How to Import Contacts from Excel to an Android Phone

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

If your contacts are stored in an Excel CSV file, it's easy to import them into your Android. The trick is to make sure your CSV file is formatted using Google's standard formatting, which ensures that the name, address, phone number, and other fields import correct. This wikiHow article will walk you through formatting a CSV file properly for your Android and show you how to import the file using Google Contacts.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Creating a Contact Sheet in Excel

PDF download Download Article
  1. Navigate to https://contacts.google.com in a web browser. This is the website where you can manage your contacts over the internet. Here you can import and export contact sheets that can be used in Excel .
  2. If you are not signed in to Google, click Sign In in the upper-right corner and sign in using the email address and password associated with the Google account you use on your Android phone. [1]
    • If you are signed in to a different account, click your profile icon in the upper-right corner and click Add another account . Then sign in to the Google account you use with your Android smartphone. Click the profile icon in the upper-right corner and click whichever account you want to sign in to.
    Advertisement
  3. It doesn't matter which contact you click, as you can use any one of them to create a CSV file for Excel. [2]
  4. It's the button with three vertical dots. It's below the contact's name at the top and to the left of the blue "Edit" button. This displays a pop-up menu. [3]
  5. It's the second option in the pop-up menu. It's next to an icon that resembles a cloud with an arrow pointing down. [4]
  6. Click the radio option next to "Google CSV". It's the first option in the menu. Then click Export in the lower-right corner of the pop-up. This exports the contact as a CSV file in Google's format. [5]
  7. Open the CSV file in Excel. By default, downloaded files can be found in your Downloads folder. If Excel is your default spreadsheet application, you can simply double-click the file to open it in Excel. If this does not open the file in Excel, right-click the file, hover over Open with, and then click Excel . [6]
  8. The first row at the top contains all the labels. Enter all the correct information in the column below the label at the top. Contact names go in the "A" column. Contact phone numbers go in the "AE" column. You can enter any other information you have below the correct label at the top, or leave them blank.
    • If you don't want to keep the original contact info that you exported from Google Contacts, you can delete it.
    • If you have a list of contacts from another Excel spreadsheet, you can copy and paste them into the correct column in the Google CSV document.
  9. Once you have entered all the contact information you want to import to your Android device, click the icon that resembles a floppy disk in the upper-left corner. This saves the CSV file that can be imported into Google and used by your Android. [7]
    • Alternatively, you can click File in the upper-left corner, followed by Save as . Then enter a name for the CSV file and click Save .
  10. Excel asks if you want to keep the file in CSV format and warns that you may lose some information in this format. Click Yes to continue.
    11. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Importing a CSV File into Google

PDF download Download Article
  1. Navigate to https://contacts.google.com/ in a web browser. This is the website where you can manage your contacts over the internet. Here you can import and export contact sheets.
  2. If you are not signed in to Google, click Sign In in the upper-right corner and sign in using the email address and password associated with the Google account you use on your Android phone. [8]
    • If you are signed in to a different account, click your profile icon in the upper-right corner and click Add another account . Then sign in to the Google account you use with your Android smartphone.
  3. It's in the menu to the left side. It's next to an icon that resembles a tray with an arrow pointing up. [9]
  4. It's the blue button in the pop-up that appears when you click "Import." [10]
  5. Navigate to the Google CSV file that you made in Excel. Double-click the file to select it and then click Open in the lower-right corner. [11]
  6. This imports all the contacts from the CSV file into your Google account. You should see your contacts start to populate momentarily. [12]
    7. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Syncing Your Contacts with Your Android

PDF download Download Article
  1. To do so, swipe down from the top of the screen to display the Quick Access menu. Then tap the icon that resembles a gear in the upper-right corner. [13]
    • Alternatively, you can tap the icon that resembles a gear in the Apps menu.
  2. This displays all accounts you are signed into on your Android device. It's on the main menu of most stock Android devices. Depending on your phone's make and model, this may be found under "Accounts and backup" or "Users and Accounts" or something similar. [14]
  3. It'll be listed by email address. It has an icon that resembles a green, red, yellow, and blue "G" next to it.
  4. It's the second option in the account menu.
  5. Scroll through the list of items in the Sync Account menu. Make sure the toggle switch next to "Contacts" is turned on.
  6. It's the icon with three vertical dots in the upper-right corner. This displays the More menu.
  7. This syncs your Google account with your Android phone and imports all your new contacts into your Android phone.
    • If you don't see "Sync Now" in the More menu, you may have Auto-sync turned on, and a sync may already be in progress.
    8. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How to send Whatsapp message without saving contacts?
    ajeesh sj
    Community Answer
    There are some third party applications which help to do this. Another way is through the dialpad - from the options - send message - Whatsapp.
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 20 Helpful 44
  • Question
    How to import contacts from a CSV, Excel, or vCard file?
    benjamin joins
    Community Answer
    Softaken Excel to VCF Converter program is a powerful tool for converting Excel contacts to vCard files. From an Excel spreadsheet, the program extracts both official and commercial contacts and stores them in VCF/vCard format. Overall, the utility has a great deal of control in terms of allowing a customer to strengthen a business relationship. The package also has many features for converting Excel spreadsheet contacts to vCard or VCF format.
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Uploading a CSV file to your Google Contacts page will synchronize the contacts with any items using that Google Account, including your Android. You shouldn't have to import contacts directly from a file to your Android unless you want to store the contacts on your phone itself.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1


      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      Download APKs from Google Play: A Step-by-Step Guide
      How to
      Install APK Files on Android
      How to
      Know Chat ID on Telegram on Android
      How to
      Hide Apps on Android
      Downloading and Installing WhatsApp to Your Android Device
      A Complete Guide to Lucky Patcher for Android
      How to
      Update Whatsapp on Android
      How to
      Check What Apps You Have Installed on Android
      How to
      Set up and Use an IR Blaster on Android
      How to
      Download Android Apps: The Complete Beginner's Guide
      How To View Who Is Connected to Your Hotspot on Android
      Saving Photos on Telegram on Android + Fixes
      How To Install APK Files from a PC on Android
      How to
      Leave a Group Text on Android
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/12849458?hl=en
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/7199294
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/7199294
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/7199294
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/7199294
      6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/import-or-export-text-txt-or-csv-files-5250ac4c-663c-47ce-937b-339e391393ba
      7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/import-or-export-text-txt-or-csv-files-5250ac4c-663c-47ce-937b-339e391393ba
      8. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/12849458?hl=en
      9. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/1069522
      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/1069522
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/1069522
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/1069522
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/7199294?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/7199294?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Log in to https://contacts.google.com/ and click a contact.
      2. Click the icon with three dots (â‹®) below the contact's name and click Export .
      3. Export the file as a "Google CSV" file.
      4. Open the Google CSV file in Excel and enter all your contact information in the correct column.
      5. Save the file as a CSV file.
      7. Log back in to https://contacts.google.com/ and click Import in the menu to the left.
      8. Import the CSV file you saved from Excel.
      9. Sync your Google account in the Settings menu on your Android phone.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 764,261 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Mrinal HL

        Jan 5, 2023

        "This worked like a charm, thanks a ton. Just took couple of minutes and worked exactly like explained. Fantastic!"
        Rated this article:
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement