2 Easy Ways to Back Up Contacts on an Android

Back up your contacts easily in case of an emergency

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

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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:

1
Open your Android's Settings
. 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.
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.
This is usually near the top of the menu.
You'll be directed to a page with a toggle. If it's already on, skip this and the next step.
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:

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.
It's a tab in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen with the icon of a wrench.
You'll see this tile next to an arrow pointing up.
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.
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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