By Gina Barrow, Last updated: July 17, 2020
Transfer Google contacts to iPhone. Log in to your Google account and navigate to Google Contacts: In the left-side panel, click on “More” “Export” and select “vCard”. Hit “Export” to backup Google Contacts to a computer. Save the “contacts.vcf” file to your computer. This file contains all your Gmail (Google) contacts.
Recent issues: “how to backup iPhone contacts to Google account”
Smartphones have dominated the telecommunications arena and undoubtedly still the topmost choice of people. Chatting and calling became easier and convenient with the help of contacts saved on our devices.
Sadly, if you did not take any iPhone contacts backup then you might end up with no contacts at all. However, there are plenty of ways to save, backup, sync contacts or merge iPhone contacts.
- Click on 'Share Contacts' 'AirDrop' choose your iPad. Then a notification will appear on your iPad asking you to accept the transfer. Click 'Accept' to allow the sharing process to begin. The Bottom Line. These are 4 best ways to sync contacts from iPhone to iPad. They are all safe, simple and efficient.
- Things to check first. Check if you still need help after each of the steps below.
We can even backup iPhone contacts to Google. Yes, even though these two giants are competitors yet they prove that everything is just in the name of fair play.
In this article, we will learn how to transfer and backup all our iPhone contacts to a registered Google account.
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Part 1. How to Quickly Backup iPhone Contacts?
Well to avoid many hassles and possible issues, you can choose to backup iPhone contacts to the computer or sync iPhone contacts via third-party apps safely and securely. All you have to do is to simply run the program and it will do the stuff for you.
FoneDog Toolkit - iOS Contacts Backup & Restore is a professional program that efficiently manages all phone data through ‘backup and restores’ option.
This software is able to back up the entire device to the computer without any data loss and no overwriting issues.
Free Download Now, you can try to backup and restore your iPhone contacts in a few clicks.
Step 1: Download, Launch Fonedog and Choose Backup Option
Download and Launch Fonedog toolkit. Connect the iPhone to the computer with an original USB cable connector and wait until software loads up. Choose iOS Data Backup from the main menu and continue to the next step.
Step 2: Select Contacts Backup Mode
You can choose from the two given options of data backup mode: Standard and Encrypted. Standard will backup all data regularly while Encrypted will let you set one password for the entire phone files. Choose whichever you desire and click Start.
Step 3: Choose Contacts to Backup
Among the given phone data onscreen, mark iPhone Contacts to backup and then click Next to continue.
Step 4: Contacts Backup Complete
Wait until FoneDog Toolkit - iOS Data Backup & Restore has finished backing up the entire contacts. It will prompt you when the process is done.
Quick Tip: How to Transfer Contacts among Different Devices
A great tool recommended here would help you to transfer the contacts between Android devices, iOS devices, Android and iOS devices, or even Android/iOS and PCs. It is called Fone Dog Phone Transfer.
Part 2. How to Backup iPhone Contacts to Google
It may sound a little weird but yes you can backup iPhone contacts to Google. All you need is to add or register a Google account and we will give you the steps on how to smoothly keep all the contacts safe.
How to Backup iPhone Contacts to Google
- Step 1: Install the Google Drive app.
- Step 2: Register a Google account.
- Step 3: Turning on the contact sync option and sync the contacts on your iPhone to Google.
- Step 4: You can verify if all the contacts were synced by opening the Gmail account on a browser or go to contacts.google.com and check if all contracts are complete.
- On the iPhone, install and launch Google Drive
- Tap Menu in the top left corner
- Tap Settings
- Tap Backup
- Tap Start Backup
Before you start the backup, make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi and not mobile data to avoid extra charges and of course a stable connection.
Step 2: Register a Google Account:- Launch Settings app on your iPhone
- Tap Contacts, scroll down and tap Accounts
- Tap Add Account and then Google
- Enter your email and password (if you enabled 2-Step verification, use the same app password)
- Tap Next
- Toggle Contacts on
- Tap Save
After turning on the contact sync option, all the contacts will be saved to Gmail automatically. You can verify if all the contacts were synced by opening the Gmail account on a browser or go to contacts.google.com and check if all contracts are complete.
If contacts are not syncing or if you are having problems with syncing the contacts, follow the troubleshooting below:
- Open Settings app on the iPhone
- Tap Contacts
- Tap Accounts
- Tap the Google account
- Turn 'Contacts' on.
- Tap Account
- Tap Advanced
- Turn 'Use SSL' on
- Tap Account
- Tap Done
- Add account of your Gmail account again
This will then start back up your iPhone contacts to Google drive. Remember that when you back up multiple times, all the previous backups will be overwritten especially for contacts, photos, and calendars.
