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A quick guide to adding new contacts in Gmail on your computer or mobile device
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Gmail automatically remembers users when you send them an email, but you can add contacts manually using the Google Contacts website or with the app (Android). Alternatively, if you're using Gmail on the web, you can add contacts from an email with a few simple clicks. This wikiHow will show you how to add someone to your contacts list in Gmail and sync your contacts using your computer, iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
Things You Should Know
- Sign into the Google Contacts website and click "+" and then "Create a contact".
- Enter the person's contact information (or only their email address) and click "Save".
- On desktop, open an email from the contact you want to save. Hover over their name and click the "Add contact" icon.
Steps
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Go to https://contacts.google.com in a web browser. You can do this in any web browser on your computer, phone, or tablet. If you have an Android, you can opt to use the Google Contacts app instead of your web browser, which has a blue icon containing a white outline of a person. [1] X Research source
- Some Androids come with a different Contacts app. To make sure you're using the right app, open the Play Store, search for "Google Contacts," and tap Install on the Contacts app by Google. If the app is already installed, great!
- If you're not already signed in, you'll be prompted to do so before you can continue.
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Click or tap the + . It's the plus sign at the bottom-right corner on a phone or tablet, or + Create contact at the top-left corner on a computer.
- If you're using an Android, this should automatically open the "Create new contact" window.
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Click or tap Create a contact (computer and iPhone/iPad only). This opens the "Create new contact" window. If you have an Android, skip to the next step.
- You can also import contacts into Gmail from another email service (e.g., Yahoo).
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Enter the person's contact information. Enter their first name, last name, phone number, and email address in each appropriate field, though they might be pre-filled if that contact's Gmail information is correct.
- Click or tap See more to expand more options, such as the option for phonetic spellings, nicknames, addresses, and more.
- Feel free to leave anything blank. For example, if you just want to enter an email address for a contact, there's no need to enter a phone number or anything else.
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Click or tap Save . You can find this on the right side of the new contact header. This saves your new contact to your Gmail contact list .
- If you delete any contacts accidentally, you can always restore them .
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Go to https://mail.google.com/ in your web browser. This will open your Gmail inbox if you're already signed into your Google account in your web browser. If you're not signed in , follow the on-screen instructions to do so now.
- You can only do this using Gmail.com on a computer—it's not possible in the Gmail mobile app.
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Click an email from the person you want to add. The contents of the message will appear.
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Hover your mouse over the person's name. It's at the top of the message. After a few moments, a small pop-up window will appear.
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Click the "Add Contact" icon. It's the outline of a person with a plus symbol at the top-right corner of the right panel. This immediately adds the sender to your Gmail contacts.
- If you see a pencil icon instead, the person is already in your contacts list. You can click this icon to manage and edit your contacts .
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Open the Settings. Click the Start menu, and then click the cog icon to open Settings .
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Click Accounts . This will be next to a person icon.
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Click Email & accounts . You can find this on the left sidebar.
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Click Add an account . A new window will open.
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Click Google . You may need to scroll down to find this option.
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Sign into Google. Enter your username and password to log into your Google account.
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Click Allow . You must allow the proper permissions to sync your account.
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Click Done . Your contacts will be synced.
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Open System Settings. Click the Apple menu, and then click System Settings . On Mac Monterey and older, this will be System Preferences . [2] X Research source
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Click Internet Accounts . You can find this in the left sidebar.
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Click Add Account . This will be on the bottom-right.
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Click Google . A new window will open.
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Sign into Google. Enter your username and password to log into your Google account.
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Check the box for "Contacts". This will ensure your Google contacts sync to your device.
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Click Done . Your contacts will be synced.
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Open the Settings app. This is the grey cog icon. Make sure to update your iOS .
- Use this method to sync your Google Contacts with your iPhone or iPad. [3] X Research source
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Tap Contacts . You can find this towards the middle of the page.
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Tap Accounts . A new page will open. If you don't have any accounts currently synced to your device, skip this step.
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Tap Add Account . This will open a new page.
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Log into your Google account. You'll need to enter your email address and password to log in.
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Toggle on "Contacts". This will allow your phone to sync your Google Contacts with your device and vice versa.
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Tap Save . This will apply your changes.
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Open the Contacts app. You can find this on your home screen or in the App Library.
- When you launch the Contacts app, your contacts will start syncing.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionI received an email from someone. I want to reply to that person and also add another person to the response so that the different contact can view the entire conversation. How do I perform this task?Community AnswerWhen you click reply, at the top where it says "To:" add the new person's email. Then when you send the email to the person that sent it to you, it should also send to the other person as well with the whole conversation.
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QuestionHow can I delete a contact?Community AnswerLog into your Gmail account. In the top left corner, click Gmail > Contacts. Find the contact you wish to delete. Click the three dots to the far right of the contact to be deleted, then click delete.
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QuestionWhat if I click "Add New Contact" but there's no response?Community AnswerAt the top left, click Gmail > Contacts, then click More > Export. Choose whether to export all contacts or only one group. Select the format in which you'd like to export your contacts' information. To transfer contacts between Google Accounts, use the Google CSV format. This is the recommended way to back up your Google Contacts.
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Tips
- If you don’t want Gmail to automatically save contacts when you write to people, go to https://mail.google.com/mail#settings/general in a web browser, scroll down to "Create contacts for autocomplete," and select I'll add contacts myself .Thanks
- If you send someone a message in Gmail, the contact will be saved automatically. Contacts are also saved automatically when you interact with people using other Google products, such as sharing a file in Google Drive or a photo in Google Photos.Thanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about gmail contacts, check out our in-depth interview with Tyrone Showers .
References
About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Go to https://contacts.google.com
.
2. Click or tap the plus sign.
3. Select Create a contact
if your're using a computer, iPhone, or iPad.
4. Enter the contact information.
5. Click or tap Save
.
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,320,453 times.
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