This is what I use and it works fine for me:

  • I use the default Contact app. If you are saving to the Device - there is no birthday field. See below.
  • I use DAVx5 to sync my contacts to multiple sources (Thunderbird) and my Pixel 6a.
    Running a simple CardDAV/CalDAV server with Baïkal. Then saving to the created DAVx5 Address book gives me the option to add birthday.
  • I use Birthday Adapter to auto-generate my local contact's birthdays and attach it to my calendar app (Etar).
    Of course, you can use a more sophisticated CardDAV/CalDAV server with an option to auto-generate a birthday calendar for you, and then you just sync/merge it to your calendar app.
  • 6r4f replied to this.

    Oggyo

    OK. Thank you. This explains the issue at least. However it is kinda disappointing that a birthday field is not present when saving to device (off topic but why the hell is that?). Anyhow, I do not want to use a server for this. I also don't need them anywhere else besides my phone. I guess I will find a workaround or another app for birthdays. This is all way to much hassle for such a simple thing.

    Thank you kindly for explaining this to me!

    • vagr replied to this.

        So upon further investigating this, with my new given knowledge, it seems that the AOSP Contacts App is kinda deprecated and thus not supporting VCARD 4.0. This brings me back to my other question:

        Can I somehow swap the default contacts app in GrapheneOS?

          Fossify Contacts is frequently mentioned here but I can't confirm as I used it only once in the past to accomplish certain thing, then uninstalled it.

          6r4f I have only used the stock Contacts and Calendar app for a short while before I switched to Fossify alternatives. Been able to add birthdays to the Fossify Contacts app and they sync flawlessly with the Calendar app. I also have my iCloud calendar (partner uses a iOS device) synced to the Calendar via Davx5.

          Contact scopes, I believe cannot be accessed when using Fossify contacts. I didn't pay attention to this since I gave access to all contacts. I used Contact scopes only for Apps like Whatsapp and some select apps.

          • 6r4f replied to this.

              DeletedUser202

              True. Even if it ain't showing all fields, I certainly has the information saved, if the contact has been established in Fossify.

                vagr

                Thank you. Fossify is the way to go. I actually used this on my pre pixel phone.

                My solution for now is to use Fossify Apps. I create the contacts there and I use the stock app for the scopes. Basically I am using both contacts apps, as suggested in my first post. The synching issue was due to Fossify saving my new contacts as default for Molly and not on the device. And the other thing I found out,as mentioned above, that even if the stock app does not show the birthday, it is still saved in the vcard.

                So this is fine for me! Thank you kindly and wholeheartedly for your help lovely people. This community is as great as the ROM (I wanted GOS for many years now...) 🙏

                    6r4f you're not done yet! You can use contact scopes with 3rd party apps easily. Go to Settings -> Apps and open the app info of an app you want to set up contact scopes in. Go through the regular setup of contact scopes, but stop at the screen where you can enable/disable the feature. In the top right corner is a little 3-dot menu. Click it, click "Settings" and tick the box which says "allow to use [...]". Now, when you open the picker, you should have a menu asking which contacts app you want to use. You can choose to always use Fossify and the picker now opens the Fossify app instead. Hope that helps!

                        Aaaah, i also use davx for sync to my nextcloud, this is why I have a birthday field. Makes sense then.

                        DeletedUser87

                        That! I thank you now. And later! This is what seemed to be the most convenient way! I am glad this is an option! Thank you for that awesome feedback! Brilliant!

                          brookie229 Another way not mentioned yet on this thread is just to use a 3rd party FOSS app.

                          Except for the Fossify app which has been mentioned multiple times???