Third party contacts such as Microsoft Exchange and Facebook will not be added to the backup
Part 3. How to Transfer iPhone Contacts to Gmail Using iCloud?
ICloud is so far the best way to backup all the contacts on any iOS devices.Also, it can sync contacts. This is because it gives total convenience to ensure that all data is safe no matter what and wherever you are. All you need is to simply turn on the iCloud backup.
Note: Here you are going to do with Google Contacts as well. Google Contacts greatly helps in contact transfer.
Follow the steps below on how to backup contacts to iCloud:
- On your iPhone go to Settings and tap your iCloud account or your name then tap iCloud and toggle Contacts on.
- On your computer, open iCloud.com and enter your Apple ID and password
- Click on Contacts among the given options and then select the contacts you wish to sync from your iPhone to Gmail
- Tap on Settings and click the Export vCard option
- Open Google Contacts and sign in or go to contacts.google.com
- Click the Import Contacts... option from the left panel and click Choose File in the new popup window
- Select the vCard you just exported from iCloud and then click Import
That’s it! You have just performed how to backup iPhone contacts to Gmail via iCloud.
Part 4. Summary
Imagine if you lose all your iPhone contacts. Will you be able to call or text anybody from your phonebook just by memory? We bet not.
We cannot deny that contacts are extremely important in our everyday phone use. We cannot remember all our family and friend’s numbers all at the same time that is why we rely mainly on our phonebooks.
There are so many ways to backup iPhone contacts to Google drive even if they are competitors. Users are given their free will on how to back up their own personal data as long as they follow the above-given methods.
In case you are having a hard time syncing the contacts to Google, simply use FoneDog Toolkit - iOS Data Backup & Restore and you will surely have all the contacts safely, easily and faster!
Things to check first
Check if you still need help after each of the steps below.
- Check the system status of iCloud Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders.
- If a reminder isn't showing up on some devices, make sure that you're running the latest iOS, iPadOS, or macOS on each device. Upgraded reminders and shared reminders in iOS 13 or later or macOS Catalina or later aren't compatible with earlier versions of iOS or macOS. Learn more.
- Make sure that the date and time settings on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC are correct.
- Make sure that you're signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices. Then, check that you turned on Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders* in your iCloud settings.
- Check your Internet connection. Open Safari and go to www.apple.com. If you can’t open the page, learn what to do.
- Check that you can access secure websites. Open Safari and go to your Apple ID account page. If the website won't open, contact your Internet service provider for help.
- Make sure that you haven't exceeded your iCloud storage limit or the storage limits for iCloud Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders.
* On a PC with Outlook 2016 or later, Reminders are called Tasks.
Try the steps for your device
If you still need help, try the steps for your device below.
iOS 13 and iPadOS or later
After each step, check your contacts, calendars, or reminders.
Refresh your contacts and calendars
To refresh your contacts, open Contacts and swipe down on the list. To refresh your contact groups, tap Groups in the upper-left corner, then swipe down on the list.
To refresh your calendars:
- Open the Calendar app.
- Tap the Calendars tab.
- Swipe down on the list to refresh your events.
Check your app settings
- Make sure you turned on Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders on your device.
- If you use multiple groups or accounts in the Contacts or Calendars app, make sure your iCloud Contacts and Calendars are set to appear:
- Open the Contacts app and tap Groups in the upper-left corner. Make sure that All iCloud is selected.
- Open the Calendar app and tap the Calendars tab. Make sure that all iCloud calendars are selected.
- Change how often your calendars update:
- Tap Settings, then Calendar.
- Tap Sync.
- If All Events is selected, choose a specific timeframe instead, like Events 1 Month Back. If a specific timeframe is selected, choose All Events instead.
- Return to your Home screen.
- Wait a few minutes, then open the Calendar app. Tap the Calendars tab, and swipe down to refresh.
Since the iCloud Birthdays calendar updates daily, you might not see changes to birthdays in the Calendars app until the next day.
Set iCloud Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders as your default
If your contacts, calendars, and reminders are in iCloud, then iCloud automatically updates your information. If your information is in a third-party account, like Google or Yahoo, you can change your default account to iCloud. Changing your default account to iCloud won't move your existing information from a third-party service to iCloud.
Contacts
To see which account your contacts are in:
- Open the Contacts app and tap Groups in the upper-left corner.
- Deselect the All [account] option for any third-party account, like Gmail or Yahoo.
