How to Use Google Contacts Instead of Samsung Contacts

Samsung Galaxy phones carry lots of pre-installed apps and some of them you rarely use. These pre-installed apps include Phone, Messages, Contacts, Samsung Browser, etc. you will find. However, some Samsung phone users do not like Samsung apps. They prefer Google apps over Samsung apps, especially when they want their contacts to be synced and available with the Google Contacts app. This post will show you how to use Google Contacts instead of Samsung Contacts on Samsung phones.

This article will cover two dimensions. First, how to use the Google Contacts service from within the Samsung Contacts app. Second, leave the Samsung Contacts app completely and make full use of the Google Contacts app on Samsung phones.

Let’s check both ways.

Method 1: How to Use Google Contacts from Samsung Contacts App

If you are satisfied with the features of the Samsung Contacts application, you can use the Google Contacts service from the Samsung Contacts application. This feature covers how to store new contacts in Google Contacts service and then display only Google Contacts in Samsung Contacts app. And how to sync contacts with Google Contacts.

How to Sync Contacts with Google Contacts

First, you should check how to move your existing Samsung contacts to Google Contacts. We covered it in detail in a separate article. To keep future contacts synced with the Google Contacts service, you need to add a Google account to your Samsung phone and enable syncing for contacts in Settings.

To do this, open Settings on your phone and go to Accounts & backup > Accounts. Tap on Add account. And add your Google account. If a Google account is already added, tap your account. Alternatively, go back to the Accounts & backup > Accounts screen. Tap your Google account. Then tap on Sync account in both cases. Enable the toggle next to People.

Wait a few moments and all of your contacts should sync with Google Contacts. You can verify it by checking at contacts.google.com.

You can also enable syncing from the Samsung Contacts app. For this, follow these steps:

Stage 1: Open the Samsung Contacts app and tap the three-bar icon. Select Manage contacts.

Step 2: Tap on Sync contacts. Activate the toggle next to your Google account and hit the Sync button.

How to Store New Contacts in Google Contacts

To make Google Contacts the default storage location for new contacts, open the Samsung Contacts app. Tap the three-bar icon and select Manage contacts. Tap on Default storage location. Select your Google account. Now every time you save a new contact, it will be saved directly to the Google Contacts service.

Pro Tip: Learn how to backup contacts from Android and iPhone to Google Drive.

How to View Google Contacts in Samsung Contacts App

When you import contacts to Google Contacts and enable the default storage location, you can only show Google Contacts in the Samsung Contacts app.

For this, open the Samsung Contacts app and tap on All contacts at the top. Tap the Google contact. Now only Google Contacts will appear in the app. You can return it to All Contacts by following the same steps.

Method 2: Making Google Contacts App Default on Samsung Phone

If you have just installed the Google Contacts app, open the Samsung Phone app. Type a number and hit the three-dot icon at the top to save. Select Add to Contacts. You will be prompted to choose the default Contacts app. Tap the Google Contacts app icon and press the Always button.

If the Samsung Contacts app opens by default when saving contacts, use the following steps to make the Google Contacts app the default.

Stage 1: Touch and hold the Samsung Contacts app icon and tap on App info. Alternatively, go to Settings > Apps > Contacts.

step 2: Tap on Set as default. Press the clear defaults button.

Stage 3: Try to save a new number using the Phone app. When prompted to choose an app, select Google Contacts and press the Always button.

Now remove the Samsung Contacts app from the home screen and put the Google Contacts app in an accessible place for quick access. If sync for Google Contacts is enabled in phone settings, the app works normally. You will be able to use it to save new contacts and view existing contacts in the Google Contacts app.

You will also need to choose the default account for new contacts from Google Contacts. For this, open the Google Contacts app and tap the icon with three bars. Select Settings from the navigation drawer. Tap on Default account for new contacts and select the required Google account.

Pro Tip: Check out 13 helpful tips and tricks for the Samsung Phone app.

Google Contacts Not Syncing

We hope the above methods helped you switch to Google Contacts on your Samsung phone. If luck is not on your side, you may experience syncing issues with Google Contacts. Learn how to fix Google Contacts not syncing on Samsung phones.

Next: If you prefer to use the Google Contacts app, check out 13 tips and tricks for using Google Contacts like a pro at the next link.