Open the Windows 10 Mail app and follow the steps to create a new iCloud account. Instead of using your Apple ID password, use the new app-specific password. Import Gmail contacts to iCloud with a drag-and-drop Click Add Account in the toolbar. Select Google and sign in to it. Make sure the box next to Contacts is selected. Click plus the plus icon in the corner. Select iCloud and sign in to it with your Apple ID and password. ICloud – Contacts, Calendar and Tasks. Synching your iCloud Contacts, Calendar and Tasks folder with Outlook is only possible when you install the iCloud Control Panel application which also install an Outlook add-in. In the iCloud Control Panel, you can then select the option to sync Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and Tasks with Outlook.
When you are using an Android phone, one prefers using Google Contacts to store and manage contacts. But when it comes to the iPhone, users are confused between iCloud Contacts and Google Contacts. If you are also wondering where to save contacts on your iPhone – iCloud or Google? You will find the answer in this post.
You can pick one of the option when you start using your new iPhone. Of course, you can always switch to another service later. But why would you want to take the risk and headache of merging or losing contacts?
We will help you figure out which one should you pick between iCloud Contacts and Google Contacts. Let’s get started.
Required Cloud Account
Typically, when you save a contact on your iPhone, it gets saved on your iPhone’s storage. Now you can either enable iCloud Contacts or use other services such as Google Contacts to sync contacts.
iCloud Contacts is a service attached to iCloud storagethat uses Apple ID. When you add an Apple ID on your iPhone, iCloud is activated automatically. It’s a default cloud service on Apple devices. You can enable/disable various services like photos, notes, reminders, calendar, etc. Contacts are also one such service. When iCloud Contacts is enabled, contacts from your iPhone sync to your iCloud account. You'll be glad to know that iCloud Contacts works without adding any additional account or app to your iPhone.
On the contrary, Google Contacts, as is obvious, is a service from Google. You need to sign in with your Google account on your iPhone to use Google Contacts.
Availability
You can access iCloud contacts primarily on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, and Mac). And on the web version of iCloud that can be accessed from a Windows PC as well.
You can use Google Contacts on iPhone, iPad, web, and Android phones without any issue. Basically, you can access Google Contacts from other phone, computer or tablet by connecting your Google account and without using any workaround.
Tip: Check out how to view Apple Notes on Android.Also on Guiding Tech
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Read MoreSync Contacts
Once you have added respective accounts for iCloud or Google on your iPhone, each service's existing contacts will sync with the ones on your iPhone.
Any changes you make to contact on iPhone or other devices will immediately reflect on other connected devices. Basically, the sync process works in the same manner for both iCloud and Google. You don't need to worry on that front.
The only difference is that by default, the existing and any new iPhone contacts will sync to iCloud. You will need to manually change the default storage location of new contacts, as shown at the end of the post.
Special App
Whether you save contacts on iCloud or Google, those can be accessed using the same app on iPhone, i.e., Apple Contacts app. Google doesn’t offer a dedicated contacts app for iPhone as available on Android.
Organize Contacts
When the contacts are saved on either service, you might wonder what features you would get. Let's begin with the organization.
On both services, you can organize your contacts into categories. With iCloud Contacts, you get the Groups and on Google Contacts, you have Labels.
Import/Export Contacts
Fortunately, both make it easy to add new contacts in bulk using the Import feature. Similarly, you can export all your contacts with Export. The feature is available on the web version of both services and cannot be used on the iPhone directly.
Find and Merge Contacts
Over time, you save duplicate copies of various contacts. Instead of finding duplicate contacts manually, you would prefer a feature that would find duplicate contacts automatically.
Fortunately, one of Google Contacts' interesting capabilities is to look for duplicate contacts and merge them. You can perform this action using the web version of Google Contact (on mobile and PC both) and through the Google Contacts app on Android phones.
On the other hand, only Mac supports finding duplicate contacts in iCloud (Go to Card > Look for Duplicates in Contacts app). Otherwise, you will either have to find them manually or take the help of third-party apps such as Cleaner.
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#contacts
Click here to see our contacts articles pageRestore Deleted Contacts
In case you accidentally delete a contact from either service that you intend to use, you can restore it on both services.
You will have to use the Account settings section on the iCloud web to restore Apple contacts. We have done a detailed guide on how to restore deleted contacts from Google Contacts.
Where to Save Contacts on iPhone
The answer depends on your need and preferences. Meaning, if you are using Apple devices only, then you should continue staying with iCloud Contacts. You should also move your existing Gmail contacts to iCloud. In case you decide to move to Android or Google Contacts in the future, you can always do so.
