[glfalk]

Good news and an apology for a premature post. The approach that Sheri described above worked! It just took a while to populate and didn't look promising based on the file attached to the email (too small). So I was able to port my contacts from iPhone to the S5 and then to gmail. Anyhow - here it is again:
THIS WORKED! THANK YOU!

Open contacts
Tap 3 dots on right side
Tap select
Tap select all
Tap share symbol located to the left of the trash can
Share name card via Gmail
Send the share name card email to your gmail account
Go to your gmail and open the email
Tap the file you sent yourself
File should automatically open in your contacts, add them to the list

[nwebner]

I too have given up syncing contacts on my S5. God might know how but Samsung and Google have no clue.

[Praveen Mutha]

Hello, I have checked settings-accounts and everything is checked to sync and it shows it sync'd earlier today but when I log into my gmail account and select contacts there is nothing there. How do I go about backing up this information to my gmail account? Thanks!

[sfrrr]

I've tried this solution several times, with adjustments for using an S6 and Lollipop. When I selected all, Gmail told me that the file was over 20 megs and therefore, it wouldn't let me send it. So I tried ever smaller selected groups. Same 20 meg message. Finally, I tried one single contact. And the gmail program said...can't send empty file. All this trouble--it feels like the early days with what is now the Windows phone and the awkward autosync.

[Mikal Donovan]

Phone -> Contacts -> Settings -> Move device contats to.

[Philip Smith3]

On Galaxy S6:

1. Throw down status bar
2. Applications > Contacts > Import/Export Contacts > Export
3. Home Button > Apps Menu > Tools > My Files > Search for "Contacts" and locate .vcf file
4. Click on Contacts.vcf
5. Click Save at top right and select gmail account
6. In web browser on pc go to Gmail > Gmail dropdown top left > Contacts
7. Menu on left > Find Duplicates > merge all in top right of window.
8. Party!

[FelixLotta]

That's not a secure way if your contact have utf-8 name.
Things would go pretty wrong unless all your contact info is in Latin code.