- Make sure All iCloud is selected.
- Tap Done to see your list of contacts. If you don't see the contact you're looking for, it's stored in another account.
- If you have a copy of your contacts from a third-party service in vCard format version 3.0 or later, you can import the contacts into iCloud.
Set iCloud as the default account for your contacts:
- Tap Settings, then Contacts.
- Tap Default Account.
- Select iCloud.
Calendars and Reminders
To see which account your calendars are in, open the Calendar app, then tap the Calendars tab.
Set an iCloud calendar as the default calendar:
- Tap Settings, then Calendar.
- Tap Default Calendar.
- Tap a calendar under iCloud to make it your default.
Set an iCloud reminders list as the default list:
- Tap Settings, then Reminders.
- Tap Default List.
- Tap a list under iCloud to make it your default.
Restart the Contacts, Calendar, or Reminders app
- Close the app.
- Return to your Home screen.
- Wait a minute, then open the app again.
Turn off iCloud Contacts, Calendar, or Reminders and turn it back on
- Tap Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
- Slide to turn off Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders.*
- If you see your calendars or reminders on iCloud.com or any of your devices, you can choose Delete from My [device]. If not, choose Keep on My [device].
- Wait a few minutes, then turn on Contacts, Calendar, or Reminders again.
* Local reminders will be deleted from your device, but your information won't be deleted from iCloud. Once you turn Reminders back on, your reminders will be re-synced to your device.
Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Here's how to restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
iOS 12
After each step, check your contacts, calendars, or reminders.
Refresh your contacts, calendars, and reminders
To refresh your contacts, open Contacts and swipe down on the list. To refresh your contact groups, tap Groups in the upper-left corner, then swipe down on the list.
To refresh your calendars and reminders:
- Open the Calendar app.
- Tap the Calendars tab.
- Swipe down on the list to refresh your events and reminders.
Check your app settings
- Make sure you turned on Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders on your device.
- If you use multiple groups or accounts in the Contacts or Calendars app, make sure that your iCloud Contacts and Calendars are set to appear:
- Open the Contacts app and tap Groups in the upper-left corner. Make sure that All iCloud is selected.
- Open the Calendar app and tap the Calendars tab. Make sure that All iCloud is selected.
- Change how often your calendars and reminders update:
- Tap Settings > Calendar, or tap Settings > Reminders.
- Tap Sync.
- If All Events or All Reminders is selected, choose a specific timeframe instead, like Events or Reminders 1 Month Back. If a specific timeframe is selected, choose All Events or All Reminders instead.
- Press the Home button.
- Wait a few minutes. Open the Calendar app, tap the Calendars tab, and swipe down to refresh.
Since the iCloud Birthdays calendar updates daily, you might not see changes to birthdays in the Calendars app until the next day.
Set iCloud Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders as your default
If your contacts, calendars, and reminders are in iCloud, then iCloud automatically updates your information. See if your information is in iCloud or a third-party account, like Google or Yahoo. Then change your default account to iCloud.
Contacts
See which account your contacts are in:
- Open the Contacts app and tap Groups in the upper-left corner.
- Deselect the All [account] option for any third-party account, like Gmail or Yahoo.
- Make sure All iCloud is selected.
- Tap Done to see your list of contacts. If you don't see the contact you're looking for, it's stored in another account.
- You can import the contact from a third-party service into iCloud.
Set iCloud as the default account for your contacts:
- Tap Settings > Contacts.
- Tap Default Account.
- Select iCloud.
Calendars and Reminders
See which account your calendars are in:
- Open the Calendar app.
- Tap an event to open it.
- Tap the calendar name to see if the event is in an iCloud calendar.
Set an iCloud calendar as the default calendar:
- Tap Settings > Calendar.
- Tap Default Calendar.
- Tap a calendar under iCloud to make it your default.
See which account your reminders are in:
- Open the Reminders app.
- Tap the list name in the upper-left corner to view all your lists.
- See if the list is stored on your device or iCloud. Open a list and tap Edit. If you see Sharing, then your list is in iCloud.
When you create a reminder, you can choose to store it in iCloud or on your iOS device.
Restart the Contacts, Calendar, or Reminders app
- Double-click the Home button to see your open apps.
- Find the app, then swipe up to close it.
- Press the Home button to return to your Home screen.
- Wait a minute, then open the app again.
Turn off iCloud Contacts, Calendar, or Reminders and turn it back on
- Tap Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
- Slide to turn off Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders.*
- If you see your calendars or reminders on iCloud.com or any of your devices, you can choose Delete from My [device]. If not, choose Keep on My [device].