But if you own an Android phone or keep switching between Android and iPhone regularly, then Google Contacts is a better choice. Moreover, if you use lots of Google services, you should opt for Google Contacts.
However, there is no hard and fast rule. You can use either, both, or none of the services. Your user experience will be the same whether you use Google Contacts or iCloud Contacts. When both services are enabled, existing contacts from both services will sync to your iPhone. However, you will have to decide where you want to save new contacts, as shown below.
Tip: Change Default Contacts Account on iPhone
For that, open Settings on your iPhone and go to Contacts. Tap on Default account. Select Gmail or iCloud. The iOS will use selected account to save new contacts. Nothing will happen to the existing contacts.
Also on Guiding Tech
13 Best Google Contacts Tips and Tricks That You Should Know
Read MoreThe Right Choice
If you decide to stay with iCloud Contacts, you don’t need to move your existing iPhone contacts. They will automatically sync to iCloud. But if you want to use Google Contacts, change the default storage location of new contacts as shown above. Then move your existing iCloud Contacts to Google Contacts. You can use both services to keep contacts in sync between iPhone and iPhone as well.
Next up:If you are keen on using Google services instead of Apple, you might want to sign out of Apple ID. Find out what happens when you log out of Apple ID on your iPhone or iPad from the next article link.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
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Keep Apple devices in sync
Many people have several email addresses across disparate email providers, all of which keep track of their contacts. Google Contacts, for example, is a standalone service which only tracks people you’ve contacted via Gmail, when using an Android phone, or if you’ve synced it to your iOS device.
Apple keeps your contacts within its standalone “Contacts” app. Both entities are siloed vaults for contacts, and it can be confusing when your contacts aren’t synced to the devices you use most often. If you deleted a contact in Google Contacts, it’s also smart to have all your contacts synced to another service and to backup your device often so you never lose any data.
Here, we’ll tell you how to sync Google Contacts to iPhone, if there’s a Google Contacts for iPhone app, how to import contacts from Google to iPhone manually, and why it’s important to have your Google contacts on iPhone.
Reasons to transfer your Google contacts to iPhone
Many people use Gmail as their default email provider and can’t see a reason to export Google contacts to iPhone. It’s a fair position, but these are a few reasons importing Google contacts to iPhone is a great idea:
- You have one place for all contacts. Gmail for personal use, iCloud for your Apple devices, Outlook for work – all the unique email providers log your contacts in distinct vaults. Having one place all your contacts live is smart.
- Services often don’t sync. You may be emailing someone new fairly often, then go to text them and find they’re not in your contacts list. That’s because services often don’t sync contacts automatically. Routine backups and syncing are the right moves to make.
- You can merge contact info. When you sync your Google contacts to iPhone, there’s an option to merge contacts. Someone may have emailed from a Gmail address, but you’ve got their Outlook and phone number in another contact. After you import, you can simply merge the two profiles.
- Google makes changes (often). Google once kept your contacts in Gmail, then moved them to the standalone Google Contacts service. There were no widespread reports of contacts being deleted with this transfer, but Google likes to shift ground beneath you. It’s better to sync your Google information to iCloud and back it all up.
- You don’t want to use Gmail anymore. People often switch email providers. Many also want to break free of Google due to privacy concerns. After syncing your contacts, you’re free to email people from an iCloud or other email address with the same ease of using Gmail.
- iCloud supports ‘Push’ syncing on iPhone. For syncing contacts and data, Apple forces Gmail and other services to use a ‘Fetch’ protocol to get new data. This means your data is synced less frequently, which can cause contacts to not sync properly, or when you need them.
How to sync Google contacts to an iPhone
You can sync Google contacts to iOS without ever touching your iPhone! Syncing iCloud to all of your Apple devices will keep your iCloud contact data on each of your devices. This means you can grab Google contacts from the web and download them to your Mac. Here’s how:
- Go to google.com
- Sign into Google if necessary
- Open the Google Contacts app from the nine-dot menu on the top right of the page
- From the Google Contacts website, select “Export”
- Choose “vCard (for iOS Contacts)” from the popup window
- Select “Export”
This downloads all of your Google contacts in vCard format to your Mac. To read and download Google contacts iPhone will need them to be in vCard format, so don’t overlook that step.
