[zylstra]

How do I move my device (aka phone) contacts to Google (aka Gmail) contacts on my Samsung Galaxy S5 Android phone?

[zylstra]

I found out how to do it! Here's how:

Warning: Please back up all your contacts before attempting this!

Send Device contacts to yourself:
Go to Contacts
Menu -> Settings -> Contacts -> Contacts to display -> Device
Menu -> Select -> Select all (check box at top of contacts)
Menu -> Share name card
Messaging
Enter yourself as a recipient of this message and Send

Delete your Device contacts:
Go to Contacts (only your Device contacts should be displayed)
Menu -> Select -> Select all (check box at top of contacts) -> Delete (trash can icon at top)
You won't be able to delete yourself, but that's fine.

Save contacts to Google:
Go to Messaging -> Click the message you just sent to yourself
Click the Contacts.vcf icon in your received (or sent) message
Save ->

Drum roll please...

Google!


View all your contacts:
Menu -> Settings -> Contacts -> Contacts to display -> All contacts

[Renatm]

I figured out how to make my device contacts now Google contacts. I only had 32 contacts that were saved to my phone instead of to Google, so I think it depends on the number you are dealing with. It took me 5-10 minutes, but not as tedious as deleting and reentering them under Google instead of the phone default.

I don't want to bother typing each step if it is not an issue anymore.

[shari77]

I found out how to do this, it was pretty easy on my S5 version 4.4.4 (im not upgrading to lollipop 5 until they work out the bugs)

Since I did the same thing, entered my contacts to "Device" not realizing that it cannot be backed up on Google later, this is what I did:


Tap-contacts, then tap menu (3 dots under the word contacts top right), then tap settings, then tap Contacts,
Then tap import/export, then tap (I know this is counter-intuitive but this is not a typo) tap Export To Device Storage,
Then tap OK to confirm.
Then you should be back at the Settings, tap Import/Export again, this time tap Import FROM Device, then tap Google

You are done.

To Sync with Google, make sure your phone is linked or signed into Google or Google+

To Sync right now to make sure it is working, on the S5, go back to Home, Swipe down from the top to bring down the settings, and look for the Sync button. Swipe the buttons to the left if you don't see it. (You may need to add it, do that by clicking on the top right icon with 3 squares, go to the bottom, and drag the Sync button to the active menu)
Anyway, once you click on the Sync button, log onto your Google account on your computer, go to your contact list, and there they are!

Bonus is you can add a ton of contacts by using your computer, which to me, is way faster than adding using my phone, then you can sync and they will appear on your phone.