How to get google contacts transferred to new Graphene OS phone

kd92jew

I know, I know, I don't want to be using google for my contacts for much longer. However, I need to finish the new graphene phone set up today, and I will use google contacts temporarily.

I was having a hard time figuring out how to the contacts transferred, so here's some pointers for people searching for this information like I was.

Give Google Play Services permission for Contacts (long-press on Google Play, go to App Info, permissions, and add Contacts)
Go to the Settings app, click Apps.
Go to Sandboxed Google Play, then click on Google Settings
In Google Settings, click on All Services, then go down and click Set up and Restore. There's a "Restore Contacts" in the list. You may have to give permissions, and set up the manual synch. It takes a while. Then you need to set up the automatic synching, for as long as you'd like to do that.

Later on you can reverse all this, to restrict permissions again. And, of course, move to something besides google.

Dumdum

Export from Google Contacts then import .vcf file into default GOS contact app / contact app of choice. Simples.

YeetNation

You are an absolute life-saver for this. I was really struggling to transfer my contacts over after swapping to GOS. I originally tried exporting a .vcs, but couldn't seem to find anywhere in the Google Contact app to Import the file. I also saw that everywhere else seemed to say that you straight up could not use syncing on GOS for Google Contacts, which clearly was just straight up wrong.

si2mev

I am getting kind of desperate:
Pixel 8 with grapheneos, without google play services. installed a week ago.

I tried to import with google contacts (contacts.vcf or contacts.csv).
contacts.vcf asks where to store contacts, with one option Device, then starts importing contacts but hangs on 1%.
contacts.csv is no option in de contact app of graphene os (only vcf of sim card).

I also tried with other apps (like sms import/export, SMS backup & restore ). I have my SMS messages now on my Pixel, but contacts stay away. I can see call history from my old phone.

Someone mentioned I should open Proton mail app. Proton shows the contacts with phone number. But how to get them to the contacts app of graphene OS?

The contacts app has acces to all permissions, including contacts and accounts.

A reboot didnt have some nice happy effects.

nologo

si2mev contacts.vcf asks where to store contacts, with one option Device, then starts importing contacts but hangs on 1%.

Sounds like this vcf-file is corrupted. Try creating a new one, if possible.
Importing a contacts.vcf file should work.

Datasapiens

si2mev did you try https://takeout.google.com/ ?
select contacts only, they'll notify you when it is ready, you will download the file, then you can try import it into the app, maybe this time you will succeed. Only clean cache and storage before that

secrec

Use DAVx5, log it into your g* account (or anywhere else) to sync the contacts.

si2mev

thanks for your fast reactions.

@nologo I tried several times to create one. Via my old android phone and via contacts.google.com. Both vcf and vcard don't work.

@secrec I try not to use g account on my graphene phone off course. ;) Or should I install the app, import contacts and delete it? Update: I tried, but cant login without google play services.

Update 2: logged in to contacts.google.com on the browser of the pixel. Exported vcard file. No progress. Hangs at 1%.

Does it have a limitation of the amount of contacts? I've got around 500 contacts.

Now trying vcard with only favorites (10 contacts). It stops at 45%. It should be a seconds job?

n3t_admin

si2mev it sounds like one (or more) of your contacts have some characters in them that can't be rendered outside of Google's own app. Might be something like special characters. If possible (it sounds like you have a lot of contacts), try importing a few one by one and see if even that works correctly. If it does indeed, open the vcf file with a text editor (preferably on a computer) and try to see if there are unusual symbols in the contacts that didn't work (compared to the ones who did). That's what I would try at least, as it's pretty straightforward to see what works and what doesn't.

secrec

si2mev Or should I install the app, import contacts and delete it? Update: I tried, but cant login without google play services.

Yes, or sync it with a different service you trust, like a self hosted nextcloud instance. You do NOT need gservices to use davx5.

si2mev

secrec I use pcloud to transfer.

si2mev

Datasapiens I am going to try that. Including checking strange symbols which @n3t_admin mentioned.

Still no effect. I downloaded contacts via takeout. checked the file and it looks the same like exporting with contacts.google.com. I deleted some pictures from contacts.
I also checked the favourites (starred) contacts. Looks very normal to me. Only 10 contacts. But hangs and doesnt import. I downloaded it to my phone storage, but same outcome.

Datasapiens

si2mev try different app.
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fossify.contacts/

si2mev

I took a deep breath, sighed loud and installed google contacts (and services and google play). Damn you Google. Gave them the permissions needed.

Et voila, all my contacts are there to use.

Now the challenge to remove google contacts and keep them om my phone.

(BTW: I tried to import a vcf into the graphene contacts app and it works. so looks like google ad services is needed?)