How do I sync Gmail contacts by adding my Google account?
- Open Settings.
- Go to your Contacts accounts setting. On current iOS this is Apps > Contacts > Contacts Accounts. On older iOS versions, the same setting is at Settings > Contacts > Accounts, or further back, Settings > [your name] > Contacts. If none of these labels match what you see, use the search bar at the top of the Settings app and type "Contacts."
- Tap Add Account, then select Google from the list of account types.
- Sign in with your Gmail address and password, and allow the permissions it asks for.
- Make sure the Contacts toggle is switched on for that Google account.
Once this is set up, your Gmail contacts appear in the iPhone's Contacts app, and stay synced going forward, so a contact you add on either your phone or in Gmail shows up on both.
Is there a one-time import option instead of ongoing syncing?
Yes, if you'd rather not keep an active connection between your Google account and iPhone:
- On a computer, open Google Contacts and use its export option to download your contacts as a vCard (.vcf) file.
- Go to iCloud.com on a browser and sign in with your Apple Account.
- Open Contacts, and use the import option (usually found via the settings gear icon in the bottom-left) to upload the vCard file.
- The imported contacts are added to your iCloud account, which then syncs down to your iPhone automatically if iCloud Contacts syncing is turned on.
This copies the contacts over as a one-time transfer, rather than keeping your Gmail and iPhone contacts continuously linked.
What if my Gmail contacts don't appear after adding the account?
- Double-check the Contacts toggle is actually switched on for the Google account, it's a separate toggle from Mail or Calendar, and it's possible to add the account without turning Contacts on.
- Give it a few minutes. A large contact list can take a short while to sync fully, especially over a slower connection.
- Confirm you're signed into the correct Google account, if you use more than one Gmail address, it's easy to add the wrong one by mistake.
- Toggle Contacts off and back on for that account, which often forces a fresh sync if it appears stuck.
People also ask
Why can't I find Settings > Contacts on my iPhone?
Apple has moved this setting across iOS versions, it now commonly sits under Settings > Apps > Contacts > Contacts Accounts. If your iPhone shows a different layout, the Settings app's built-in search bar will find it regardless of the exact path for your iOS version.
Will importing Gmail contacts overwrite my existing iPhone contacts?
No, importing or syncing adds contacts alongside your existing ones. It doesn't delete or overwrite contacts already on your iPhone, though you may end up with duplicate entries for the same person if they existed in both places already.
How do I remove Gmail contacts from my iPhone later if I change my mind?
Go back to the same Contacts Accounts settings, select the Google account, and turn off the Contacts toggle, or remove the account entirely. You'll usually be asked whether to keep or delete the contacts that came from that account.