2 Easy Ways to Back Up Contacts on an Android

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Back up your contacts easily in case of an emergency

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: October 16, 2024 Fact Checked

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Backing Up to a Google Account

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Exporting to VCF

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

This wikiHow guide teaches you how to back up your Android contacts to a Google account or a VCF file.

Things You Should Know

You can back up Android contacts to your Google account in Settings > Google > Settings for Google Apps > Google Contacts Sync.
You can also back up contacts to a VCF file by exporting them from the Contacts app.
Once you create a VCF file for exported contacts, you can save the file to an SD card, a folder on your phone, or your Google Drive.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Backing Up to a Google Account

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1
Open your Android's Settings

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. You'll usually find it in the app drawer or the notification tray.
- This method will help you back up all your Android data, including your contacts, to your Google account.
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You might need to scroll down to see this next to a "G" icon. ^{[1]
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Scroll down to find this option near the bottom of the "Services on this device" section.
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This is usually near the top of the menu.
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You'll be directed to a page with a toggle. If it's already on, skip this and the next step.
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6
Tap the switch next to "Automatically back up & sync device contacts" to toggle it on. If the switch is already colored and pointing to the right, the feature is enabled. Once it's enabled, you're done!
- If you toggle the switch on, you can tap the "Backup account" listed to change your Google account. ^{[2]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Exporting to VCF

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1
Open the Contacts app. If you're using the default Contacts app on most Androids, look for a blue and white icon with an address book or peoples' heads.
- Use this method to save your contacts as a VCF file that you can access anywhere and not inside a backup.
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It's a tab in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen with the icon of a wrench.
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You'll see this tile next to an arrow pointing up.
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4
Select the accounts to export (if your phone has multiple accounts). You'll see this if you have a Samsung phone, for example, and have both a Google and Samsung account added.
- Tap one to select it.
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5
Tap Export . It's in the bottom right corner of your screen and will prompt you to choose where to save the .VCF.
- Save the exported contacts file to an SD card by tapping the three-line menu and selecting the SD card from the menu. Alternatively, you can select your Google Drive or anywhere in your phone's internal storage.
- When you're done choosing where to save the file, tap Save . ^{[3]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Does export to a SIM card mean you are exporting to an SD card? Where does Export to .vcf file put the information?

Darlene Antonelli, MA
wikiHow Technology Writer
Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities.

Darlene Antonelli, MA

wikiHow Technology Writer

Expert Answer

By default, the file saves to your Downloads folder in Internal Storage. You can, however, choose to save the VCF on an SD card (if you have one) or in a different location on your phone, or in your Google Drive.

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Once you back up or export your contacts , you can import them in different apps, like WhatsApp .

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You can also restore deleted contacts as long as they are backed up or synced with Google .

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2 Easy Ways to Back Up Contacts on an Android

Things You Should Know

Steps

Backing Up to a Google Account

Exporting to VCF

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

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References

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