2 Google accounts I need to sync with my phone, but only the contacts for one of them

[B_Smitty]

(Sorry, I also posted this in the wrong place and couldn't delete it) I have 2 Google accounts I need to sync with my phone, but only the contacts for one of them. I have unchecked contacts from my work account and resynced both accounts on my phone but I can't get the work contacts off my phone. I do not want to go through hundreds of contacts and uncheck them individually! I don't want them on the phone at all, but I figured at least I could try to not see the unwanted contacts so I tried using the contact manager on the phone and unchecked groups I don't want—and I tried using the Custom option to select only those I want, but it insists on including groups that I have unchecked. Also, I want to default to Group view but it won't allow it. Can you help? (I'm on a Galaxy S6, Android version 7.0. Boost Mobile.)

 

[SpookDroid]

If the contacts were initially downloaded to the phone, even if SYNC is unchecked now, the contacts will remain since the account hasn't been removed. You have a couple options here:
1) Go to the Contacts app in the app manager and clear data. (NOTE: This will wipe out all your locally stored contacts, so make sure you do have them backed up elsewhere!) This will force the Contacts app to re-sync and since the Contacts option is turned off for your work account, those shouldn't re-populate.
2) Delete the work account (this should also delete any associated contacts). Reboot and re-add the account BUT as soon as you hit the last step after your password, put your phone into Airplane mode to stop any syncing processes. Then you can go ahead and turn off Contact sync for that account and re-enable data.

Hope this helps

 

[Rukbat]

Wait.

Do you want to sync 2 Google accounts to the phone? Or do you want to sync 2 gmail accounts to the phone? Those are totally different things.

I think you're talking about the second thing. So delete the work account from Settings/Accounts. Then delete the work contacts from the phone. Then add the work email address to your email app.

If you want it the other way, delete the personal account from Settings/Accounts, delete the personal contacts and add the personal email to your email app.

The Google account and the email account, even though they may be spelled exactly the same, are different accounts, depending on where in the phone you enter them.

If all you want is no work contacts, but everything else from work (and personal) in the phone, just go to Settings/Accounts and disable email sync, then delete all the work contacts.

Unfortunately, you can't check "all contacts" and delete them in one shot, but you could try turning off Contacts sync in the personal account, clearing data from the Contacts app (in Settings/Apps/Contacts), then turning contacts sync back on in Settings/Accounts in your personal account. But, only contacts that were entered as Google contacts get synced anyway. Contacts that were entered as Phone, Device or SIM contacts (the first line when adding a new contact, and the first - but it's read-only - line in editing a contact) do not get synced at all, so if the ones you don't want on the phone aren't entered as Google contacts aren't backed up somewhere else, deleting them from the phone deletes them from everywhere. Be careful.

But unless you want contacts, pictures, etc., synced to the Google cloud under your work account, the work account shouldn't be in Settings/Accounts to begin with. That account is only for syncing, not for email. (The email app picks it up when you're setting the phone up.) Keep your syncing accounts in Settings/Accounts and your email accounts in your email app.

Note: Being written while SpookDroid posted his post.

 

[Mooncatt]

2) Delete the work account (this should also delete any associated contacts). Reboot and re-add the account BUT as soon as you hit the last step after your password, put your phone into Airplane mode to stop any syncing processes. Then you can go ahead and turn off Contact sync for that account and re-enable data.

This is my preferred way, but with a slight change. I've tried it your way, but the account sync is so quick that I was never able to shut it off before the contacts populated. So here's my method.

Delete the Google account with the contacts you DON'T want, which also deletes those contacts. No need to reboot the phone in my case. Then turn the auto-sync option off in your main account settings. This is one key, which prevents the quick resync issue. Now go add the Google account back.

Now put the phone in airplane mode. This is the other key to prevent a resync. With auto sync off, you don't get the individual sync options to switch. With airplane mode active, now you can turn auto-sync on, which now lets you manually turn the individual options off. Turn off the contacts sync option (and anything else you don't want), and then you can turn airplane mode off.

 

[B_Smitty]

I was hoping for an easier fix, but I will give this a try. Thanks!

 

[B_Smitty]

Yeah, unfortunately, I need to sync everything in both accounts, except the contacts. If it was just Gmail, it would be much easier but I will try the suggestions here. Thanks!

 

[Mooncatt]

I was hoping for an easier fix, but I will give this a try. Thanks!

Took me a lot of trial and error to find the right steps to work for me. Once I figured it out, it's really not that hard.

 

[TwitchyPuppy]

Yeah, unfortunately, I need to sync everything in both accounts, except the contacts. If it was just Gmail, it would be much easier but I will try the suggestions here. Thanks!

If you have a Samsung phone, go to your Contacts app then select the 3 dots, Settings, Contacts to display. You can choose your personal Gmail there.

 

[SpookDroid]

If you have a Samsung phone, go to your Contacts app then select the 3 dots, Settings, Contacts to display. You can choose your personal Gmail there.

That, unfortunately, only hides the contacts, doesn't really delete them from the device.

 

[TwitchyPuppy]

That, unfortunately, only hides the contacts, doesn't really delete them from the device.

Indeed! But still the fastest way to not have them displayed in your contacts list.