We all know how important contacts are on our devices. And, to keep these contacts safe many Android users use Google Contacts. Syncing the Android phone contacts with Google Account is an excellent idea.
Doing this makes sure that all of our contacts are protected even though the phone has any issues. But sometimes, users face difficulties while syncing the Google contacts with their Android device. If you are also one of these users, then you must be thinking about how to fix this issue.
Well, you don’t need to think much as I am going to give you some of the best ways that can fix the Google contacts not syncing on Android issue. But, before applying the given fixes take a quick look at the reasons behind this problem.
Why Google Contacts App is Not Syncing on Android Phones?
There could be various reasons why the Google Contacts app is not synchronizing on Android devices. However, after going through several discussions and forums I have come up with these most common reasons that often cause this issue on Android:
- If your internet connection is weak or unstable.
- When the Data Saver feature is enabled on the Android device.
- If the Google Contacts app is outdated or has an error.
- When the Android sync option is disabled.
- If the Gmail auto-sync option is disabled on your phone.
- Gmail cache files are corrupted.
How to Fix Google Contacts Not Syncing on Android?
- Best Solution to Fix Google Contacts Not Syncing Issue on Android
- Restart Your Phone
- Check Your Internet Connection
- Disable Power Saver Mode
- Disable Data Saver
- Enable Android Sync Option
- Enable Google Contacts Sync
- Check Date and Time
- Clean Google Contacts App Cache
- Disable & Re-Enable Google Contacts
- Enable Background Data Usage
- Update Google Contacts
- Remove the Special Characters
- Check Google Storage
- Reset the App Preferences
- Uninstall and Reinstall Google Contacts
- Remove & Add Google Account
Solution 1: Best Solution to Fix Google Contacts Not Syncing Issue on Android
If you experiencing any error or issue on your Android phone/tablet and are unable to fix it, then here is an easy and best solution for you. Try the Android Repair tool.
It is a repairing tool that will help you to fix a wide range of Android errors and issues. With the help of this professional repair tool, you can fix Android errors, such as being stuck on a boot loop, a black screen of death, apps keep crashing, and several other issues.
To use this tool you don’t require any technical skills. The Android Repair tool can be accessed easily without any hassle.
Note: It is recommended to download and use the software on your PC or laptop only.
Solution 2: Restart Your Phone
Before trying out any advanced or technical solution, I would recommend you restart your Android phone once. Restarting the device often fixes most of the Android errors and issues.
Hence, first, do this and then check if it is fixed the Google Contacts cannot synchronize on Android issue.
Solution 3: Check Your Internet Connection
Syncing issues are often caused due to the poor internet connection. So, if you have made any changes to your contacts and are not reflected in the Google Contacts, it means it is not syncing properly. It might be happening because of your internet connection.
So, check if your internet is working fine. To resolve the internet connection, turn on and then turn off the airplane mode and mobile data or Wi-Fi.
Solution 4: Disable Power Saver Mode
Another reason for Google Contacts not syncing with Android is power saver mode. If you have enabled the battery saver mode on your Android phone, it may cause issues while syncing the data.
So, to fix this issue, you need to turn off the battery saver mode on your Android phone. For this, drag the notification panel > go to the Battery Saver icon > tap on it to disable the option.
Now, check if doing this fixed the Google Contacts syncing issue on Android or not.
Solution 5: Disable Data Saver
Android phones come with an inbuilt data saving mode. This feature helps in cutting down the data consumption. But it is always useful when it comes to background data usage by apps as this feature restricts using the mobile data for apps running in the background.
So, if you have also enabled this option on your Android phone and also facing the syncing issue with Google Contacts, then disable it to fix the problem.
To turn off the data saver mode, go to the Settings > tap on the Network and Internet > Data Usage > disable Data Saver.
Solution 6: Enable Android Sync Option
Next, you need to check whether the Android sync option is enabled on your phone or not. If it is not, then first enable it. Or, if it is already enabled, then disable and enable it again.
To enable it, follow these steps:
- Launch your phone Settings.
- Tap on the Accounts & Sync option.
- Now, press the toggle button to enable the Auto-sync data.
- Close the Settings.
Now, check if it resolves the Google Contacts not syncing on the Android issue or not. If not, then follow the next solution.
Solution 7: Enable Google Contacts Sync
One of the reasons Google contacts can not synchronize on the Android phone is Google Contacts synchronization is not enabled. In this case, you must enable the Google Contacts synchronization. To do this, you may follow these instructions:
- Open the phone Settings.
- Go to the Accounts & sync option.
- Tap on Google and select your account.
- Now, check if Google Contacts is selected or not. If not, then select or check Google Contacts.
Solution 8: Check Date & Time
Another possible reason that may cause the Google Contacts cannot synchronize issue on Android is the wrong date & time on the device. So, if this is the case with you, then you need to correct the date and time on your device.
Even Google suggests you do the same whenever such an issue happens on the phone. For this, you need to do the following:
- Open the phone’s Settings.
- Go to the Date and Time.
- Disable the Automatic date & time and Automatic time zone.
- Now, change the date and time and enter the wrong value.
- Close the Settings.
- Now, again open the Date and Time.
- Set the correct date & time.
- Finally, enable Automatic date & time and Automatic time zone.
