1
   Edit contacts on a computer. Use the following steps to edit your contacts in a desktop browser:

   • Find the contact you want to edit on your Contacts list.
   • Hover over your contact's name on the list. You will now see the editing buttons on the right-hand side.
   • Click the star icon next to the contact name to add them to your favorites.
   • Click the icon that resembles a pencil next to the contact name to edit their information.
   • Edit the contact information. You can edit or add their first and last name, phone number, email address, address, birthday, job title, and the company they work for, as well as add notes and more.
   • Click Save in the upper-right corner.
2. 
   2
   Edit contacts on Android. Use the following steps to edit your contacts using the Google Contacts app on Android:

   • Tap the Contacts tab in the lower-right corner.
   • Tap a contact you want to edit.
   • Tap the Star icon in the upper-right corner to add the contact to your favorites.
   • Tap the Pencil icon in the upper-right corner to edit the contact.
   • Edit the contact information. You can edit or add their first and last name, phone number, email address, address, birthday, job title, and the company they work for, as well as add notes and more.
   • Tap Save in the upper-right corner.
3. 
   3
   Edit contacts on iPhone or iPad. Use the following steps to edit your contacts in a web browser on iPhone or iPad:

   • Tap a contact you want to edit.
   • Tap the star icon next to their name to add them to your favorites.
   • Tap the icon that resembles a pencil icon next to the contact name to edit their information.
   • Edit the contact information. You can edit or add their first and last name, phone number, email address, address, birthday, job title, and the company they work for, as well as add notes and more.
   • Tap Save in the upper-right corner.
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Section 4 of 8:

Deleting or Hiding a Contact

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1. 
   1
   Delete contacts on a computer. Use the following steps to delete your contacts on a computer.

   • Hover over your contact name on the list. You will now see the editing buttons on the right-hand side.
   • Click the three dots (⋮) icon to the right of a contact name.
     • Alternatively, if you want to delete multiple contacts, click the checkbox to the left of the contact names you want to delete. Then click the icon with three dots (⋮) at the top of the page.
   • Click Delete.
     • Alternatively, you can select Hide from contacts here. This option will hide the selected contact from the list here, but you can still easily add them to your emails.
   • Click Delete in the confirmation pop-up.
2. 
   2
   Delete contacts on an Android. Use the following steps to delete contacts on an Android device.

   • Tap the Contacts tab in the lower-right corner.
   • Tap and hold the contact(s) you want to delete.
   • Tap the trashcan icon in the upper-right corner.
   • Tap Delete in the pop-up.
     • Alternatively, you can tap a contact and then tap the icon with three dots (⋮) in the upper-right corner. Tap Delete and then tap Delete in the pop-up.
3. 
   3
   Delete contacts on iPhone or iPad. Use the following steps to delete contacts using a web browser on iPhone and iPad:

   • Tap a contact you want to delete.
   • Tap the icon with three dots (⋮) to the right of a contact name.
     • Alternatively, if you want to delete multiple contacts, tap the checkbox to the left of the contact names you want to delete. Then tap the icon with three dots (⋮) at the top of the page.
   • Tap Delete.
     • Alternatively, you can select Hide from contacts here. This option will hide the selected contact from the list here, but you can still easily add them to your emails.
   • Tap Delete in the confirmation pop-up.
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Section 5 of 8:

Exporting a Contact

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1. 
   1
   Export contacts on a computer. You can use the following steps to export your contacts on a computer:

   • Click the checkbox to the left of the contacts you want to export. The checkbox appears when you hover your mouse cursor over a contact.
   • Click the icon with three dots (⋮) at the top of the page in the upper-right corner.
   • Click Export.
   • Select an export format. You can export your contacts in Google CSV, Outlook CSV or vCard format.
   • Click Export in the pop-up. This will export and save the selected contact to your computer's downloads folder.
2. 
   2
   Export contacts on Android. Use the following steps to export contacts on an Android phone:

   • Tap the Organize tab at the bottom of the screen.
   • Scroll down and tap Export to file.
   • Select your Google account.
   • Tap Export in the lower-left corner.
   • Enter a filename at the bottom of the screen (optional).
   • Tap Save in the lower-right corner.
3. 
   3
   Export contacts on iPhone and iPad. Use the following steps to export your contacts using a web browser on iPhone and iPad:

   • Tap the checkbox to the left of the contacts you want to export. The checkbox appears when you hover your mouse cursor over a contact.
   • Tap the icon with three dots (⋮) at the top of the page in the upper-right corner.
   • Tap Export.
   • Select an export format. You can export your contacts in Google CSV, Outlook CSV or vCard format.
   • Tap Export in the pop-up.
   • Tap Download at the bottom of the screen to download the file to your phone or tablet. You can access your files using the Files application.
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Section 6 of 8:

Printing Contacts

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1. 
   1
   Print contacts on a computer. Use the following steps to print your contacts using a web browser.

