How to clean up your Google Contacts (and why you should)

I’ve been using Android phones for over a decade. During that time I’ve switched devices, changed manufacturers, and accidentally imported multiple copies of my contacts. 

As you can imagine, those contacts became a mess. Not only did I have multiple entries, but I also had contacts with little or no personal information (even missing phone numbers and email addresses). Even so, every new Android device I used imported that wonky list of contacts, eventually creating a beautiful mess for me to deal with.

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Imagine how much of a challenge it would be to go through each of those contacts manually. I don’t have the time or patience for that. 

Fortunately, as you probably expect, Google has a tool for that and it’s built right into the Contacts app on your phone. With this tool, you can:

• Fix and merge.
• Restore.
• Import from SIM or file.
• Export to file.
• Create emergency contacts.
• Create a family group.
• Manage blocked numbers.

In my case, it was all about the fix and merge. This feature can merge multiple instances of contacts and even automatically add new details Google has discovered about your contacts. That second feature comes in very handy when you’ve failed to create a complete contact card for someone (which we’ve all done).

The first time I used this tool, it discovered I had numerous multiple instances of quite a few contacts. This caused me problems when I would go to reach out to a person and find there was more than one entry. It would also throw off Google Assistant when I would say, “Hey, Google, Call Nathan Gage.” With three or four entries for that contact, Google would have to ask me which one to call.

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On top of all that, those multiple entries expanded the size of my contacts file, which is never good on a mobile device, where storage space is always at a prime. It’s not that a Contacts file would take up much space, but when every kilobyte counts, you don’t want storage to be taken up by unnecessary data. 

So, how do you use the built-in Merge & fix feature? Let me show you.

How to use the Merge & fix feature

What you’ll need: The only thing you’ll need is the Google Contacts app installed on your mobile device. I’ll demonstrate on a Pixel 6 Pro, so if you’re using a different device, the instructions may slightly differ.

In my case, I’ll tap Keep contacts up to date. Google Contacts will list each contact that has new information to add. I can either accept each suggestion individually or tap Accept all.

Tap the next suggestion (in my case it’s to add new contacts that I frequently email), and walk through the suggestion. 

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The difference between Keep contacts up to date and Add new contacts is that Add new contacts doesn’t have an Accept all option, so you have to add them one by one by tapping Add contact for each card.

If Google Contacts offers more Merge & fix solutions, continue going through them until everything is merged and fixed.

I highly recommend you go through this process every time you migrate to a new phone or at least once a year. Those contacts build up, multiply, and can get seriously out of hand. When you’re trying to streamline your life, you do not want a jumbled mess of a contact list. Keep that list in check and it’ll be considerably easier to use.