With your Google contacts downloaded in vCard format, follow these steps on your Mac to download and sync the contacts to your iCloud account:
- Open the Contacts app on your Mac
- From the menu bar, select “File”
- Choose “Import”
- Select the vCard file downloaded from the Google Contacts website
- Choose “Open”
Your Google contacts will download to your Mac’s Contacts app, which syncs with iCloud.
Sync Google contacts to iPhone via settings
If you want to skip the Mac altogether, you can! In the iPhone’s settings, you can sync your Google contacts data directly. Just remember it only ‘fetches’ data and won’t push new or changed contact data to your device automatically. If you’re syncing data and don’t see a contact, this may be why.
First, you need to add your Google account to your iPhone. If your Google account is already synced to your iPhone, feel free to skip these steps. Otherwise, this is how to add your Google account to the iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Select “Mail”
- Choose “Accounts”
- Select “Add Account”
- Choose “Google” from the list
- Follow the on-screen prompts and enter your Google account login credentials
Here’s how to sync Google contacts to iPhone via the Settings app:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Select “Mail”
- Choose “Accounts”
- Select your Gmail account
- Make sure “Contacts” is toggled on
Whichever method for syncing contacts you use, one thing you should definitely do is create backups of your iPhone. For that, AnyTrans is exactly what you need.
With AnyTrans for Mac, you have complete control over your iPhone. Simply open the AnyTrans app, plug your iPhone into the Mac, and you will be able to create backups of your entire device, or particular items like messages, photos, and even contacts!
AnyTrans has a ton of other features, too, including the option to quickly transfer your iPhone’s data to a new device. You can also manage your home screen, delete apps from your iPhone, restore your phone from previous backups, and curate your media library!
Import Google contacts to iPhone with iCloud
After importing your Google contacts to your Mac, iCloud should sync your contacts across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
To verify your iCloud contacts are synced with your Mac, follow these steps:
- From the Mac menu bar, select the Apple logo on the top left corner
- Select “System Preferences”
- Choose “Apple ID” at the top right corner of the new window
- Select “iCloud” from the left side of the window
- Make sure “Contacts” is toggled on
On your iPhone, ensure your iCloud contacts are syncing by following these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Select your Apple ID name banner at the top of the screen
- Choose “iCloud”
- Ensure “Contacts” is toggled on
If you like, feel free to toggle contacts off and back on to trigger syncing. This shouldn’t be necessary, but doing so will ping the iCloud servers to initiate syncing of contacts or any other cloud service to your iPhone.
Contacts is one of the services iCloud syncs across your devices. There’s also Mail, which keeps your inbox and folders current on all devices; Reminders, to help you manage to-do lists and trigger reminders when you’re at a location; Notes, which syncs and shares all of the data in your Notes app on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac; Messages, to ensure all chats are up to date; and Safari, which keeps open tabs, the reading list, and bookmarks synced on all of your Apple devices.
Those services all stake their claim to your iCloud storage, but none as much as Photos. Most users will notice their iCloud data allotment is dominated by the pics and video in the Photos app, which is synced across all Apple devices. Much of what’s found in Photos may be unnecessary, too; old photos, screenshots, and blurred images occupy precious space.
To help manage your iCloud media storage, get Gemini.
The Gemini app for Mac helps you manage similar and duplicate images in your Photos folder, which you are then able to delete quickly. The Gemini iOS app continually watches your Photos app for video, screenshots, and other categories. It then creates unique folders for those media types in the Gemini app, and provides a quick and easy way to bulk-delete your images. The gigabytes of iCloud storage you will reclaim with Gemini make it well worth a download.
Conclusion
Managing contacts on your Apple devices is simple. You may prefer to sync your Google contacts and continue using Gmail and other Google services, or download and add all of your Google contacts to iCloud. Either way, you’re in full control.
AnyTrans is a great app for managing backups, a practice we should all be in as we move and sync data across services. If anything goes awry, a backup helps you recover data with ease.
Gemini helps manage files, folders, and photos to keep your iCloud free of unneeded files. If you’re going to sync data, you should keep as much room available in your cloud storage account as possible.
AnyTrans and Gemini are free to use for seven days with your trial of Setapp, a robust suite of productivity apps for the Mac. Along with these two incredible apps, you’ll have unlimited access to over 200 other native Mac apps during your week of free use!
When the trial period ends, continued access to the entire Setapp catalog is only $9.99 per month. It’s a sensational offer for so many amazing apps, so why wait? Give Setapp a try today!
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Sync Gmail Contacts To Icloud Iphone