   • Click the checkbox next to the contact(s) you want to print.
   • Click the icon with three dots (⋮) at the top of the page in the upper-right corner.
   • Click Print.
   • Select a group or label (optional) and click Print.
   • Click Print in the lower-right corner of the Preview window.
2. 
   2
   Print contacts on an Android. Use the following steps to print your Google contacts on Android.

   • Tap the Contacts tab in the lower-right corner.
   • Tap and hold the contact(s) you want to print.
   • Tap the Share icon, which resembles three connected dots at the top of the page.
   • Scroll down and tap More to display all your apps.
   • Tap a print service application (i.e., Samsung Print Service).
   • Select a wireless printer.
   • Tap the Print option.
3. 
   3
   Print contacts on an iPhone or iPad. Use the following steps to print contacts using a web browser on iPhone and iPad:

   • Tap the checkbox next to the contact(s) you want to print.
   • Tap the icon with three dots (⋮) at the top of the page in the upper-right corner.
   • Tap Print.
   • Select a group or label (optional) and tap Print. If you see a message telling you a pop-up has been blocked, tap Always show.
   • Tap Print in the upper-right corner of the preview window.
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Section 7 of 8:

Labeling Contacts

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1. 
   1
   Label contacts on a computer. Using labels is useful if you want to group certain contacts together or if you email groups often. You can enter the name of the label into the To field in your next email to send a message to everyone in that group without typing in all the names individually. Use the following steps to label your contacts on a desktop computer.

   • Click the plus sign (+) next to "Label" in the sidebar to the left.
   • Enter a name for the label.
   • Click Save.
   • Hover over a contact you want to assign a label to.
   • Click the icon with three dots next to the contact name.
   • Click the label you want to assign that contact.
2. 
   2
   Label contacts on an Android device. Use the following steps to create and add labels to your contacts using Google Contacts on Android:

   • Tap the icon that resembles a tag in the upper-right corner.
   • Tap + New Label.
     • Alternatively, you can tap an existing label in this menu.
   • Enter a name for the label and tap Ok.
   • Tap Add contact.
   • Tap and hold the contact(s) you want to label.
   • Tap the checkmark icon in the upper-right corner.
3. 
   3
   Label contacts on an iPhone or iPad. Use the following steps to label your contacts on your iPhone or iPad:

   • Tap the icon with three horizontal lines (☰) in the upper-left corner.
   • Tap the plus sign (+) next to "Label" in the sidebar to the left.
   • Enter a name for the label.
   • tap Save.
   • Tap a contact you want to assign a label to.
   • Tap the icon with three dots next to the contact name.
   • Tap the label you want to assign that contact.
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Section 8 of 8:

Syncing Google Contacts on iPhone

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1. 
   1
   Open the Settings app

   

   . It has an icon that resembles two silver gears. Tap the Settings icon to open the Settings app. You can sync your Google Contacts with your iPhone contacts and manage your contacts using the Contacts app.
2. 
   2
   Scroll down and tap Contacts. It's next to an icon that resembles a contact book with a person on the cover.
3. 
   3
   Tap Contacts. It's at the top of the menu.
4. 
   4
   Tap Add account. It's below the "Accounts" header.

   • If you've already synced a Google account on your iPhone, tap Accounts instead.
5. 
   5
   Tap Google. It's in the list of account types you can sync with your iPhone.
6. 
   6
   Sign in to your Google account. Next, you will be taken to a sign-in screen. Log in to your Google account.
7. 
   7
   Ensure the toggle switch

   

   next to "Contacts" is turned on. You can also sync your calendar, email, and notes.
8. 
   8
   Open the Contacts app. It resembles a contact book with a person on the cover. You can access your Google and iPhone contacts using the Contacts app.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  When I send a group email, can I keep my contacts private?

  

  Community Answer

  Yes, put your own email address in the "To" field. Enter your contacts' addresses in the "BCC" field. That way none of the recipients will be able to see the addresses.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
• Question

  How do I add existing Gmail contacts to existing groups?

  

  Community Answer

  Click on the contact name. That brings up a window with the details in it. On the lower left corner is a link "Add to groups". Click on that one and it pops up as a window of all your groups. Just click on the group (or groups) in which you want the contact appear. Then click on the arrow on the upper left corner and you are done.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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• Question

  How do I save a message in Gmail?

  

  Community Answer

  Just don't delete it. It should automatically save unless you clear it all out.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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