Easy Guide to Importing Contacts to WhatsApp on Android

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The easiest ways to sync contacts to WhatsApp on Android
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It’s easy to sync your Android phone contacts with WhatsApp. You can import your contacts into WhatsApp by simply refreshing your WhatsApp contacts. If the contact is not appearing, you can add them manually or check to make sure your Google contacts are syncing with your phone and that WhatsApp is allowed to access your contacts. You can also add contacts manually. This wikiHow teaches you how to sync the contacts on your Android phone with your WhatsApp contacts.

Import Contacts into WhatsApp on Android: Quick Steps

  1. Tap Chats at the bottom of WhatsApp.
  2. Tap the “New Chat” icon in the lower-right corner.
  3. Tap the icon with three dots (â‹®) in the upper-right corner.
  4. Tap Refresh .
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Syncing Android Contacts in WhatsApp

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  1. 1
    Open WhatsApp Messenger and tap the Chats tab. It's the first tab at the bottom of WhatsApp on your Android phone or tablet. This displays a list of all your WhatsApp chats. It also has the "New Chat" button.
    • This method will automatically sync all phone contacts on your Android to WhatsApp.
  2. It's the green button with an icon that resembles a speech bubble with a plus sign (+) in the middle. It's in the lower-right corner. This displays a list of all your contacts.
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  3. It's in the upper-right corner. This displays the menu. [1]
  4. It’s in the drop-down menu. This will refresh the page and update your contacts list on WhatsApp. Any new phone contacts will now be imported to your WhatsApp contacts list. [2]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Syncing Android Contacts in Settings

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  1. 1
    Open the Settings menu. You can also sync your contacts with WhatsApp in the Settings menu. To open the Settings menu, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the icon that resembles a gear in the upper-right corner.
  2. 2
    Tap Accounts and backup or Users & accounts . Depending on what type of device you have, you can either tap “Accounts and backup” on a Samsung Galaxy or “Users & accounts” on a standard Android phone.
  3. 3
    Tap Manage accounts . This displays various accounts and apps you have signed into on your Android phone.
  4. 4
    Tap WhatsApp . It’s near the bottom of the menu. You may need to scroll down.
  5. 5
    Tap Sync account . It’s the only option listed in the menu.
  6. 6
    Ensure the toggle switch next to “Contacts” is turned on. If it’s not already turned on, tap the toggle switch to ensure that your contacts sync.
  7. 7
    Tap the icon with three dots â‹® . It’s in the upper-right corner. This displays a drop-down menu.
  8. 8
    Tap Sync now . This will instantly sync your phone contacts with WhatsApp.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Adding a New Contact Manually

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  1. It's the first tab at the bottom of the screen. This displays a list of all your WhatsApp chats. It also has the "New Chat" button. [3]
    • Use this method if you need to add a contact to WhatsApp that isn't on your phone (or isn't importing properly).
  2. It's the green button with an icon that resembles a speech bubble with a plus sign (+). It's in the lower-right corner. This displays a list of all your Contacts.
    • There may be a pop-up informing you of more ways to manage your contacts. Tap Ok on the pop-up to close it.
  3. It's the second option at the top of the menu. It's next to a green button with an icon that resembles a person. [4]
  4. Use the spaces provided to enter the contact's first name, last name, and phone number. Then tap Save at the bottom of the screen. [5]
    • If the contact is not already synced with your Google account, tap the toggle switch next to “Sync contact to phone” to add it to your phone.
    • If the contact doesn't immediately appear in your WhatsApp contacts, sync your contacts in WhatsApp.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Syncing Google Contacts with Your Phone

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  1. If your Google account is not syncing contacts with your phone, you will not see contacts saved to your Google account in WhatsApp or your contacts list. To open the Settings menu, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the icon that resembles a gear in the upper-right corner. [6]
  2. 2
    Tap Google . You may need to scroll down to find it. This displays the settings menu related to your Google account and services. Here you can also make sure Google Contacts Sync is turned on.
  3. 3
    Tap All services . It’s the second tab at the top of the page. This displays a list of all Google services.
  4. 4
    Tap Google Contacts sync . It’s the second option below the “Backup & restore” header.
  5. 5
    Tap Status . It’s the first option on the menu. This displays the Sync Status settings menu.
  6. 6
    Ensure Google Contacts sync is turned on. If the toggle switch next to “Google Contacts sync” is not turned on, tap it to turn it on.
  7. 7
    Tap the refresh icon. It’s the icon that resembles a circular arrow. It’s next to the number of contacts you have and the last time they were synced. This syncs your Google contacts with your phone immediately.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Fixing WhatsApp Contact Permissions

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  1. 1
    Open the Settings app. If you're unable to import your Android contacts to WhatsApp, you may need to fix your permissions. Normally, when you launch WhatsApp for the first time, it will ask you to allow it permission to access your contacts. If you accidentally tapped “Don’t allow,” WhatsApp will not be able to access your contacts.
    • To open your Android's Settings menu, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the icon that resembles a gear in the upper-right corner.
  2. 2
    Tap Apps . You may need to scroll down to find it. This displays a list of all apps you have installed on your phone.
  3. 3
    Tap WhatsApp . This displays the app info screen for WhatsApp.
  4. 4
    Tap Permissions . It’s the second option on the list. This displays what permissions WhatsApp does and does not have.
  5. 5
    Tap Contacts . This displays the Contacts Permission screen.
    • If this option is listed below “Allowed,” then WhatsApp already has permission to access your contacts.
  6. 6
    Tap Allowed . This allows WhatsApp to access your contacts. You can now import your Android contacts to WhatsApp by refreshing your contact list.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/522615322631338/?cms_platform=android
      2. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/522615322631338/?cms_platform=android
      3. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/5472030609512325/?cms_platform=android&helpref=platform_switcher
      4. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/5472030609512325/?cms_platform=android&helpref=platform_switcher
      5. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/5472030609512325/?cms_platform=android&helpref=platform_switcher
      6. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/9423168?hl=en

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open WhatsApp Messenger.
      2. Tap the CHATS tab.
      3. Tap the New Chat button.
      4. Tap the three vertical dots icon.
      5. Tap Refresh .

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