- Wait a few minutes, then turn on Contacts, Calendar, or Reminders again.
* Local reminders will be deleted from your device, but your information won't be deleted from iCloud. Once you turn Reminders back on, your reminders will be re-synced to your device.
Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Restart your device. Here's how to restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Force sync Calendar data on Apple Watch
To force sync Calendar data on your Apple Watch:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap the My Watch tab.
- Tap General, then tap Reset.
- Tap Reset Sync Data.
If a family member set up your Apple Watch for you, you can't force sync Calendar data.
macOS
After each step, check your contacts, calendars, or reminders.
Refresh your calendars and reminders
You can refresh your calendars from the Calendars app:
- Open the Calendar app.
- Choose View.
- Refresh Calendars.
Since the iCloud Birthdays calendar updates hourly, you might not see changes to birthdays in the Contacts or Calendars app for an hour.
To refresh your reminders, quit the Reminders app and then open it again.
Check your default Calendar, Reminders, and Contacts account
If you store and edit your events in iCloud instead of another place, like On My Mac, Exchange, or Google, then iCloud automatically updates your calendars. If you use multiple accounts on your Mac like iCloud, Gmail, and Yahoo, make sure that iCloud is your default Calendar account:
- Open the Calendar app.
- Choose Calendar > Preferences.
- In the General tab, make sure that one of your iCloud calendars is the default.
Iphone Share Contact Photo
If you store and edit your contacts in iCloud instead of another place, like On My Mac, Exchange, or Google, then iCloud automatically updates your contacts. If you use multiple accounts on your Mac like iCloud, Gmail, and Yahoo, make sure that iCloud is your default Contacts account:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Choose Contacts > Accounts.
- Click the iCloud tab and make sure that you're signed in with your Apple ID.
As long as you've turned on Reminders in System Preferences, you see your iCloud reminders on your Mac.
Turn off iCloud Calendar and iCloud Reminders, then turn it back on
- Quit the Calendar and Reminders apps.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Apple ID, then click iCloud. If you’re using macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
- Deselect Calendars and Reminders.*
- Close System Preferences and wait about a minute.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Apple ID, then click iCloud. If you’re using macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
- Select Calendars and Reminders.
- Open Calendar and Reminders.
* Local reminders will be deleted from your device, but your information won't be deleted from iCloud. Once you turn Reminders back on, your reminders will be re-synced to your device.
Restart your computer
After you restart your computer, see if you fixed the issue.
iCloud.com
If you don't see all your updates or have another issue, try these steps on iCloud.com:
Share Iphone Contact List
- Update your browser and clear the cache.
- If you don't see updates from other devices, open another app on iCloud.com, like Mail. Then go back to the Contacts, Calendar, or Reminders app.
- Sign out of iCloud.com, then sign back in.
- Clear your browsing history. Choose History > Clear History.
Since the iCloud Birthdays calendar updates daily, you might not see changes to birthdays in the Calendars app until the next day.
If you get a spam iCloud Calendar request
If you get a calendar request that you think might be spam or junk, let us know. Sign in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID and go to the Calendar app. Open the event that you wish to mark as Junk, click Report Junk, then click OK. We'll automatically delete the event from your Calendar on all your devices signed in with the same Apple ID.
You can also go to the invitation from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac and choose Report Junk > Delete and Report Junk.
Microsoft Windows
After each step, check your contacts, calendars, or reminders.
Reminders are called Tasks in iCloud for Windows.
Refresh Outlook
Turn off iCloud Contacts, Calendar, and Tasks, then turn it back on
- Open iCloud for Windows.
- Deselect Mail, Contacts, Calendars and Tasks, then click Apply.
- Wait a few seconds, select Mail, Contacts, Calendars & Tasks, then click Apply.
- Open Outlook.
Make sure the iCloud Outlook Add-in is active
In Outlook 2010 and later:
- Click the File menu.
- Click Options in the left panel.
- Click Add-Ins in the left panel of the Outlook Options window.
- Look at the list of add-ins in the Active Application Add-Ins section.
- Select the iCloud Outlook Add-in.
Learn how to manage Add-ins with Microsoft Outlook.
Check your default account in Outlook
In Outlook 2010 and later:
- Click the File menu.
- Select Info > Account Settings > Data Files.
- If iCloud is the default account in the Comments column, select a different account, and click Set as Default.
Restart your computer
After you restart your computer, see if you fixed the issue.
If you still need help
If you still need help, contact Apple Support. You can also use these steps to remove duplicate contacts or calendars.