Solution 9: Clean Google Contacts App Cache
The next solution to overcome Google Contacts not syncing on Android is to clean the cache and data of the Google Contacts app.
Clearing the app data and cache has been proven beneficial for resolving the syncing issues on Android as the app full of cache disrupts some of the application functions.
To clear the cache follow the below-given steps:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Tap on the Apps or App Manager.
- Select the Contacts from the app list.
- Go to the Storage.
- Tap on the Clear Cache and Clear Data button.
- Restart your phone.
Solution 10: Disable & Re-Enable Google Contacts
If your contacts are already synced with the Google account but still facing the Google Contacts cannot synchronize on Android, you may try to disable and re-enable the sync option.
Here is how can you do that:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Go to the Accounts.
- Tap on the Google.
- Now, disable the Contacts sync option and re-enable it after a few seconds.
Solution 11: Enable Background Data Usage
Have you turned off the background data usage for the contacts app? If so, then it won’t let the contacts synced with the Google account.
Hence, to resolve this problem, you must enable the background data usage for the Google Contacts app. To do this, follow these steps:
- Go to the Settings of your Android phone.
- Tap on the Apps option.
- Next, go to Google Contacts.
- Tap on the Data Usage.
- Enable the Mobile data, Wi-Fi, and Background data.
Solution 12: Update Google Contacts
Google Contacts is the default contact app on the Android phone. However, being a default doesn’t mean it will be updated on its own. So, if your Google Contacts app is not updated, then you must update it to avoid any problem while using it in the future.
To update the Google Contacts app on your Android phone, you can follow these steps:
- Open Google Play Store.
- Tap on the Profile icon at the top-right corner.
- Select the Manage apps and device option.
- Go to the Updates available.
- See if there is Google Contacts app showing in the list.
- If it is there, then tap on the Update button given next to Google Contacts.
- Wait until the update is completed.
- Finally, restart your phone and check if the issue is resolved or not.
Solution 13: Remove the Special Characters
If you have saved any contacts with the special characters in the name, then it may cause a syncing issue. So, check whether there is any saved contact with the name having special characters.
Simply, go through the contacts list and check each name. If you found any special character in the name, then edit that particular contact or delete it and re-add it again without adding any special character.
Solution 14: Check Google Storage
Just like the phone’s storage space, Google Contacts also comes with limited storage. Google allows you to save 25,000 contacts per account along with the 20 MB space to save the image for those contacts.
So, if you have exceeded the limit of Google Contacts storage space, then you won’t be able to add any more contacts on the Google Contacts cloud storage and will also create issues in sync. In this case, you need to check if you have completed the limit of space.
If yes, then you must remove some of the unwanted contacts in order to add more contacts and fix the Google Contacts syncing issue.
Solution 15: Reset the App Preferences
Different apps have different preferences on the Android phone. So, if any other app’s preference is interfering with the functionality of Google Contacts, then you should reset the app preferences.
Android comes with a feature that allows you to reset all the settings of your phone including the app preferences. Doing this will not only resolve the Google Contacts unable to sync issue on Android but may also fix other app functionality problems.
To do this, you need to follow this procedure:
- Open Settings on the Android phone.
- Tap on the System.
- Go to the Reset options.
- Tap on the Reset app preferences.
If you are worried that doing this will remove the files on your phone, then don’t worry as it won’t delete any data but just take your phone to the default settings.
Solution 16: Uninstall and Reinstall Google Contacts
Sometimes, sync issues happen due to errors in the application. So, if none of the above-listed solutions fix the Google Contacts not syncing on Android problem, then uninstall and reinstall the app.
Doing this will bring back your app to normal and may Google Contacts app start synchronizing.
- Open Google Play Store on your phone.
- Search for the Google Contacts app.
- Now you will see an option to uninstall the app. Tap on the Uninstall button.
- Once the app is uninstalled, tap on the Install button to reinstall the app.
- Now, check if the app is showing the contacts from your account.
If everything is ok till now, then the Google Contacts synchronization process should be carried out normally.
Solution 17: Remove & Add Google Account
If none of the solutions helped in resolving the Google contacts can’t sync issue on the Android phone, then here is the last option for you. Just remove and add your Google account on the phone again. To do this, you need to do the following:
- Go to the phone Settings.
- Then, tap on the Accounts > Google.
- Select your Google Account.
- Tap on the Remove button.
- Now, a box will appear. Here, confirm your action.
- Once the account is removed, re-add and turn on the Google Contacts sync.
Conclusion
Indeed, Google Contacts synchronization is the best way to keep your contacts safe. However, users often run into issues while syncing the app on Android, and Google Contacts cannot synchronize is one such issue.
So, these are the top effective ways to overcome the Google Contacts not syncing on Android issue. After following all the fixes, you should now be able to sync Google Contacts on your Android device.
If you have any other solution to this issue or any queries, then you can drop comments or a few lines regarding this to us on Facebook or Twitter.
James Leak is a technology expert and lives in New York. Previously, he was working on Symbian OS and was trying to solve many issues related to it. From childhood, he was very much interested in technology field and loves to write blogs related to Android and other OS. So he maintained that and currently, James is working for androiddata-recovery.com where he contribute several articles about errors/issues or data loss situation related to Android. He keeps daily updates on news or rumors or what is happening in this new technology world. Apart from blogging, he loves to travel, play games and reading books.